PLACE NAME
Robertsbridge Abbey was a Cistercian abbey in the village of Robertsbridge, East Sussex. It was founded in 1176 by Alured de St Martin, sheriff of the rape of Hastings and a steward to King Richard I, and his wife Alice. Its first abbot Robert de St Martin gives his name not only to the abbey but the local area which grew up around it. It was known at first as (de) Ponte Roberti, Robartesbregge in 1445 and Roberdisbrigge in 1475. Given the abbey’s location it constantly suffered the ravages of the sea and as a result never grew to be particularly rich or prominent. After its closure under the orders of Henry VIII in 1538, it was converted into a private house. Like many of the roads on the St Helier’s estate this is named after British monasteries and abbeys in remembrance of the area’s historic ownership by Westminster Abbey. The road names are in alphabetical order, of which Aberconway Road in the north west of the estate is first.
