THE HUNDRED OF ROBERTSBRIDGE IN SALEHURST, 1713-1869, AND ROBERTSBRIDGE MANOR, 1904-1919

The first two volumes record the rates raised by the hundred constables on the inhabitants of the hundred 'for the repairs of the bridges and clappers', and the discharge of the sums raised by expenditure on road, bridge, river and sewer repairs, repairs to the hundred pound and standard weights and measures, the 'round house' or lockup in the workhouse yard, the payment of the constable's salary, maintenance of his staff of office and business as diverse as crying proclamations against fireworks and removing the stocks (18 Oct 1815). The earlier book contains details of the expenditure incurred by the constable in the discharge of his office, including attendance at the Quarter Sessions at Lewes, which happened for the last time in 1769. The details of expenditure are given in increasing detail over the period covered by the books, and the contents of individual bills are often copied out

The volumes also serve the function of minute books for the court leet of Robertsbridge hundred, and for occasional meetings of the inhabitants. The minutes increasingly record the appointment of the hundred officers (constable, headborough, aleconners, bridgewardens and streetdrivers), the presentment of nuisances, decisions concerning repairs to roads and bridges, the diversion of watercourses and administrative matters; they are signed by those attending the meeting. The second volume at least also contains occasional memoranda of rights of way, entered as matters of record

Liability for the maintenance of bridges in the parish of Robertsbridge seems to have fallen upon the two hundreds of Henhurst and Robertsbridge; the equivalent rate books for Henhurst, 1783-1864, survive in the parish archive, PAR 477 28/1-4

The court books of the hundred of Robertsbridge are still with Messrs Sheppards of Battle, solicitors

Documents given 30 Jul 1994 (ACC 6391)

These records were in the hands of the widow of the late John Ward, a Robertsbridge solicitor, when they were inspected by David Martin in the 1970s. They were subsequently passed to the donor as a descendant of Edward Piper, whose specification for work on Church Bridge in Salehurst is listed as AMS6340/4