Robertsbridge

Robertsbridge straddles the Rother river and until recently was often a part of it during the floods but now with extensive flood defences the township is fairly protected.  It must be a bit of a bummer when wallowing in your bath the water flows in from outside and it with horror you watch your rubber duck go floating out the door on its way to the sea.  Not a pleasant sight. 

However, Robertsbridge is a pleasant sight although when walking around the ancient part of the village with its plethora of Tudor buildings and one dating from 1320 one is not aware of the more modern buildings that surround the place and squeezed in the odd spaces. The place is attractive anyway and worth a day spent simlpy wandering around exploring the footpaths and in the Summer watching a game of cricket. 

Northbridge Street Village centre

The day we went was sunny most of the time - a rare occurance this summer - and Robertsbridge looked its best.  We wandered, nibbling on roadside blackberries warmed and ripened by the sun, fed by the rain and waiting for us to eat them, and walked past Bishop's Meadow to the road from Battle and back down to the centre where we  wandered into the Seven Stars pub for a beer and lunch.  Dog firendly pub with a landlady who loved our Zoid on sight.  They have dog drinking bowls in the garden and in the mulit level pub.  Wooden floors, wooden beams and a friendly atmosphere.  Good food and beer too!  Maybe the beer and food is blessed by the church right next door although it is a Methodist church so maybe it works in spite of the church. 

From there after a light but excellent lunch we wandered (a lot of wandering) out of the village and on the way admiring the school as we passed by for its tables under the trees, allotment garden and pleasant design crossing the road toward Salehurst and hop farms to loop back through the woods and fields to the bridge again and back into the village. 

The Indian

A nice feature was the two shp keepers who sat outside their emporiums enjoying the sun and chatting to passersby.  Amazing to see an Indian motorcycle (I think it was a Scout) outside a bicycle shop and the owner, a declared Indian enthusiast selling bikes and all sorts of other things.  Business was slow on Saturday but he said he was doing all right because people were buying all sorts of bikes.  He had some fine ladies bicycles their complete with baskets as well as the latest Mountain Bike models.  A scruffy but enterprising lad.

The next shop keeper we saw was a most interesting woman selling all sorts of junk to raise funds for a school museum and school - the shop was a far cry from the one in The Last of the Summer Wine but at first glance reminded me of it.  Difference: the owner was genuinely friendly.   And to show how these things happen we also popped in to see a local art show and that was interesting.

Although we spent from midday to just before five we barely saw all that Robertsbridge had to offer and we will return to walk some of the paths and walks in the area.  It is said that one can walk from there to Bodiam but first it would be a good idea to explore the environs of Robertsbridge first.  Return maybe to the dog friendly pub.