Robin of Loxley (Robin of Locksley).

 

 

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.

Above: "Beyond Sherwood Forest", TV Movie, 2009.