Robertsbridge memories
Here are memories of Robertsbridge and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Robertsbridge or a Robertsbridge photo.
Childhood Spent in Robertsbridge
I was born in St Helen's Hospital at Hastings and lived in the village from 1955-1965 and then again from 1969- 1972. I remember the River Rother flooding and then freezing over, which was great fun as people made the most of it and went skating. Many of the tiny cottages were flooded regularly every year, until they dug out the riverbed. My mum used to feel very sorry for the people having to clear away all of the muddy mess. I used to look forward to the summer fete held at Darvel Hall, which was a TB hospital in those days. The sight of the patients in striped pyjamas in their iron beds, arranged in a line along the verandahs, used to fascinate me. I used to play in the river, although I wasn't meant to, and we used to try to catch a fish or two but mostly ended up with minnows. There were still steam trains running when I was very small and there was a line from Bodiam, which... Read more
Happy Days
My dad Fred Brown, estate carpenter at Mountfield, was a good singer and actor and was a member of Robertsbridge amateur theatre group, and I remember going to shows at the hall several times, only one I remember, 'Changing of the Guard'. I remember him playing the piano at home and singing words I remember went something like 'Willo Willo Waley, will you marry me' and as kids didn't go much on that. Mum (Doris) worked at the Grey and Nickols (?) factory during the war, making table tennis tables. As teenagers we went to the dances at the hall on Saturday nights, walking back to Mountfield in the early morning absolutely shattered. In 1947 when I was in the RAF it took ages to get home with phone wires, branches broken off the trees to negotiate and freezing cold. My RAF greatcoat stood up in the bakehouse where Mum had put it to thaw out for several days for about the first 20 weeks in the RAF, I must... Read more
Christmas in The Snow
My maternal grandparents owned "Old Timbers", the 15th century cottages in the High Street (numbers 55-59, I think) from the early 1950s to around 1970 or 1971. They actually lived in one of the cottages from 1960 to around 1966 or 1967. My family spent many happy summer holidays with my grandparents during the mid 1960s, but my favourite memory was the Christmas of 1964 when we travelled by train to spend that holiday with them.
It started to snow as we journeyed and I remember the train journey was long drawn-out. We had to change several times - I particularly remember sitting in the waiting room at Tunbridge Wells - in order to get there in the evening. It was dark when we finally arrived and the snow was on the ground. It was wonderful to get to the cottage with a fire blazing in the hearth. My sister and I slept in a small bedroom at the top of the cottage which you had to reach by... Read more
Visits to my Uncle at Robertsbridge
As a small child I would travel down by train with my nan and stay at my Uncle George Bowen who lived in Langham Road,
Most important thing before boarding the train in London was to get in the right section for Robertsbridge, the platform was too short for the train - get in the wrong place and you would be outside the actual station.
His sister Ethel got on the wrong section on one occasion and found no platform so tried to get out and ended up falling out onto the railway line - she was always doing silly things like that.
We would walk along from the station and along a stony road, soon knew if my shoes were a bit thin by the pain of the stones through them.
My uncle lived next door to his neice and strange as it would seem the lady on the other side of him had the same surname though no relative.
Nan and I would... Read more
Memories of East Sussex
GYPSUM MINES
I was born in Netherfield and worked at the Gypsum Mines, as did my father. When I was eighteen I joined up and served for the duration, when I came home I eventualy went back to the mines. My father was killed in an accident at the min es, on the surface while I was under ground, around 1950. I was married to a Mountfield girl in 1949and lived at the Banks Cottages. I played football for Mountfield, the football field at that time was just past Johns Cross on the left on the way to Robertsbridge. I also played for Battle Rangers prior to emigrating to Canada in 1953. I now live in Wasaga Beach, Ontario. I am retired since 1988. I born in Netherfield Jan 1923.
Where I Grew up
I was born at 19 London Road, Tanyard Cottages near Holy Trinity Church. My grandadparents lived in Station Road near the village hall. My great aunts owned Hope Cottage Farm, Station Road. Many times when I was a kid I would stay on the farm and helped in the shop, milking the cows, bottling the milk which then would be delivered by the family. Also helped at Christmas time plucking turkeys and chickens. The family had several P.O.W.s. helping on the farm. Look at the photos on this site, this is just as I remember the village when I was a child. My parents still live in the village and we often still go for walks in Burgh Wood. I also went to the primary school, brownies etc.
Village life is not the same now, I remember my mum could buy everything she wanted in the village but now has to go to Hastings.
Lancaster Crash
I see that no person has placed a memory of this crash. I lived at Mountfield and this Lancaster circled the area and 4 crew bailed out each time it came round and went to what was Mr Bailey's snack bar just below Johns Cross pub. As young lads we jumped on our bikes to see where the Lancaster had crashed, as I remember we went over a field where the road branches off to Bodiam, before you get to Hurst Green. All that was seen was this big hole filling up with water. I seem to remember that one of the crew laid in the field covered with his parachute. I have since learned this was the F/Eng who had flown the a/craft back from a raid in France, the Pilot was killed over the target, his body was thrown out on static line. Aviation Museum at Robertsbridge has relics and info.
Happy Days
I have many fond memories of Bodiam and the Castle, from when I was 1 year old in 1943, until I was 15. Along with dear Mum and my two sisters, our whole extended family on my mum's side consisting of several families would move to Bodiam, to our tin huts to go hop picking. We used to pile into a number of open backed lorries for the journey which used to go through the Blackwall tunnel and along the A21 to East Sussex and Bodiam singing all the way. Great excitement for all us kids. On arrival each family was allocated their own tin hut which were painted green outside and whitewashed inside. Many families would bring wallpaper to cover over the whitewash. Any one who has been hop picking as a child will tell you it was probably the best adventure they ever had. In the six or seven weeks we spent there the weather was usually hot, sunny and carefree. The only exception being when... Read more
Girl Born in Village in May 1925 - Martin Family
My late mother-in-law was apparently born in the village in 1925, but was unable to be kept, so was raised by the Martin family in Hastings. Did they also have any connections with Staplecross? Mum's family folklore believes the name Post and possibly Butchers Shop may hold a connection.
Mum was raised as Audrey Ruth Martin but the family understand that it is possible at least one of these names was NOT given.
Can anyone throw any light on a family mystery?
Thank you.
John Wells
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