1835 - Cromwell, Thomas - Walks through Islington

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Site of the Robin Hood and Little John, Hoxton.

By Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2018-07-28. Revised by Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2019-02-20.

Allusion

Ere we finally quit Hoxton, and Finsbury Fields, it may be noticed that a public-house, called the Robin Hood, stands within the precincts of the former, and overlooks the latter, which witnessed the expiring games of the metropolitan archers, and was one of their chief places of resort when their sports were over. In our youthful days, the appropriate sign, representing the famed outlaw, and his constant attendant, both in their suits of "Lincoln green," yet swung from an arm of a lofty tree before the door; and the following invitatory couplets met the eye beneath:— [p. 112:]

"Ye Archers bold, and Yeomen good,
Stop and drink with Robin Hood.
If Robin Hood is not at home,
Stop and drink with Little John."

The tree and the sign, the last relics of the "good old times" of Archery, have, however, disappeared; and the house, having acquired a modern fron, is merely called "The Robin Hood" by way of customary distinction for houses "in the public line."

Source notes

IRHB's brackets.

IRHB comments

See the page on Robin Hood and Little John (Hoxton).

Lists

• Not included in Dobson, R. B., ed.; Taylor, J., ed. Rymes of Robyn Hood: an Introduction to the English Outlaw (London, 1976), pp. 293-19.
• 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.

Editions

• Cromwell, Thomas. Walks through Islington; comprising an Historical and Descriptive Account of that Extensive and Important District, both in its Ancient and Present State: Together with some Particulars of the Most Remarkable Objects Immediately Adjacent (London, 1835); see pp. 111-12.

Background

• Wikipedia: Hoxton.

Notes

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