SoA Forum

History => Ancient and Medieval History => Topic started by: Imperial Dave on Feb 15, 2026, 06:28 AM

Title: Robin Hood a symbol of medieval resistance
Post by: Imperial Dave on Feb 15, 2026, 06:28 AM
https://www.thecollector.com/robin-hood-symbol-medieval-resistance/

Robin Hood, Robin Hood riding through the forest....
Title: Re: Robin Hood a symbol of medieval resistance
Post by: Dave Knight on Feb 15, 2026, 10:35 AM
The forest :o  :o  :o

The Glen  ;D  ;D  ;D
Title: Re: Robin Hood a symbol of medieval resistance
Post by: Erpingham on Feb 15, 2026, 11:12 AM
It needs to be glen to rhyme with "band of men"  :)
Title: Re: Robin Hood a symbol of medieval resistance
Post by: Nick Harbud on Feb 15, 2026, 02:05 PM
Yeah, but there are no glens near Nottingham.  There are a few in places in England like Cumbria and Cornwall where they occur, but this seems a bit far to trot whether it is with one's band of merry men or just by oneself....  ???
Title: Re: Robin Hood a symbol of medieval resistance
Post by: Erpingham on Feb 15, 2026, 02:22 PM
Quote from: Nick Harbud on Feb 15, 2026, 02:05 PMYeah, but there are no glens near Nottingham.

But Robin Hood hung out in Yorkshire, in Barnsdale Forest. He died at Kirklees priory. And Shipley has a glen (home to the Shipley Glen Tramway, aka the Cape to Cairo railway).  :)
Title: Re: Robin Hood a symbol of medieval resistance
Post by: Nick Harbud on Feb 15, 2026, 03:17 PM
Oh no!  Are you trying to tell me that Robin passed up the opportunity to annoy the Sheriff of York in favour of catching the train to Nottingham.  He must have really hated that Guy de Gisborne!

Also, are you sure that the Glen near Shipley is not using the term derived from the Brittonic glan, meaning shining (as in water from a stream or brook)?

???

Title: Re: Robin Hood a symbol of medieval resistance
Post by: Erpingham on Feb 15, 2026, 04:02 PM
Shipley Glen probably owes it's name to Victorian romanticism and is a reference to Scottish glens, to be honest. Before then, it was have been a useless wooded rocky hillside that nobody bothered about.  Further along Glen Road from the top of the tramway are a good collection of cup-and-ring stones, for those who like a bit of prehistory.

Gisburn, though currently in Lancashire was, before the 20th century, in the West Riding of Yorkshire. Just like Kirklees Abbey (currently West Yorkshire) and Barnsdale (currently South Yorkshire). Robin killed Guy in Barnsdale Forest. I suspect this particular tale may originally be from Yorkshire, therefore. Though the version we currently have is apparently 17th century, so who can say?