Rootschat Meet No 4 in Historical Hastings.

[acorngen]

Kerry,

Yes the butchers is old school.  Friendly service and all you would expect from a family run firm   Now who in their right mind would drive through Roberstbridge when the A21 bypasses it

As for the book shop alas it has gone.  Not enough business for him I fear.  Was right opposite where I and a few other archaeologists believe the original Roberstbridge Abbey to have been.  Hope if they are building on the land at the back of the pub they do some serious archaeology first.  When they dug the road three years ago I was fortunate enough to see in situ the old brick work of the now missing buildings

Rob

[Keith Sherwood]

I'm finding all this about Robertsbridge very interesting, like some kind of modern day Canterbury Tales in the adjoining county.  When I visited the place I had mixed up an individual called George William SHERWOOD, my gt-grandfather's name, with someone with the same name and age and occupation - brickmaker - who lived there.  And I afterwards studied an old map to locate the brickworks that lay behind the row of cottages in the road that leads to the railway station(that I'd discovered he lived in at the time of the 1881 Census), where I imagined my ancestor must have worked.
Wrong person in the end, but did think that the village had a particularly interesting feel to it those 4 or 5 years ago.  Pity that some things are changing now...
keith

[acorngen]

Keith,

Those cottages are the old gas work cottages.  The village 5 years ago had somewhat of a community feel but as with all small villages everyone knew what you were doing a week before you did it. Unfortunately the older members of the village are moving out and the new people are not interested.  For example I had the good fortune to walk around one particular house and was shown the deeds which dated back to the 17th century that the then owner had in his possession.  I tried to buy them when he decided to sell but he said he wanted to keep them as he believed they would become more valuable.  He did agree to me transcribing them but before I could get started he had sold up and moved on.  Never met the new owners and therefore I have no idea what became of them.

I have in my possession a book about the village written in 1914 by an old resident of the village.  I believe he was one of a long line of this family in the village.  The anecdotes for the village and parish in general are an amazing read.  I am sure if you scroll through the for sale thread you will find my notice of its availability.

Rob

[Keith Sherwood]

Rob,
In case it might be seen as pausing like the Pilgrims on the way to Hastings, and chewing over some more fascinating details about a very interesting old village in Robertsbridge, could you possibly PM me with details of that book on the village you mention - couldn't find a reference to it on the "For Sale" section just now, but then I'm not very good at seeing the wood for the trees sometimes.
Hopefully some more Rootschatters will add their names on this thread to this 30th Sept. meet-up...
keith

[Lesanne]

  Typical, got to get a wedding away in the morning. Could someone PM me a mobile number, so I can find you.
                                         Fanx, Lesanne.

 Are we making the Badges to the same format as Manchester?   

[sarah]

Hi Lesanne,

Looking forward to meeting up, we will look out for the lass with a carnation 

I have PM'd you a number to get intouch with us.

Sarah

[Chris in 1066Land]

Rootschat Meet No 4

Hastings Countdown

10

days to go

[sarah]

I guess we should make a list of those who are going so we can keep an eye out for each other

If you think you may be late or may join us during the day we can swap numbers with each other.

Sarah

[Zeb]

Where's Hastings?