Robertsbridge Abbey (original) (raw)

Robertsbridge Priory

Remnants of the Abbot’s House
Monastery information
Full name The Cistercian Abbey of St Mary, Robertsbridge
Other names Robert's Bridge AbbeyPontrobert Abbey
Order Order of Cistercians
Established 29 March 1176 at SalehurstTransferred to Robertsbridge c.1250
Disestablished 16 April 1538
Mother house Boxley Abbey
Architecture
Heritage designation Scheduled ancient monument, grade I listed building
Designated date 3 August 1961
Site
Location Robertsbridge, East Sussex, England
Country United Kingdom
Coordinates 50°59′26″N 0°29′27″E / 50.990587°N 0.490791°E / 50.990587; 0.490791 (Robertsbridge Abbey)
Scheduled monument
Official name Robertsbridge Abbey
Designated 1 May 1951
Reference no. 1002295
Listed Building – Grade I
Official name The Abbey
Designated 3 August 1961
Reference no. 1221354
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official name Abbey Ruins
Designated 3 August 1961
Reference no. 1274121

Robertsbridge Abbey was a Cistercian abbey in Robertsbridge, East Sussex, England. It was founded in 1176 by Alured and Alicia de St Martin.

Due to its position, the Abbey lands suffered continually from the effects of the sea, and it was never rich or prominent. The abbey was eventually forcibly surrendered in 1538 by the Abbot Thomas Taylor, and dissolved as part of the Dissolution of the Monasteries. There were then eight monks. The property afterwards passed to Sir William Sydney.[1]

The main surviving part of the Abbey is the Abbot's house, built circa 1250, formerly a farmhouse but now part of a private residence. The building is mainly of stone rubble with some red brick and brick buttresses at the back, weather-boarded at the gable end with a steeply-pitched tiled roof. Beneath the building is a crypt. The house is a grade I listed building.[2]

In the garden of the house are the ruins of a rectangular building of stone rubble which was part of the Frater which are separately grade II* listed.[3]

  1. ^ "A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 2". British History Online. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  2. ^ Historic England. "THE ABBEY (1221354)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  3. ^ Historic England. "ABBEY RUINS (1274121)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 16 November 2014.