Robin Hood Inn (Smithfield)

From International Robin Hood Bibliography
Locality
Coordinate 54.979635, -2.87477
Adm. div. Cumberland
Vicinity In Smithfield, c. 10 km NNE of Carlisle
Type Public house
Interest Robin Hood name
Status Extant
First Record 1868
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The Robin Hood Inn.

By Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2017-02-21. Revised by Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2021-03-21.

In Smithfield, c. 10 km NNE of Carlisle, is found the Robin Hood Inn, a.k.a. the Robin Hood. The earliest record of it that I have found so far is a 6" O.S. map of the area published in 1868, based on surveying carried out in 1864 (see Maps section below). It has been suggested that the present red-brick building dates from the 1890's,[1] but it is perhaps more likely to have been built in 1904. The pub has an entranceway complete with columns, pediment and entablature. Into the tympanum is carved the dates "A. D. 17[18] – 1904" ("18" is partly erased and looks more like "16") while the entablature has the inscription "ROBIN HOOD INN" (see photos on this page). These presumably came from an older building, so very likely the pub dates back to 1718. I do not know whether the two inscriptions – year and name – are coeval and so cannot rule out the possibility that the pub originally operated under another name but was later renamed the Robin Hood Inn. It is quite likely, but not certain, that the Robin Hood dates back to 1718.

Gazetteers

Sources

Maps

Background

Also see

Notes