Robin Hood figure (Mottram Moor): Difference between revisions

From International Robin Hood Bibliography
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__NOTOC__{{PlaceNamesItemTop|Lat=53.45897|Lon=-2.00017|AdministrativeDivision=Cheshire|Vicinity=At a well on or near Carrhouse Lane, on S side of A57 in Mottram Moor, near Mottram in Longdendale
__NOTOC__{{PlaceNamesItemTop|Lat=53.45897|Lon=-2.00017|AdministrativeDivision=Cheshire|Vicinity=At a well on or near Carrhouse Lane, on S side of A57 in Mottram Moor, near Mottram in Longdendale
|Type=Artifact|Interest=Artifacts|
|Type=Artifact|Interest=Artifacts|
Status=Extant|Demonym=|Riding=|GreaterLondon=|Year=1993|Aka=|Century=|Cluster1=Mottram Moor|Cluster2=|Cluster3=|Image=robin-hood-figure-mottram-moor-google-earth.jpg|Postcards=|ExtraCat1=|ExtraCat2=|ExtraCat3=|ExtraCat4=|ExtraCat5=|ExtraLink1=|ExtraLink2=|ExtraLink3=|ExtraLink4=|ExtraLink5=|ExtraLinkName1=|ExtraLinkName2=|ExtraLinkName3=|ExtraLinkName4=|ExtraLinkName5=|GeopointPrefix=|GeopointSuffix=|VicinitySuffix=|StatusSuffix=|DatePrefix=|DateSuffix=}}
Status=Extant|Demonym=|Riding=|GreaterLondon=|Year=1993|Aka=|Century=|Cluster1=Mottram Moor|Cluster2=|Cluster3=|Image=robin-hood-figure-mottram-moor-google-earth.jpg|Postcards=|ExtraCat1=|ExtraCat2=|ExtraCat3=|ExtraCat4=|ExtraCat5=|ExtraLink1=|ExtraLink2=|ExtraLink3=|ExtraLink4=|ExtraLink5=|ExtraLinkName1=|ExtraLinkName2=|ExtraLinkName3=|ExtraLinkName4=|ExtraLinkName5=|GeopointPrefix=Near |GeopointSuffix= ?|VicinitySuffix=|StatusSuffix=|DatePrefix=|DateSuffix=}}
{{#display_map:{{#var:Coords}}~{{#replace:{{PAGENAME}}|&#39;|'}}|width=34%|fullscreen=yes}}<div class="pnMapLegend">{{PAGENAME}}.</div>
{{#display_map:{{#var:Coords}}~{{#replace:{{PAGENAME}}|&#39;|'}}|width=34%|fullscreen=yes}}<div class="pnMapLegend">{{PAGENAME}}.</div>
[[File:{{#var:Image}}|thumb|right|500px|The figure is said to have been found near a well near Carrhouse Lane in Mottram Moor / Google Earth.]]
[[File:{{#var:Image}}|thumb|right|500px|The figure is said to have been found near a well near Carrhouse Lane in Mottram Moor / Google Earth.]]
<div class="no-img"><p id="byline">By {{subst:#realname:{{REVISIONUSER}}}}, {{subst:CURRENTYEAR}}-{{subst:CURRENTMONTH}}-{{subst:CURRENTDAY2}}. Revised by {{#realname:{{REVISIONUSER}}}}, {{REVISIONYEAR}}-{{REVISIONMONTH}}-{{REVISIONDAY2}}.</p>
<div class="no-img"><p id="byline">By Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2021-06-18. Revised by {{#realname:{{REVISIONUSER}}}}, {{REVISIONYEAR}}-{{REVISIONMONTH}}-{{REVISIONDAY2}}.</p>
A sculpture found at or near a well on or near Carrhouse Lane in Mottram Moor was believed locally to depict Robin Hood and was accordingly known under that name.
A sculpture found at or near a well on or near Carrhouse Lane in Mottram Moor was believed locally to depict Robin Hood and was accordingly known under that name.


The artifact was described as follows in 1998:
The artifact was described as follows in 1998:
<div class="plainquote">[...] an attractive squatting full-size figure from Mottram Moor which may depict a native hunting deity. This figure is a half-life sized sculpture carved in one piece upon a low square plinth. Found near a spring, the figure once carried a bow which has since been lost, as at some stage the carving has been damaged [p. 229:] resulting in the loss of the left hand. [...] the circumstances of its original discovery remain unclear but in local tradition the figure was known as "<keyword>Robin Hood</keyword>" and a public house near the find-spot took its name from the local traditions surrounding the figure. [...] the "squatting" figure is [...] enigmatic in style due to the rarity of Celtic depiction of the full human figure. The face shows typical "Celtic" features in respect of the small lentoid eyes and individual curls of hair carved upon the head in Graceo-Roman style, and wears a short tunic which can be compared with figures known from Gaul, of second century AD date.<ref>{{:Clarke, David 1998a}}, pp. 228-29, 263 nn. 78, 79.</ref></div>
<div class="plainquote">[...] an attractive squatting full-size figure from Mottram Moor which may depict a native hunting deity. This figure is a half-life sized sculpture carved in one piece upon a low square plinth. Found near a spring, the figure once carried a bow which has since been lost, as at some stage the carving has been damaged [p. 229:] resulting in the loss of the left hand. [...] the circumstances of its original discovery remain unclear but in local tradition the figure was known as "<keyword>Robin Hood</keyword>" and a public house near the find-spot took its name from the local traditions surrounding the figure. [...] the "squatting" figure is [...] enigmatic in style due to the rarity of Celtic depiction of the full human figure. The face shows typical "Celtic" features in respect of the small lentoid eyes and individual curls of hair carved upon the head in Graceo-Roman style, and wears a short tunic which can be compared with figures known from Gaul, of second century AD date.<ref>{{:Clarke, David 1998a}}, pp. 228-29, 263 nn. 78, 79. IRHB's brackets.</ref></div>


The sculpture was acquired by Manchester Museum in 1974.<ref>Clarke, ''op. cit.'', p. 263 n. 78. Manchester Museum collection accession number, 1974.46.</ref> The local traditions were collected during interviews carried out in 1993 and 1996.<ref>Clarke, ''op. cit.'', p. 263 n. 79.</ref>
Comparable figures are known from Northumberland,  Lancashire and South Yorkshire. It has been suggested that the head of the figure was reworked at some point to remove a hood or horns and that the sculpture depicts Cernunnos. If its date remains uncertain, the sculpture bears clear marks of Romano-Celtic influence.<ref>{{:Clarke, David 1998a}}, pp. 229, 263 n. 81.</ref>
 
A look at the early 6" O.S. maps listed below will make it clear that there were several wells in the immediate vicinity, any of which may have been that where the sculpture was found. The coordinate indicated on the interactive map on this page is or was the location of one of these wells. It is quite unclear if this is the well in question. The artifact was acquired by Manchester Museum in 1974.<ref>Clarke, ''op. cit.'', p. 263 n. 78. Manchester Museum collection accession number, 1974.46.</ref> The local traditions were first recorded as late as 1993 and 1996.<ref>Clarke, ''op. cit.'', p. 263 n. 79.</ref> If the name of the public house was in fact inspired by the sculpture, the latter would have to have been discovered no later than 1798, when the [[Robin Hood (Mottram Moor)|Robin Hood public house]] first figures in the records. While this is of course possible, it must be noted that IRHB currently includes information on {{#ask:[[Category:English place-names]][[PlaceNamesType::Public house]]|format=count}} public houses named after Robin Hood, and with the possible – though not likely – exception of this at Mottram Moor, not one of them seems to have needed such an exotic reason to acquire the name Robin Hood. In all probability the [[Robin Hood Farm (Mottram Moor)|Robin Hood Farm]] also situated on Carrhouse Lane was named after the public house, but of course it might also owe its name to the sculpture if this were recorded before 1798.
{{PlaceNamesItemAllusionsAndRecords}}
{{PlaceNamesItemAllusionsAndRecords}}
== Gazetteers ==
== Gazetteers ==
* Not included in {{:Dobson, Richard Barrie 1976a}}, pp. 293-311.
* Not included in {{:Dobson, Richard Barrie 1976a}}, pp. 293-311.
== Sources ==
== Sources ==
* {{:Clarke, David 1998a}}, pp. 228-29, 263 nn. 78, 79.
* {{:Clarke, David 1998a}}, pp. 228-29, 241, 263 nn. 78, 79, 81.
== Maps ==
== Maps ==
* [https://maps.nls.uk/view/114581287#zoom=5&lat=9951&lon=15279&layers=BT 25" O.S. map ''Cheshire'' XI.3 (1886; surveyed 1872)]
* [https://maps.nls.uk/view/114581287#zoom=5&lat=9951&lon=15279&layers=BT 25" O.S. map ''Cheshire'' XI.3 (1886; surveyed 1872)]
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<!--== Discussion ==
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<!--== Background ==
== Background ==
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* [http://harbour.man.ac.uk/mmcustom/narratives/ Manchester Museum: Collections.]
<!--== Brief mention ==
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Latest revision as of 19:49, 18 June 2021

Locality
Coordinate Near 53.45897, -2.00017 ?
Adm. div. Cheshire
Vicinity At a well on or near Carrhouse Lane, on S side of A57 in Mottram Moor, near Mottram in Longdendale
Type Artifact
Interest Artifacts
Status Extant
First Record 1993
Loading map...
Robin Hood figure (Mottram Moor).
The figure is said to have been found near a well near Carrhouse Lane in Mottram Moor / Google Earth.

By Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2021-06-18. Revised by Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2021-06-18.

A sculpture found at or near a well on or near Carrhouse Lane in Mottram Moor was believed locally to depict Robin Hood and was accordingly known under that name.

The artifact was described as follows in 1998:

[...] an attractive squatting full-size figure from Mottram Moor which may depict a native hunting deity. This figure is a half-life sized sculpture carved in one piece upon a low square plinth. Found near a spring, the figure once carried a bow which has since been lost, as at some stage the carving has been damaged [p. 229:] resulting in the loss of the left hand. [...] the circumstances of its original discovery remain unclear but in local tradition the figure was known as "Robin Hood" and a public house near the find-spot took its name from the local traditions surrounding the figure. [...] the "squatting" figure is [...] enigmatic in style due to the rarity of Celtic depiction of the full human figure. The face shows typical "Celtic" features in respect of the small lentoid eyes and individual curls of hair carved upon the head in Graceo-Roman style, and wears a short tunic which can be compared with figures known from Gaul, of second century AD date.[1]

Comparable figures are known from Northumberland, Lancashire and South Yorkshire. It has been suggested that the head of the figure was reworked at some point to remove a hood or horns and that the sculpture depicts Cernunnos. If its date remains uncertain, the sculpture bears clear marks of Romano-Celtic influence.[2]

A look at the early 6" O.S. maps listed below will make it clear that there were several wells in the immediate vicinity, any of which may have been that where the sculpture was found. The coordinate indicated on the interactive map on this page is or was the location of one of these wells. It is quite unclear if this is the well in question. The artifact was acquired by Manchester Museum in 1974.[3] The local traditions were first recorded as late as 1993 and 1996.[4] If the name of the public house was in fact inspired by the sculpture, the latter would have to have been discovered no later than 1798, when the Robin Hood public house first figures in the records. While this is of course possible, it must be noted that IRHB currently includes information on 236 public houses named after Robin Hood, and with the possible – though not likely – exception of this at Mottram Moor, not one of them seems to have needed such an exotic reason to acquire the name Robin Hood. In all probability the Robin Hood Farm also situated on Carrhouse Lane was named after the public house, but of course it might also owe its name to the sculpture if this were recorded before 1798.

Gazetteers

Sources

Maps

Background

Also see


Notes