1822 - Rhodes, Ebenezer - Peak Scenery (2)
By Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2018-01-01. Revised by Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2019-04-05.
Allusion
An unfrequented path of another quarter of a mile led us to the base of Mock Beggar Hall, a curious assemblage of sand-stone rocks thrown confusedly together, yet so arranged as to form at a distance a strong resemblance to a regular building, with a huge chimney at each extremity; hence the name which this mass of rocks has obtained: the stony towers at each end are called Robin Hood's Stride.[1]
Source notes
Peak Scenery was first published 1818 to 1823, in four parts. Part III, which includes the above passage, was published in 1822. The passage recurs unchanged in the 1824 edition (see section Sources below).
IRHB comments
While Rhodes's explanation of the name "Mockbeggar's Hall" sounds very reasonable, I doubt if he is right that the name "Robin Hood's Stride" was applied to the two pinnacles collectively. Was it not rather the distance between them and hence, by an almost inevitable association, the entire formation that was (and still is) called Robin Hood's Stride?
This may well be the earliest literary allusion to Robin Hood's Stride.
Lists
- Not included in Dobson, R. B., ed.; Taylor, J., ed. Rymes of Robyn Hood: an Introduction to the English Outlaw (London, 1976), pp. 293-11.
- Outside scope of Sussex, Lucy, compil. 'References to Robin Hood up to 1600', in: Knight, Stephen. Robin Hood: A Complete Study of the English Outlaw (Oxford, UK; Cambridge, Massachusetts: Blackwell, 1994), pp. 262-88.
Sources
- Rhodes, E. Peak Scenery, or, Excursions in Derbyshire: made chiefly for the Purpose of Picturesque Observation (London; Sheffield, 1818-1823), pt. III, p. 88.
Background
Notes