Robin Hood
Robin Hood is one of the world’s best-loved folk heroes and Nottinghamshire is proud of its connection to him. In some versions of the legends, he is depicted as being of noble birth; however, in the oldest known versions of these tales, he is a member of the yeoman class. Traditionally depicted dressed in Lincoln green, he is most famous for robbing the rich to give to the poor.
The first clear reference to "rhymes of Robin Hood" is from the poem, ‘Piers Plowman’ which is thought to have been composed in the 1370s. However, the name of Robin Hood has been synonymous with Sherwood Forest for more than 600 years with the words “Robyn hod in scherewod stod” (“Robin Hood in Sherwood stood”) taken from a poem dating back to around 1400 and the area seems to have adopted him as its own ever since.
On 24th July 1952, the statue of Robin Hood was unveiled by the Duchess of Portland on the Robin Hood Lawn, beneath Nottingham Castle, in the remains of the moat on Castle Road and this is surrounded by plaques and smaller statues, all depicting characters and events from the world famous tales surrounding this hero of folklore.
We came in search of Robin Hood (and Nottingham Lace) on a dull April day. This was the first time we had been to Nottingham for about 25 years when we took our young son to the Robin Hood experience. Somehow, I remembered the city boasting about these links more then than we found on this visit! Apart from the statue and a few tired looking boards about the legends around the city, there was very little celebrating their most famous hero!
Nottingham Castle has recently been reopened after undergoing extensive redevelopment. There is little castle left, but the exhibitions are really well done. On the ground floor, visitors can experience some of the Robin Hood stories ‘in the round’ on storytelling screens. Areas behind this central space offer interactive games and activities. The Rebellion Gallery offers a fascinating look at some tumultuous points in the city’s history, continuing the idea of Nottingham being a place with a rebellious spirit.
The perfect introduction to the legends of this popular folk hero, ‘The Adventures of Robin Hood’ retells these stories in an appealing comic strip style, making them both accessible and entertaining!
The Adventures of Robin Hood
Marcia Williams
Walker ISBN: 978-1406311372
You can read about Little John’s Grave here.
