The Haunts of Robin Hood (3)

Robin Hood's Bay (Map ref Sheet 94 952055) is mentioned in Leyland's Itinery as, "a fischer tounlet of 20 bootes caullid Robyn Huddes Bay, a dok or bosom of a mile in length".

There are alarming descriptions of the village by Victorian visitors, who speak of the peoples' houses being scattered over the face of a steep cliff and hanging in an awful manner on to the projecting ledges of precipices; and also of entire families being swept away into a watery grave on stormy nights. Eventually the entire cliff fell away and the villagers had to build their homes in more sensible places - though even these days, they still seem very exposed.

'When his robberies," says Master Charlton, 'became so numerous, and the outeries against him so loud, as almost to alarm the whole nation, parties of soldiers were sent down from London to appre- hend him.. and then it was, that, fearing for his safety, he found it necessary to desert his usual haunts, and, retreating northward to cross the moors that sur- rounded Whitby (one side whereof happens, a little unfortunately, to lye open to the sea,) where, gaining the sea coast, he always had in readiness, some small fishing vessels, to which he could have refuge, if he found himself pursued; for, in these, putting off to sea, he locked upon himself as quite secure, and held the, whole power of the English nation at defiance."

Robin Hood one mile north of Catterick Bridge (map ref sheet 93 224004) is a small hamlet along the course of the old Great North Road also known as the Roman Dere Street.

Robin Hood's Butts (map ref sheet 94 963018) are three mounds south of a beacon at Stoupe Brow about a mile from Robin Hood's Bay 775 feet above sea level. This is where Robin and his men supposedly exercised with their longbows. An excavation in 1771 found one of the mounds to be an ancient burial site.

Robin Hood's Butts two miles north of Danby (map ref sheet 94 712114) are three tumuli on Danby Low Moor. There are other tumuli further north on Gerrick Moor, towards Skelton.

Robin Hood's Howl is one mile west of Kirbymoorside (Map ref sheet 94 682869) and is a hole or hollow on southern escarpment of the North Yorkshire Moors.

Robin Hood's Tower in Richmond Castle (Map ref sheet 92 172007) is an 11th century tower projecting from the curtain wall of the castle.

The Little John, Hathersage (Map ref sheet 101 235815) is the inn where legend has it the two outlaws met for the last time.

Robin Hood's Well (Map ref sheet 98 057866) is at the source of a hill stream on Melmerby Moor, three miles south-west of Wensley in Wensleydale.

Loxley (Map ref sheet 111 307899) three miles north-west of Sheffield, is thought by some to be the birthplace of Robin Hood.

Robin Hood's Bower and Moss (Map ref sheet 110 355945?) is four miles north of Sheffield. The precise site of this place appears to be lost but is mentioned in Robin Hood's Bower, Bower Wood printed near Ecclesfield in 1637.

Robin Hood's Cottage Four miles northeast of Huddersfield (Map ref SE12SE 173215) is on the other side of Wakefield Road opposite Robin Hood's Grave in the grounds of Kirklees Estate.

Robin Hood Hill (Map ref SE32SW 320237) is two miles north of Wakefield and is a hill immediately west of the village of Outwood. It is mentioned as "Robinhoodstreteclose" in a Wakefield Court Roll of 1650. There are a Robin Hood house and a Robin Hood bridge in this vicinity.