The Earl of Chester, in his Loxley Castle, refuses to pay his taxes to the Norman overlord Sir Gui. (Correct spelling). To ensure the safety of his son, Robin, he puts him in the care of his servant Will Stutely, and sends them off to Sherwood Forest, exiting via a secret passage by the fireplace. (There’s always a secret passage). And the rest, as they say, is history.
The well know parts of the legend are here, such as Robin and Little John over the river, the Golden Arrow competition, and all the usual members of his merry gang. It is an enjoyable low-budget romp, in black and white, apparently originally intended for TV rather than a cinema audience. (A good colorized version is now in circulation).
King Richard is taken prisoner during the Crusades. Prince John, with the help of Guy of Gisbourne, seizes the moment to take over his throne. In Sherwood Forest, Sir Robin of Loxley (already kitted up in his Lincoln Green costume!) saves Much from Gisbourne, when he is caught poaching the King’s deer.
Later, Marian, a Norman girl of high standing, is feasting with Prince John. Robin interrupts the proceedings with the dead King’s deer over his shoulders. Prince John announces he is taking over the throne from his brother Richard. That is the moment Robin decides on an outlaw life, and so the scene is set.
Little John and Friar Tuck are both recruited in the traditional river-crossing manner. Will Scarlet (wearing the reddest costume in movie history) was already a close friend. Marian, being a Norman, takes rather more persuasion. However, after the Golden Arrow competition leads to Robin Hood’s capture, it is Marian who will go to his rescue, an act which will see her locked up for treason.
A “stranger” comes to town in disguise (although the gold trimmings
on his robe might be a clue!) It is, of course, King Richard. The King,
Robin, and his men, descend on Nottingham, a battle which climaxes in
the most famous duel to ever come out of Hollywood.
A huge commercial success, winning 3 Academy Awards, “The Adventures of Robin Hood” retains its popularity today. A colourful mix of action and romance. Perhaps a little too colourful for today’s tastes, and the speeded-up sequences are a little quaint, but the image of Errol Flynn as Robin Hood, persists.
The story centres on the love triangle that is Robin Earl of Huntingdon, Guy of Gisbourne and Lady Marian Fitzwalter. Robin has no interest in the girls which (literally) chase him, but he still rescues Marian from Guy’s unwanted attentions before leaving for the Crusades. Prince John promises Guy he can have Marian if he also goes to the Crusades and kills King Richard, which he then attempts to do. In the King’s absence England goes to ruin. Robin hears of this and returns home, falling out of favour with King Richard as a consequence, and becoming the outlaw of Sherwood Forest. At first he fears Marian is dead, but later discovers she has been put in a priory.
This silent movie retains a lot of its entertainment value today. The
sets are the biggest ever built for a silent movie, and the cast of
soldiers / merry men, must have been in the thousands. Of particular interest are the brief shots involving the torture of prisoners, as well as the manner in which Robin disposes of Guy (See above). I think the Hayes Code of motion picture censorship would n0t have allowed these in 1934.
Above: Guy of Gisbourne and the Sheriff of Nottingham.
Not the first Robin Hood movie, but the only one which seems to have survived from the 1910s. Its importance is not so much in the merits of the movie, but in the opportunity it gives to see a simple enactment of the legend as it would probably have appeared in countless live performances over centuries previous: The characters are in readily identifiable costumes, much like a pantomime. Gisbourne wants Marian; a “stranger” turns up which of course turns out to be the King; Robin and Marian get married.
Above: The stranger turns out to be the King. Tuck presides over the marriage of Robin and Marian in Sherwood Forest.
Gisburn Village is situated in the Ribbie Valley borough, Lancashire, and was named in the Doomsday book 1066 as Ghiseburne. Originally governed by Yorkshire, the Gisburn Parish was transferred to Lancashire in 1974.
There is little of historic interest about the village. Its story includes the building of a manor house and monastery, much like many other villages across England. The hanging of Gisburn resident Jennet Preston I 1612, during the Lancashire witch trials, would be of interest to researchers. But it is no doubt the legend of Robin Hood which put Gisburn “on the map”.
Dressed from head to tail (literally) in horse hide, Guy of Gisborne was an assassin, no more no less, hired by the Sheriff of Nottingham to kill Robin Hood. In the grisly, violent Child ballad of 1650, “Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne”, he introduces himself as “Guy of good Gisborne”, but there is evidence the character was included in a much earlier play of 1475. That intrigues me. Why introduce a character from such a relatively small, almost unheard of village, unless it holds a grain of truth?
In the ballad, Guy manages to stab Robin, who is then saved by a prayer to the Virgin Mary, before killing Guy in return. Robin even manages to kill the Sheriff with an arrow through the heart, quite in keeping with the fact that “Sheriff” is a temporary position, and regularly replaced.
By 1912’s silent movie, “Robin Hood”, Guy’s character had become a much more deviant, cunning character. Now often described as a knight, ion love with Maid Marian, more evil than the Sheriff of Nottingham himself, and a devoted supporter of King John. As such, Guy frequently outshines the rest of the cast in many successful movies and TV series.
The village of Loxley is a suburb of Sheffield city. It used to be within the boundaries of West Riding, Yorkshire, but became a part of Sheffield after the boundary changes of 1972. Most of it is preserved as “green belt” land, and indeed, “lox” would translate as “glade” from the old English.
After the Norman Conquest the area was first designated as hunting grounds for the Norman lords, but soon changed to farmland instead. Loxley Chase forest extended as far as, and joined onto, Sherwood Forest in the 12th century.
According to John Harrison’s “Exact and Perfect Survey and View of the Manor of Sheffield”” (1637), one Robin Locksley was born in 1160 in a cottage in a pasture in Loxley, known as Little Haggas”. (Known today Rodney Hill). But was that “our” Robin? No.
I agree with Michael Reuel’s book, “Robin Hood Existed”, that in reality, Robin Hood was of a much later century. Any notion that Robin Hood came from the time of King Richard’s crusades, is a result of the fantasy of Walters Scott’s “Ivanhoe” and subsequent Hollywood productions, entertaining though they may well be.
Last note: “Robin of Loxley”, sounding as it does today like a privileged title, often finds the character depicted as a knight or lord. However, a truer translation would simply be Robin from Loxley.
The Robin Hood Festival is an annual event, celebrating the famous outlaw by re-enacting stories from the ancient tales. These photographs are from 2014. I am sure readers can guess the identities from the costumes involved.
For anyone wanting more information I have put a link to the Robin Hood Festival Facebook page on the sidebar.
Where did Robin Hood spend the winter? Well, probably not in the heart of Sherwood Forest! Not only would it be rather cold and short on food, but the route known as the King’s Great Way would also have been relatively low on rich travellers during those months when snow, sludge and ice made the passage more arduous.
Robin Hood’s so called “Merry Men” were effectively a medieval gang, and popular gangs operate by providing in some small measure for the needs of the community which harbours them, albeit often illegally. Therefore, by stealing from the rich and giving some handouts to the poor, they could have gained warm shelter in the winter, in the local villages of Blidworth, Papplewick, and Byrunsdale / Bernysdale (now known as Old Basford).
The video shows Sherwood Forest covered in a blanket of snow, January 2013, featuring Robin Hood's tree the Major Oak. Many thanks to the Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre ground staff of the time, for allowing me access to the statues when the centre was closed
Above: "Robin Hood", 1991. "Beyond Sherwood Forest", TV Movie 2009.
According to legend, Will Stutely was rescued from the gallows by Robin Hood at the base of Castle Rock, where the wooden walls of the original castle once stood. But a far more likely location would have been Gallows Hill at the northern entrance to the town. This post and related video, explains why.
In Saxon times the centre of Nottingham was where High Pavement is today, with the hugely successful Weekday Cross Market, and a Fort built on the site where now stands the Nottingham Contemporary Art Gallery. Beneath the streets are the remains of dark dungeons carved out of Nottingham's famous sandstone. Archaeologists believe they show evidence of links with prisons and punishment right back to Saxon times. Shire Hall, now known as the Galleries of Justice, stands where similar official buildings have stood since 600AD. After the Norman Conquest the appointed Sheriff of Nottingham's duties were based here from 1125. He was required to collect taxes and keep the peace, and although written records before the 14th century are sparse, it is likely this site known then as Sheriff's Hall, was always more connected with law and order than the Castle itself. Public executions took place outside this hall between 1738, (James Gilders for Highway Robbery), and 1861 (Richard darker, for killing his mother). After 1868, executions were held out of view on the west end of the prison yard, but crowds would still eagerly gather to read the Death Notice on display. Across the street from Shire Hall stands St Mary's Church, the place where Robin Hood is said to have been arrested by the Sheriff of Nottingham in a much earlier building, after breaking his sword in a duel. During the 15th & 16th centuries, prisoners condemned to hang were given their last rights here. Criminals were hung on the day after their conviction (unless that be a Sunday). Gallows Day (now known as gala day), was usually declared a public holiday, and persons owning a room above street level would hire it out to those thirsting for a better view of the grisly entertainment involved. But this is not the original place where Nottingham’s public executions were held. That dubious honour must go to Gallows Hill. After a brief service in St Mary’s, the prisoner would mount the executioner's cart and begin his final journey towards Gallows Hill at North Gate. Sometimes a small choir would follow behind, and doubtless many noisy spectators. When the cart reached the bottom of Mansfield Road, (the North road leading out of the city), if the prisoner was of Jewish descent his cart would turn left down Shakespeare Street where the Jews were allotted a gallows of their own.
Above: Half way up the hill, as the gallows just came into view, the hangman's cart would stop outside the Nag's Head and the prisoner would be offered one last drink: A pint of Nottingham Ale. On one infamous occasion the prisoner rejected his ale and asked to press on ahead to the gallows and get it over with. However, no sooner was his dead body hanging from the rope, than a full pardon arrived all too late!
Gallows Hill is the junction of Forest Road East and Mansfield Road. The earliest surviving mention of these gallows dates from 1496, but centuries before that travelers entering this North Gate to the town would have witnessed bodies swaying here in the breeze, and therefore be deterred themselves from any lawbreaking. The original public gallows is said to have stood where St Andrew's Church now stands, high on a sandstone ridge so typical of Nottingham's landscape, and had to be moved when the church foundations were laid in 1869. However, other sources say a permanent gallows was erected across the road much earlier in 1558. This makes more sense, for who would build a church on the exact spot criminals had so recently been hung?
Above: Nottingham Rock Cemetery. The cemetery keeper's lodge marks the spot where these gallows once stood. (Not to be confused with the somewhat grander Lodge of 1857 further down the hill, built for the 19th century racecourse.) In 1800 the gallows were made of a portable construction, after a group of daring young men removed them on the day before an execution! The last execution to be held here was of 45 year old William Wells, in April 1827, for highway robbery. Thereafter Gallows Hill had its name changed to appease local residents, but is said to remain the haunt of many ghosts. Rock Cemetery is on the site of a former sand mine, hence the varying levels in its lay-out. (There are no natural caves in Nottingham). In Robin Hood's day the area at the base of this sandy hill, now known as the Forest Recreation Ground, would have been the start of the once mighty Sherwood Forest.
Above: "The Adventures of Robin Hood" TV series 1955 / 59. "A Challenge for Robin Hood"", 1967.
There are two sites in Nottingham particularly associated with tales about Robin Hood entering the city disguised as either a butcher or a tanner to sell his wares on the market stalls. The first is Weekday Cross, on what was once Garner's Hill. This area was the busy centre of the original Saxon town of Snottingham, and would remain so until the Normans chose an alternative hill on which to build their Castle, an act which effectively divided the town into "French" and "English" boroughs.
Above: A stone column still marks the spot where a weekday market was held, the old cross long since gone. The steps surrounding the original cross were also used as a place for reading out public proclamations. Across the road is the Nottingham Contemporary Art Gallery, where once stood a Saxon fort, with dwellings carved out of the sandstone below. A few yards up the road is the Galleries of Justice, (formerly Shire hall), which held public executions as late as 1861. A set of stocks stood in this area, and beneath Shire Hall were dungeons believed to have been in use as far back as King John's time. If so, it is not unreasonable to suggest that these were the dungeons said to have held Robin Hood after his arrest at nearby St Mary's Church.
Above: Hen Cross, situated the other side of Nottingham Town Hall from the Market Square, was an ancient Saturday poultry market. By the mid-16th century the road was known as Hencrosse Row, suggesting it still had an identity separate from nearby Market Square, but in 1800 all trace of a cross marker was removed. Stories about Robin Hood say he came here disguised as a chicken vendor in order to spy on events in the city.
Above: Parliament Oak, an all but forgotten tree at the side of the A6075, in a small lay-by often littered by fast food wrappers and subject to some fly-tipping. And yet this was once one of the most important sites in England.
Parliament Oak is thought to be c.1200 years old and hence probably the oldest tree in Sherwood Forest. In its heyday it marked the Hell Dale Gate entrance to the deer park of Clipstone, a much favoured hunting place for Royals from 1180 - 1830. Many large oaks defined the parameters of the park, with a fence running from tree to tree. This park was the sole reserve of Kings, who would stay at nearby King John’s Place, and woe betide anyone caught trespassing or poaching therein!
The tree acquired its name from the Parliaments which are said to have been held here. The most infamous of these, resulting in King John hanging several Welsh boys. (See post on Curse of Nottingham Castle). There is also a report in the "Manor of Warsop Perambulation Document of 1816", that the Ancient Barons met King John here in order to present him with the details of the Magna Carter, later signed at Runnymede. One further royal’s story linking this oak with Edward 1st, tells of the King calling Parliament to meet here in 1290, when on his way to Scotland.
During the English Civil War (1642 -46) many ancient oaks were felled and used for the Royal Navy, but happily this one survived albeit in a neglected state through the subsequent decades. Parliament Oak’s appearance of having two trunks only occurred over the last 300 years, after the centre became hollow, and split into two sections.
Above: Pilgrim Oak stands in front of the gates to Newstead Abbey. This is the spot where pilgrims would stop to read from the bible before moving on to the Priory itself. On the opposite side of the road is The Hutt Inn, where travellers would gather together in larger numbers before passing through the notorious Thieves Wood on their way to Mansfield and beyond. Beneath the road are the remains of an underground tunnel linking the Abbey with The Hutt Inn.
For obvious reasons Pilgrim Oak is also sometimes referred to as the Gospel Oak, and it is thought that the site was also the place where people would gather to celebrate various religious festivals during the year. Happily, it remains in a superb, healthy condition to this day.
Above: The 'Byron Oak' was planted by the poet himself in the grounds of Newstead Abbey when he first arrived there in 1798, his ancestral home in Nottinghamshire.
As late as 1850, the tree was described as being of “a goodly size, considering the slow growth of the oak”. However, when visiting the abbey in 1807 he found the tree choked with weeds and almost destroyed. Hence his poem:
" Young oak, when I planted thee deep in the ground, I hoped that thy days would be longer than mine; That thy dark waving branches would nourish around And ivy thy trunk with its mantle entwine.
When lack of finances forced Byron to sell Newstead, finding a buyer was not easy. In 1818, two years after Byron had left England for good, his school friend Col. Thomas Wildman purchased the estate for £94,500, and would invest another £100,000 refurbishing the house and gardens.
Colonel Wildman disliked the placing of the oak and almost had it cut down for fear of it obscuring the view from the south façade. As we can see today, the tree was not removed, although its care in subsequent decades is questionable considering its rather sad, stump like status today.
Below: "Robin of Sherwood" TV series, 1984 / 1986.
The current building dates from 1671, but the church which originally stood on this site is said to be the place Robin Hood would both hide and use to worship. In the very earliest ballads about Robin Hood he declares bishops and archbishops (plus of course the Sheriff of Nottingham), to be his main enemies. But we also learn from those ballads that Robin would pray on a daily basis to the Virgin Mary.
St Nicholas Church stands in what was the predominantly Saxon part of Nottingham town after the uprisings which followed the Norman Conquest. If Robin Hood was a descendant of those who lost lands and property to Norman lords, then he may well have felt safer amongst the company he found here.
Above: "Robin Hood", 2010. "Robin of Sherwood" TV Series, 1984-86. "A Challenge for Robin Hood", 1967.
