Bell Inn Nottingham, site of Friar Tuck's Friary?

The Bell Inn is situated at the opposite end of Nottingham Market Square from the Council House. This area became known as Beastmarket Hill, because of the open air cattle market that once occupied the Market Square. But decades before that it was known as Friar Row, due to the boundary wall of a Carmelite Friary.

The Carmelites originated from a congregation of hermits which formed the Order of Our Lady of Carmel, on Mount Carmel in the 12th Century. After being forced to leave Mount Carmel, they moved to Europe, coming to England in 1240. The first English Carmelite Friary was built in Kent, and their habits were white, hence the nickname of the "White Friars".

The Carmelite Friary in Nottingham was established c.1272 between Friar Lane and St. James's Street, even though the Friars had already been in the town some years beforehand. By February 1539, when the Friary closed, only the prior, Roger Cappe, and six friars were still in residence. In 1541 the Crown granted all rights to the building to James Sturley of Nottingham, (probably a descendant of the Sturley who had been joint founder of the Friary in 1272.) During the road widening works of 1923, several significant archeological items were found, together with skeletons, proving the site also incorporated a burial ground for the Friary.

The Bell Inn stands where the Carmelite Friary once stood. That Friary is one of the places often named in the tourism documents as a possible home to Friar Tuck, but is a far less likely candidate for that role than Foutaindale, Lynhurst, near Newstead Abbey.

Blidworth, and Maid Marian

According to some local legends the real Maid Marian was simply a girl from Blidworth Village. Other stories state that she only stayed here in a house on this hill on the night before her marriage to Robin Hood. On her wedding day, Will Scarlet (also thought to have been a Blidworth man), is said to have escorted Marian from this house to Edwinstowe, but this is perhaps unlikely considering the distance involved. There is also a story that Robin Hood's Outlaws used a nearby cave on the hillside to hide their stolen loot.

Note: According to at least one Nottingham Tourist Information website this house is situated opposite the Black Bull Pub. But the correct location is further up the hill, and almost opposite the Church where Will Scarlet was buried. To read more about Maid Marian click THIS LINK.

Angel Row, Nottingham, the Sheriff of Nottingham lived here.

Contrary to popular belief, most persons who took on the Office of Sheriff of Nottingham probably wouldn't have lived in Nottingham Castle. That would have been home to the Constable and his soldiers. According to legend the Sheriff, in his duties as Tax Collector and Clerk, lived with his wife in "The Red Lodge" which once stood at the end of Angel Row, a narrow street leading down into the Market Square from the opposite side to the Council House. It is interesting to note that, although the Sheriff's wife appears in the old tales about Robin Hood, she is totally absent from the films and television programs.

Robin Hood encountered more than one Sheriff of Nottingham in his day, although the title "Sheriff" wasn't quite in use at that time. You can find more information and pictures about the Sheriff of Nottingham by following the links HERE.

Market Square, Nottingham, site of the Golden Arrow competition.

Long years after the Norman Conquest, Nottingham remained a divided town. The English, or Saxon contingent, continued to dwell around the site of their original fortress and hugely successful market at Weekday Cross. Not to mention their churches where the present day St Mary's now stands. The French, or Norman population, based itself around Peveril Castle, the castle ordered by William the Conquerer, and which we now refer to as Nottingham Castle. Each community had its own laws and officers.

Peveril was wise enough to see that force alone could not unite these two communities. So he initiated the establishing of a new market place on the derelict land between them, and which both communities would have safe access to. The place we now know as Nottingham's Market Square. The Saxon Weekday market would move there on Saturdays, along with several other small markets. A convenient old manorial wall ran across the site, and Peveril determined that the northern (Long Row) side was for the English and all the rest would be for his French supporters. But he also happily saw to it that goods could be easily sold across the wall, or even through it at various points. All this happened in the late 11th century. By the middle of the 12th century, when Henry 2nd was on the throne, Nottingham's Market Place was a thriving enterprise for all involved. But readers might be surprised to learn that a Saxon - Norman divide in law existed in Nottingham until the 18th century.

According to Robin Hood folklore, Nottingham's Market Square is the place where the famous Golden Arrow competition took place, a competition devised by the Sheriff of Nottingham to lure Robin out of hiding. There is speculation that such an archery display would have been part of the St Mathew's Fair, which was held each September. St Mathew's Fair then became the famous Goose Fair, the latter of which now operates outside the city centre. There are several archery contests mentioned in the earliest ballads of Robin Hood. In one of the very first, Robin Hood makes his escape and hides in the castle of Sir Richard of Lee. When Sir Richard is taken prisoner by the Sheriff of Nottingham, Robin rescues him and kills the Sheriff in the process!

In recent decades a regular open air market has been replaced by occasional craft fairs and fairground rides. Varioous tales about Robin Hood tell of him coming to markets at Weekday Cross and Hen Cross (see THIS LINK), disguised as a stall holder. One tells of him coming to this market as a potter, selling his wares to the Sheriff's wife in an attempt to get her to lead her husband out into Sherwood Forest.