It was referred to as Roberdeston ("Robert's Farm") in 1357 and as Robertson Wathen in 1545, though a 1578 map published in 1583 labels it Robeston.

[4] The parish has evidence of Neolithic and Bronze Age occupation, discovered during the building of the bypass (see below).

[5] In Norman times Robeston Wathen was in the ancient administrative area of Narberth Hundred.

[3] Wilson's Gazetteer of 1872 describes the parish as covering 1,345 acres (544 ha) with a population of 362 living in 92 houses.

[11] It is now a Site of Special Scientific Interest, so designated in 1967 to protect its fragile geological elements: the limestone is extremely rich in corals, particularly halysitids, and contains rare brachiopods.