Installation of the Prioress
The Gatehouse.
This Tudor gatehouse, where Robin is supposed to have died, did not exist during Robin’s lifetime. Robin died in the priory administered by his cousin, and according to local tradition, the priory stood near the Three Nuns Inn, set back from the road. “Passing travellers in various conditions of distress sought refuge there; they turned no one away.” Robin said, “Bury me where my arrow falls,” and by the roadside were two stone slabs in memory of the plague victims. On the first slab, they carved a cross, and on the other slab, their names and dates. How fitting if Robin’s arrow had landed near the road and they buried him alongside his namesake, separated only by the passing years. The folly masquerading as Robin’s grave, built high up a hill behind the gatehouse centuries after his death, is too far away for even the strongest archer. Neither is there a window in the back wall of the gatehouse from which to shoot an arrow. However, the folly is a grand monument, and Robin deserves our full respect. (Picture: Stephen Hill)
Two Yorkshire families known to Robin Hood were the Savile and Mounteney families. The Mounteney family lived in Loxley and Sheffield, and when Robin fled to Kirklees while still young, the prioress was Margaret Savile. After the birth of Robin’s cousin, Sir Thomas de Savile granted the manor in Dodworth called Seyvile Hall to Sir Thomas de Mounteney, plus his lands in Stainborough. Then, John Mounteney, a knight whose family had received land from Sir Thomas de Savile, granted the advowson (vacancy) of the church to the prioress and gave his estate in Mirfield to the convent of Kirklees. He did this in the company of John Woderoue, John de Amyas, and William de Sandale (chaplain). In this way, Alice de Mounteney of Loxley became the prioress of Kirklees in 1402.
The Mounteney, Furnivall, and Neville families share the same family tree. Famous for their red hair, the Neville family held land in County Durham, Yorkshire, Cumberland, Northumberland, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, and Essex. Nobody could have passed through their land without Red Roger’s knowledge.
Not that it has anything to do with Robin Hood, but the Brontë family grew up in Mirfield, where their father was the vicar. Charlotte’s friend lived in Hathersage.
Copyright © 2020, Graham Kirkby All rights reserved. NEXT PAGE
Robin Hood from the Ballads
This Tudor gatehouse, where Robin is supposed to have died, did not exist during Robin’s lifetime. Robin died in the priory administered by his cousin, and according to local tradition, the priory stood near the Three Nuns Inn, set back from the road. “Passing travellers in various conditions of distress sought refuge there; they turned no one away.” Robin said, “Bury me where my arrow falls,” and by the roadside were two stone slabs in memory of the plague victims. On the first slab, they carved a cross, and on the other slab, their names and dates. How fitting if Robin’s arrow had landed near the road and they buried him alongside his namesake, separated only by the passing years. The folly masquerading as Robin’s grave, built high up a hill behind the gatehouse centuries after his death, is too far away for even the strongest archer. Neither is there a window in the back wall of the gatehouse from which to shoot an arrow. However, the folly is a grand monument, and Robin deserves our full respect. (Picture: Stephen Hill)
Two Yorkshire families known to Robin Hood were the Savile and Mounteney families. The Mounteney family lived in Loxley and Sheffield, and when Robin fled to Kirklees while still young, the prioress was Margaret Savile. After the birth of Robin’s cousin, Sir Thomas de Savile granted the manor in Dodworth called Seyvile Hall to Sir Thomas de Mounteney, plus his lands in Stainborough. Then, John Mounteney, a knight whose family had received land from Sir Thomas de Savile, granted the advowson (vacancy) of the church to the prioress and gave his estate in Mirfield to the convent of Kirklees. He did this in the company of John Woderoue, John de Amyas, and William de Sandale (chaplain). In this way, Alice de Mounteney of Loxley became the prioress of Kirklees in 1402.
The Mounteney, Furnivall, and Neville families share the same family tree. Famous for their red hair, the Neville family held land in County Durham, Yorkshire, Cumberland, Northumberland, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, and Essex. Nobody could have passed through their land without Red Roger’s knowledge.
Not that it has anything to do with Robin Hood, but the Brontë family grew up in Mirfield, where their father was the vicar. Charlotte’s friend lived in Hathersage.
Copyright © 2020, Graham Kirkby All rights reserved. NEXT PAGE
Robin Hood from the Ballads