Woodhouse Ridge (Leeds)

Locality
Coordinate	53.81937, -1.560043
Adm. div.	West Riding of Yorkshire
Vicinity	In Leeds, c. 4 km NW of city centre
Type	Natural feature
Interest	Local tradition
Status	Defunct? (tradition)
First Record	1891

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Woodhouse Ledge in Leeds, where Robin Hood challenged the local lord and his men to a fight..

By Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2016-12-17. Revised by Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2021-01-06.

The 1891 allusion cited below mentions what appears to be a local tradition that Robin Hood challenged and fought "the lord of the manor" somewhere on the ridge.

Allusions

1891 - Gray, Johnnie - Through Airedale from Goole to Malham (1)

To Seven Arches and back by the Ridge, 7 m. 'Bus may be taken as far as the Beckett's Arms, Meanwood, whence l[eft]. through fields and wood to Scotland Mill, in the picturesque Meanwood valley. The old mill is now a bleach works, but was formerly a flax mill. Beyond, in the distance, is Meanwood Forest, the haunt, in the Middle Ages, of the wild boar, the badger, and wolf; at the foot of which is the ancient Smithy mill, now used for grinding corn. Above this we come to the Seven Arches, a favourite resort of artists. Mr. Gilbert Foster once drew a representation of the view of the valley from this point, which was admirably displayed on the stage of the Grand Theatre in Leeds. The lofty aqueduct was formerly used to convey the town's water across the valley. The return journey can now be made over Woodhouse Ridge and the Moor, wide views being obtainable from the upland walk; the finest, perhaps, being that from the top walk of the Ridge, going towards Batty Wood. It was here that the bold outlaw, Robin Hood, threw down 'the glove' to the lord of the manor and his men, and then, it is said, there was a "merry scene."

Gazetteers

• Not included in Dobson, R. B., ed.; Taylor, J., ed. Rymes of Robyn Hood: an Introduction to the English Outlaw (London, 1976), pp. 293-311.

Sources

• Gray, Johnnie. Through Airedale from Goole to Malham (Leeds; Bradford; Skipton; Goole, 1891), p. 67; and see p. 66 for section heading.

Maps

• 6" O.S. map Yorkshire CCIII.SW (1895; surveyed 1888-90)
• 6" O.S. map Yorkshire CCIII.SW (1909; rev. 1906)
• 6" O.S. map Yorkshire CCIII.SW (1933; rev. 1933-34) [sic]
• 6" O.S. map Yorkshire CCIII.SW (1947; rev. 1938).

Background

• Wikipedia: Woodhouse.

Notes

 West Riding of Yorkshire place-names

 Yorkshire place-names

 Place-names