Sheffield Telegraph
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8 THE STAR www.thestar.co.uk Thursday, August 29, 2019 Thursday, August 29, 2019 www.thestar.co.uk THE STAR 9 NEWS NEWS NEWSw IN FOCUS INVESTIGATING THE LEGEND OF THE OUTLAW AND HIS MERRY MEN 'Bring Robin Hood back to Loxley': Campaign launched for folk hero Molly Williams was born in Nottingham and spent a good part of her childhood playing games inspired by Robin Hood, in her words ‘exploring the castles and caves and waving sticks around the garden wearing a green hat’. But as a journalist with The Star and an honorary Sheffielder, she says the truth cannot be ignored... obin Hood was a Sheffielder. It comes ahead of a special outdoor and Little John lived in this part of York- He was born in Loxley, ‘Everyone associates screening of the ‘definitive’ 1938 film shire at that time. What we cannot say for roamed the forests of South Nottingham with him The Adventures of Robin Hood, starring sure is this was the Robin Hood and Little Yorkshire – which are now Errol Flynn, at Storrs Wood this Satur- John, if such individuals ever existed out- towns and cities – drank from but that really is a day, August 31, and the publication of a side the legend that we are familiar with its springs, regularly took modern thing, if you booklet exploring the legend in today.” SHEFFIELD’S CLAIM TO refuge in a cave on Stanage Yorkshire. Jo Wingate, of Sensoria, THE ROBIN HOOD Edge and his right hand man – go back to the earliest There are also plans to said it was nice to see the Little John – is said to be buried up the road records he’s from install plaques, mapping local enthusiasm for the LEGEND – THE EVIDENCE: Rin Hathersage. And people can still visit out important places campaign already. most of these places today. Yorkshire. So all we in the Robin Hood She added: “Senso- n Born at Little Haggas Croft, Loxley The merry outlaw is one of the most are trying to do is get legend, and those Robin Hood’s ria is a festival that is famous folk heroes in English history but it involved even hope a cave on very grounded in Shef- n Contemporary ballads describe his seems many do not know him at all. that recognised, not statue can be put up Stanage field and we’ve always home as being in South Yorkshire Nottingham claimed him as their own upset Nottingham’ of the man himself Edge celebrated Sheffield with statues, visitor centres, tours and in Sheffield, simi- talent. n Said to have used a spot on Stanage merchandise. Modern comics, TV shows, lar to the monument “This year our Edge – Robin Hood’s Cave – as a films, plays and poetry also say he based Dr David Clarke, that stands outside the theme is myths and hideout himself in Sherwood Forest, stormed co-founder of CCL entrance to Notting- legends and we’ve always Nottingham Castle and battled feuds ham Castle. sort of harboured this feel- n Believed to have met with Maid with his arch nemesis the Sheriff of Not- Dr David Clarke, co- ing of ‘it’s a shame we don’t Marian at the Trysting Tree, near tingham, his Sheffield roots are rarely founder of CCL, said it was do more to celebrate Robin Todwick recognised aside from using his formal time to ‘bring Robin back home’. Hood of Loxley’ so we thought this name, Robin of Loxley. He said: “There is a long and year is the year to do it. There are so n Sidekick Little John is reputedly However, sources from as far back as ancient tradition that he was many on-screen depictions of buried at St Michael’s Churchyard in more than 500 years ago tell a different born in Loxley. But if you’re a Robin Hood so it seemed like Hathersage tale. visitor to Sheffield and are Re-enactment event at the a natural thing for us as a Even his mantra was a myth. ‘Rob the interested in Robin Hood, Robin Hood and Little John festival. rich and feed the poor’ was more ‘steal and there’s nowhere to go. Inn, Greaves Lane, Little “One of the main for- spend’ with his merry men, according to There’s no markers or Matlock ests that was a stomp- dozens of ballads written about him at the statues. If you go to ing ground for him was time which also pinpoint his stomping Nottingham, who have Barnsdale forest… he ground as South Yorkshire. There are even sort of appropriated did go to Nottingham conflicting theories about when he would him, there are loads of to do tournaments and have lived, with some claiming he would places to visit. But here, things but it’s more likely not have been alive during King Richard the place where he was his stomping ground was the Lionheart’s reign. born, there’s zero. Yorkshire. We do have a So the Sensoria festival and the Centre “Everyone associates very strong claim.” for Contemporary Legend are on a mission Nottingham with him but The story has been to set the record straight and bring Robin that really is a modern thing, if depicted on screen dozens of Hood back home to Loxley. you go back to the earliest records times. As well as the Flynn movie, Their campaign kicks off this week he’s from Yorkshire. So all we are try- there is a famous animated Disney version with the launch of an app of key sites in ing to do is get that recognised, not upset from 1973, the 1991 picture Robin Hood: Yorkshire. It includes audio and images of Nottingham.” Prince of Thieves starring Kevin Costner, Robin Hood’s cave on Stanage Edge, Little He added that as an elusive character, it and last year’s Robin Hood, directed by John’s Grave in Hathersage, the Trysting is difficult to pin down where Robin lived Otto Bathurst, which starred Jamie Foxx Tree in Rotherham under which Robin but said South Yorkshire had the strongest as Little John and Taron Egerton as Robin. is said to have met with Maid Marian and connection to the legend. n Visit www.sensoria.org.uk/events/the- Little Haggas Croft in Loxley where he was “There is some evidence that a man or adventures-of-robin-hood-u-outdoor- born. men who called themselves Robin Hood screenings for tickets to the screenings. Re-enactment event at the Robin Hood and Little John Inn, Greaves Lane, Little Matlock.