Robin Hood's Well (Helmshore)

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Robin Hood's Well.

[[File:|thumb|right|500px|Robin Hood's Well / Paul Anderson, 11 Sep. 2007, Creative Commons, via Geograph.]]

By Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2014-10-16. Revised by Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2019-05-31.

This well is situated on Moor Road about midway between Helmshore and Stubbins. John Crawshaw has recently described it as follows:

The spring issues out from beneath a large, worn stone capping: shaped rather like a flattened pyramid with a blunt apex. This is set against a dry-stone wall by the side of Stake Lane. The water falls from the well-head into a small pool and the whole arrangement of stones has the appearance of great age.
     The flattened-pyramid-shaped piece of sandstone covering the well has several worn, carved indentations upon it, one of which, near the left-hand side at the front is a wide groove. It is possible that this was made by the wearing down of the stone by a chain securing a drinking cup at its end. However, no trace of any chain or cup can now be discerned.

'Stake Lane' is or was the local name for a stretch of Moor Road. The well is indicated on the 1850 6" O.S. map of the area, based on a survey carried out 1844-47. It is found on all subsequent 6" O.S. map of the area avilable at NLS.Template:PnItemQry

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

• Robin Hood's Well, near Helmshore by John Crawshaw
• Dowsett, Henry. Notes on Holcombe (Manchester, 1901), p. 75
• Dowsett, Henry. Holcombe long ago (Manchester, 1902). Not seen.

Maps

• 6" O.S. map Lancashire Sheet LXXIX (1850, surveyed 1844-47)
• 6" O.S. map Lancashire Sheet LXXIX.NE (1894, surveyed 1891)
• 6" O.S. map Lancashire Sheet LXXIX.NE (1912, surveyed 1908)
• 6" O.S. map Lancashire Sheet LXXIX.NE (1930, surveyed 1927)
• 6" O.S. map Lancashire Sheet LXXIX.NE (1947, surveyed 1938).

Discussion

• The Journal of Antiquities: Robin Hood’s Well, Helmshore, Lancashire; by Ray Spencer
• Lancashire Past: Robin Hood’s Well, Helmshore near Bury
• [Sutton, Charles W.], ed. 'Proceedings', Transactions of the Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society, vol. XXIII (1905), pp. 199-226; see pp. 206-207.

Brief mention

• Farrer, William, ed.; Brownbill, J., ed. The Victoria History of the County of Lancaster (London, 1906), vol. V, p. 144. Web version at British History Online
• [Sutton, Charles W.], ed. 'Visits and Excursions made by the Society in 1905', Transactions of the Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society, vol. XXIII (1905), p. [iv].

Notes

• 

  Robin Hood's Well / Paul Anderson, 11 Sep. 2007, Creative Commons, via Geograph.

• 

  Robin Hood's Well / Panoramio user 'jolmartyn', 2011.

• 

  Robin Hood's Well / H. Dowsett's Holcombe long ago (1902) via Ramsbottom Heritage Society.

• 

  Anonymous. Robin Hood's Well, Helmshore ([s.l.], [s.d.]). Picture post­card (monochrome). 140 x 89 mm / eBay.