Robertsbridge House, Robertsbridge, East Sussex

This Grade II-listed house is set at the heart of Robertsbridge's historic high street, with layers of history that have been carefully picked out and revealed. Its internal footprint exceeds 3,700 sq ft and is made up of voluminous reception rooms and four characterful bedrooms. The current owners have worked to restore and refurbish the house inside and out, exemplified by the newly refitted kitchen and the upstairs family bathroom. There is a garden at the rear, beautifully planted with perennials and with access to a shared garage. On the East Sussex side of the county's border with Kent, Robertsbridge is well positioned deep within High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Setting the Scene

Despite its 15th-century origins, Robertsbridge House was built in its current form as 'The White Horse Inn' in the 17th century. It would have played a central role in the local community, offering lodging and services to travellers. Its preserved features and architectural details make Robertsbridge House an important part of the village's heritage. At its centre, a dramatic open staircase curves its way up to the top floor, opening out onto broad landings at each level.

The Grand Tour

Sitting proudly on the high street, the house's neat façade, recently refurbished, is characterised by rhythmic cruciform casement windows. Inside, the ground floor is primarily formed of two large reception rooms that span the width of the building.

The living room looks onto an open fireplace set within a broad brick chimney breast. The grand spaces of the ground floor are defined by their materiality: exposed brickwork, softly weathered beams and refined timber paneling combine to create a tactile and warm-toned environment.

At the opposite end of the plan, the dining room faces its own grand fireplace. Only the exposed timber frame divides this space from the kitchen beyond, which has been recently and beautifully remodelled. Here granite stone counters top yellow cabinetry which cleverly conceals storage and a large larder cupboard. To the rear, a concise scullery and WC retain the hatches once used to transport ale from the kitchen to the cellar. The cellar itself runs across the whole plan and is where the building's 15th-century origins are most evident in the stone spiral staircase, ornately carved beams and stone wall niches.

At the building's core is a large Jacobean staircase, its broad treads winding up from floor to floor. The bedrooms at first floor sit symmetrically at either end, each spanning the width of the building and with the lathe and plaster remains exposed. The primary bedroom has built-in storage and an en suite tucked in one corner behind an original timber door.

The recently refurbished family bathroom sits between the two, with a vaulting ceiling that reveals the timber framing. Two secluded bedrooms complete the top floor, set beneath a nest of exposed timber beams and with views over the historic roofs of Robertsbridge.

The Great Outdoors

To the rear, the garden is a mixture of lawn and terraced patio bordered by mature perennials. A walnut tree flanks the double gates that lead to a shared garage and a car parking area.

Out and About

Robertsbridge and the surrounding countryside is home to several notable restaurants. The Small Holding in Kilndown is run from a former village pub and delivers fare that celebrates local produce. Heading further south the restaurant at Tillingham is worth a visit as much for its delicious food as for its stunning vineyard and estate. Both establishments hold the much-coveted Michelin green star. Water Lane Walled Garden is a 15-minute drive from the house and which serves excellent food. In the summer months, the restaurant sprawls across the terrace overlooking the gardens, and in the winter tables move inside to the Carnation House.

Robertsbridge takes in a spectacular rural setting in the High Weald AONB, a landscape characterised by rolling hills, woodlands and open heathlands. Plenty of walks can be joined near the house, including the Sussex Border Path, a 138-mile trail running from Emsworth to Rye. For those with a passion for a more formal garden, Great Dixter is roughly a 20-minute drive away. The Grade I-listed, 15th-century estate was adapted by Edwin Lutyens and sits within grounds brought to prominence by Christopher Lloyd. Bodiam Castle, a monumental example of medieval architecture intact with a moat, towers and portcullis, is only 10 minutes away by car. The thriving town of Battle is a similar distance and has a busy high street and historic Abbey.

There are good transport links from the house, both locally and further afield. The A21 is nearby and connects Hastings to the south in 20 minutes and Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks to the north in 30 minutes and 45 minutes, respectively. Robertsbridge Station is a 5-minute walk from the house; trains run directly to London Charing Cross in just over an hour. For international travel, Gatwick Airport is approximately a one-hour drive. 

Council Tax Band: F