Robin Hood's Well (Helmshore)
From International Robin Hood Bibliography
| Locality | |
|---|---|
| Coordinate | 53.671858, -2.336613 |
| Adm. div. | Lancashire |
| Vicinity | On Moor Road, c. 2 km S of Helmshore, c. 2 km N of Stubbins |
| Type | Natural feature |
| Interest | Robin Hood name |
| Status | Extant |
| First Record | 1850 |
Robin Hood's Well.
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, 2021-01-07.
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.[1]
'Stake Lane' is or was the local name for a stretch of Moor Road.[2] 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.[3]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.[1]
Allusions
1893 - Elliot, W Hume - Country and Church of Cheeryble Brothers
A few yards down Stake Lane is Robin Hood's Well, with an ancient well-hewn coping-stone over it of ample dimensions.[4]
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].
Also see
Notes
- ↑ Robin Hood's Well, near Helmshore by John Crawshaw.
- ↑ The Journal of Antiquities: Robin Hood’s Well, Helmshore, Lancashire; by Ray Spencer.
- ↑ See Maps section.
- ↑ Elliot, W. Hume. The Country and Church of the Cheeryble Brothers (Selkirk, 1893), p. 11.
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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.
