Robin Hood Statues: 03 Edwinstowe.

 

The Robin Hood with Maid Marian statue, on Edwinstowe High Street, was sculpted by Neal Andrew in 1998, and funded by Nottinghamshire County Council. The two figures are “kneeling” to greet each other, holding hands. Has Robin just proposed? Did he hand her the flowers she is carrying?

It’s an excellent piece of work, the two characters dressed in appropriately simple clothing. Sadly, it was badly damaged when hit by a vehicle in 2020. Although it was restored, I see that today (November 2024) the hands are missing, and so the figures no longer touch. Hopefully this will be resolved soon. For more Robin Hood Statues see list on sidebar.

Robin Hood Festival.

The Robin Hood Festival is an annual event, celebrating the famous outlaw by re-enacting stories from the ancient tales in Sherwood Forest itself. These photographs are from 2014. I am sure readers can guess the identities from the costumes involved.

 

For anyone wanting more information I have put a link to the Robin Hood Festival Facebook page on the sidebar.

Edwinstowe Church. Robin Hood and Maid Marian’s wedding.

 

Robin Hood and Maid Marian are said to have married under the arch of the doorway to the Church of St. Mary, Edwinstowe, this being the normal place for such a ceremony at that time. The church is situated quite close to the Major Oak, Robin Hood's Tree, and the tower and parts of the northern nave do date from Robin's time. In 1334 the vicar of Edwinstowe was convicted of trespassing in Sherwood Forest and killing the King's deer!

Edwinstowe was named in honour of King Edwin of Northumbria, killed in the Battle of Hatfield (633 AD), and subsequently buried in a forest clearing here. The original St Mary's Church (not to be confused with the St Marys Church in Nottingham), was later built on that site. Edwinstowe village is popular place for its links to the Robin Hood legend, and features an impressive statue of Robin proposing to Marian, as well as the Sherwood Visitors Centre on route to the Major Oak.

Above: "The Adventures of Robin Hood", 1938. "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves", 1991. "Robin Hood" BBC TV, 2007. "Robin of Sherwood" TV Series, 1984. "Robin Hood", 1922. "Tales of Robin Hood", 1951.