The Grave Of Robin Hood!
I have longed to see this place for many many years, way before I even knew of this forum and long before I walked into my first derelict building being a manor house, I guess most "explorers" have a site they have always wanted to see but circumstances forbids it, be it too far or even not standing anymore, but seeing a site you once saw years an years ago is always a brilliant achievement, no matter what it is.
I am sure many of you would agree, England has so much history hidden around and scattered across the places many dont often look, an not just assumptions of exploring old buildings just by its general content inside. Its always good too see history infront of you no matter how "odd" or "controversial" it may be, but still this place is unique and beautiful to witness in person, an something many cannot find due to red herrings and so on, but after a massive trip recently with the crew (the 13th hour) we was overjoyed to come across it so quickly of course this is part of a private estate, despite how many locals visit it.
So a place surrounded with controversy since the sixteenth century, unsure of its authenticity and with many people unsure of the graves contents it begs the question, what lays beneath?
History
The Cistercian nunnery was founded in honour of the virgin Mary and St. James by Reiner le Fleming during the reign of Henry II (1154 - 89). From the years 1306 to 1315 there was some scandal around here, especially in the case of three of the nuns: Alice Raggid, Elizabeth Hopton and Joan Heton. These ladies were apparently too friendly with some of the male visitors.. (if you catch my drift
).
The nunnery became a refuge for unmarried mother's, but its still best known as the place of Robin Hood's death and burial.
Robin Hoods grave stands today, neglected and abandoned with no intention of repair, many mysteries surround the place with unmarked crosses with no markings and graves found across the estate, yet with no names.
As for the medieval nunnery, only the reconstructed gatehouse survives intact. The buildings of the priory were leveled to the ground and it is believed that the stones were eventually reused for alteration of the hall. The estate is still owned by the Armytage family.
Robin Hood real or not?
From the first time men spoke of him, Robin Hood was believed to have been a real person. Through the centuries there has been much speculation as to who he was, however his identity remains unknown. No one could provide authentic records of his activities, but five of the oldest surviving poems or ballads as they are now called, tell us much of what is known about the legend of this English outlaw.
Robin Hood was traditionally supposed to have been bled to death by the prioress of kirklea Priory . The identity of the prioress is the subject of much debate as indeed is the date of Robin Hood's death.
The earliest reference to the gravestone is in Philemon Holland's English translation of William Camden's Britannia (1610). In the 18th century, Thomas Gale, Dean of York, claimed to have found a poetic epitaph with the date of death given as 8 November 1247, which is the date in the modern calendar that corresponds to 24 Dekembris in the calendar in use in 1247. The language in which it is written is not classified as the received Middle English of the time, but English was then, as it is now, a language with great diversity and many dialects. It is also worth noting that the grave was restored in 1850.
The old writing upon the gravesite reads.
Hear underneath dis laitl stean
Laz robert earl of Huntingtun
Ne’er arcir ver as hie sa geud
An pipl kauld im robin heud
Sick [such] utlawz as he an iz men
Vil england nivr si agen
Obiit 24 kal: Dekembris, 1247.
After an investigation was conducted with the aid of Ground Penetrating Radar, done by the crew of the tv show Expedition Unknown, it was found that there were no indication of a ground disturbance to indicate a burial. Also, no evidence of a body was found
I have longed to see this place for many many years, way before I even knew of this forum and long before I walked into my first derelict building being a manor house, I guess most "explorers" have a site they have always wanted to see but circumstances forbids it, be it too far or even not standing anymore, but seeing a site you once saw years an years ago is always a brilliant achievement, no matter what it is.
I am sure many of you would agree, England has so much history hidden around and scattered across the places many dont often look, an not just assumptions of exploring old buildings just by its general content inside. Its always good too see history infront of you no matter how "odd" or "controversial" it may be, but still this place is unique and beautiful to witness in person, an something many cannot find due to red herrings and so on, but after a massive trip recently with the crew (the 13th hour) we was overjoyed to come across it so quickly of course this is part of a private estate, despite how many locals visit it.
So a place surrounded with controversy since the sixteenth century, unsure of its authenticity and with many people unsure of the graves contents it begs the question, what lays beneath?
History
The Cistercian nunnery was founded in honour of the virgin Mary and St. James by Reiner le Fleming during the reign of Henry II (1154 - 89). From the years 1306 to 1315 there was some scandal around here, especially in the case of three of the nuns: Alice Raggid, Elizabeth Hopton and Joan Heton. These ladies were apparently too friendly with some of the male visitors.. (if you catch my drift
). The nunnery became a refuge for unmarried mother's, but its still best known as the place of Robin Hood's death and burial.
Robin Hoods grave stands today, neglected and abandoned with no intention of repair, many mysteries surround the place with unmarked crosses with no markings and graves found across the estate, yet with no names.
As for the medieval nunnery, only the reconstructed gatehouse survives intact. The buildings of the priory were leveled to the ground and it is believed that the stones were eventually reused for alteration of the hall. The estate is still owned by the Armytage family.
Robin Hood real or not?
From the first time men spoke of him, Robin Hood was believed to have been a real person. Through the centuries there has been much speculation as to who he was, however his identity remains unknown. No one could provide authentic records of his activities, but five of the oldest surviving poems or ballads as they are now called, tell us much of what is known about the legend of this English outlaw.
Robin Hood was traditionally supposed to have been bled to death by the prioress of kirklea Priory . The identity of the prioress is the subject of much debate as indeed is the date of Robin Hood's death.
The earliest reference to the gravestone is in Philemon Holland's English translation of William Camden's Britannia (1610). In the 18th century, Thomas Gale, Dean of York, claimed to have found a poetic epitaph with the date of death given as 8 November 1247, which is the date in the modern calendar that corresponds to 24 Dekembris in the calendar in use in 1247. The language in which it is written is not classified as the received Middle English of the time, but English was then, as it is now, a language with great diversity and many dialects. It is also worth noting that the grave was restored in 1850.
The old writing upon the gravesite reads.
Hear underneath dis laitl stean
Laz robert earl of Huntingtun
Ne’er arcir ver as hie sa geud
An pipl kauld im robin heud
Sick [such] utlawz as he an iz men
Vil england nivr si agen
Obiit 24 kal: Dekembris, 1247.
After an investigation was conducted with the aid of Ground Penetrating Radar, done by the crew of the tv show Expedition Unknown, it was found that there were no indication of a ground disturbance to indicate a burial. Also, no evidence of a body was found
In 1784 Captain James Shuttleworth exhumed the grave to find the bones of a man over seven feet tall!
Could this be robin hood? who will ever know 
Anyway after the long winded history and so fourth, time for the "grave" itself. One I am happy to tick off and I am sure many will find it and document it more, well I hope so! the writing has been decoded before, but if people want too feel free.
On with the moodiness! and the grave/folly whatever it is
Anyway after the long winded history and so fourth, time for the "grave" itself. One I am happy to tick off and I am sure many will find it and document it more, well I hope so! the writing has been decoded before, but if people want too feel free. On with the moodiness! and the grave/folly whatever it is
Thank you everyone for looking, plenty more from my backlog and so much more from trips further than I have been before
