Nottingham Executions, the Hanging of Outlaws.

According to legend, Will Stutely was rescued from the gallows by Robin Hood at the base of Castle Rock, where the wooden walls of the original castle once stood. But a far more likely location would have been Gallows Hill at the northern entrance to the town. This post and related video, explains why.

 In Saxon times the centre of Nottingham was where High Pavement is today, with the hugely successful Weekday Cross Market, and a Fort built on the site where now stands the Nottingham Contemporary Art Gallery. Beneath the streets are the remains of dark dungeons carved out of Nottingham's famous sandstone. Archaeologists believe they show evidence of links with prisons and punishment right back to Saxon times. Shire Hall, now known as the Galleries of Justice, stands where similar official buildings have stood since 600AD. After the Norman Conquest the appointed Sheriff of Nottingham's duties were based here from 1125. He was required to collect taxes and keep the peace, and although written records before the 14th century are sparse, it is likely this site known then as Sheriff's Hall, was always more connected with law and order than the Castle itself. Public executions took place outside this hall between 1738, (James Gilders for Highway Robbery), and 1861 (Richard darker, for killing his mother). After 1868, executions were held out of view on the west end of the prison yard, but crowds would still eagerly gather to read the Death Notice on display. Across the street from Shire Hall stands St Marys Church, the place where Robin Hood is said to have been arrested by the Sheriff of Nottingham in a much earlier building, after breaking his sword in a duel. During the 15th & 16th centuries, prisoners condemned to hang were given their last rights here. Criminals were hung on the day after their conviction (unless that be a Sunday). Gallows Day (now known as gala day), was usually declared a public holiday, and persons owning a room above street level would hire it out to those thirsting for a better view of the grisly entertainment involved. But this is not the original place where Nottingham’s public executions were held. That dubious honour must go to Gallows Hill. After a brief service in St Mary’s, the prisoner would mount the executioner's cart and begin his final journey towards Gallows Hill at North Gate. Sometimes a small choir would follow behind, and doubtless many noisy spectators. When the cart reached the bottom of Mansfield Road, (the North road leading out of the city), if the prisoner was of Jewish descent his cart would turn left down Shakespeare Street where the Jews were allotted a gallows of their own. 

 Above: Half way up the hill, as the gallows just came into view, the hangman's cart would stop outside the Nag's Head and the prisoner would be offered one last drink: A pint of Nottingham Ale. On one infamous occasion the prisoner rejected his ale and asked to press on ahead to the gallows and get it over with. However, no sooner was his dead body hanging from the rope, than a full pardon arrived all too late!

Gallows Hill is the junction of Forest Road East and Mansfield Road. The earliest surviving mention of these gallows dates from 1496, but centuries before that travelers entering this North Gate to the town would have witnessed bodies swaying here in the breeze, and therefore be deterred themselves from any lawbreaking. The original public gallows is said to have stood where St Andrew's Church now stands, high on a sandstone ridge so typical of Nottingham's landscape, and had to be moved when the church foundations were laid in 1869. However, other sources say a permanent gallows was erected across the road much earlier in 1558. This makes more sense, for who would build a church on the exact spot criminals had so recently been hung?

Above: Nottingham Rock Cemetery. The cemetery keeper's lodge marks the spot where these gallows once stood. (Not to be confused with the somewhat grander Lodge of 1857 further down the hill, built for the 19th century racecourse.) In 1800 the gallows were made of a portable construction, after a group of daring young men removed them on the day before an execution! The last execution to be held here was of 45 year old William Wells, in April 1827, for highway robbery. Thereafter Gallows Hill had its name changed to appease local residents, but is said to remain the haunt of many ghosts. Rock Cemetery is on the site of a former sand mine, hence the varying levels in its lay-out. (There are no natural caves in Nottingham). In Robin Hood's day the area at the base of this sandy hill, now known as the Forest Recreation Ground, would have been the start of the once mighty Sherwood Forest.

Above: "The Adventures of Robin Hood" TV series 1955 / 59. "A Challenge for Robin Hood"", 1967. "Prince of Thieves" 1948. "Rogues of Sherwood Forest" 1950.

Weekday Cross, Nottingham, and Robin Hood.

 

There are two sites in Nottingham particularly associated with tales about Robin Hood entering the city disguised as either a butcher or a tanner to sell his wares on the market stalls. The first is Weekday Cross, on what was once Garner's Hill. This area was the busy centre of the original Saxon town of Snottingham, and would remain so until the Normans chose an alternative hill on which to build their Castle, an act which effectively divided the town into "French" and "English" boroughs.

 Above: A stone column still marks the spot where a weekday market was held, the old cross long since gone. The steps surrounding the original cross were also used as a place for reading out public proclamations. Across the road is the Nottingham Contemporary Art Gallery, where once stood a Saxon fort, with dwellings carved out of the sandstone below. A few yards up the road is the Galleries of Justice, (formerly Shire hall), which held public executions as late as 1861. A set of stocks stood in this area, and beneath Shire Hall were dungeons believed to have been in use as far back as King John's time. If so, it is not unreasonable to suggest that these were the dungeons said to have held Robin Hood after his arrest at nearby St Marys Church.

 Above: Hen Cross, situated the other side of Nottingham Town Hall from the Market Square, was an ancient Saturday poultry market. By the mid-16th century the road was known as Hencrosse Row, suggesting it still had an identity separate from nearby Market Square, but in 1800 all trace of a cross marker was removed. Stories about Robin Hood say he came here disguised as a chicken vendor in order to spy on events in the city.

Below: "The Adventures of Robin Hood", 1938.

St Nicholas Church, Nottingham.

The current building dates from 1671, but the church which originally stood on this site is said to be the place Robin Hood would both hide and use to worship. In the very earliest ballads about Robin Hood he declares bishops and archbishops (plus of course the Sheriff of Nottingham), to be his main enemies. But we also learn from those ballads that Robin would pray on a daily basis to the Virgin Mary.

St Nicholas Church stands in what was the predominantly Saxon part of Nottingham town after the uprisings which followed the Norman Conquest. If Robin Hood was a descendant of those who lost lands and property to Norman lords, then he may well have felt safer amongst the company he found here.

Above: "Robin Hood", 2010. "Robin of Sherwood" TV Series, 1984-86. "A Challenge for Robin Hood", 1967.

Saint George's Day, Nottingham.

 

 Robin Hood made an impressive appearance alongside Saint George for the Saint George's Day celebrations in Nottingham Market Square on 23rd April, 2010. The Merry Men were in fine voice, singing of their outlaw leader's exploits, but the poor horse amused the crowd when he practically bolted at the sight of the Dragon!

Below: "Beyond Sherwood Forest", 2009.

Market Square Nottingham, and Robin Hood

 

Long years after the Norman Conquest, Nottingham remained a divided town. The English, or Saxon contingent, continued to dwell around the site of their original fortress and hugely successful market at Weekday Cross. Not to mention their churches where the present day St Mary's now stands. The French, or Norman population, based itself around Peveril Castle, the castle ordered by William the Conqueror, and which we now refer to as Nottingham Castle. Each community had its own laws and officers.

Peveril was wise enough to see that force alone could not unite these two communities. So he initiated the establishing of a new market place on the derelict land between them, and which both communities would have safe access to. The place we now know as the Old Market Square. The Saxon Weekday market would move there on Saturdays, along with several other small markets. A convenient old manorial wall ran across the site, and Peveril determined that the northern (Long Row) side was for the English and all the rest would be for his French supporters. But he also happily saw to it that goods could be easily sold across the wall, or even through it at various points. All this happened in the late 11th century. By the middle of the 12th century, when Henry 2nd was on the throne, Nottingham's Market Place was a thriving enterprise for all involved. But readers might be surprised to learn that a Saxon - Norman divide in law existed in Nottingham until the 18th century

According to Robin Hood folklore, Nottingham's Market Square is the place where the famous Golden Arrow competition took place, a competition devised by the Sheriff of Nottingham to lure Robin out of hiding. There is speculation that such an archery display would have been part of the St Mathew's Fair, which was held each September. St Mathew's Fair then became the famous Goose Fair, the latter of which now operates outside the city centre.

 Above: "The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men", 1952.

There are several archery contests mentioned in the earliest ballads of Robin Hood. In one of the very first, Robin Hood makes his escape and hides in the castle of Sir Richard of Lee. When Sir Richard is taken prisoner by the Sheriff of Nottingham, Robin rescues him and kills the Sheriff in the process! Various tales about Robin Hood tell of him coming to markets at Weekday Cross and Hen Cross, disguised as a stall holder. One tells of him coming to this market as a potter, selling his wares to the Sheriff's wife in an attempt to get her to lead her husband out into Sherwood Forest.

Above: "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (1932). "Sword of Sherwood Forest" (1960). "Robin Hood" (2010). "Beyond Sherwood Forest" (2009).

Bell Inn, Nottingham, and Friar Tuck.

 

The Bell Inn is situated at the opposite end of Nottingham Market Square from the Council House. This area became known as Beastmarket Hill, because of the open air cattle market that once occupied the Market Square. But decades before that it was known as Friar Row, due to the boundary wall of a Carmelite Friary.

The Carmelites originated from a congregation of hermits which formed the Order of Our Lady of Carmel, on Mount Carmel in the 12th Century. After being forced to leave Mount Carmel, they moved to Europe, coming to England in 1240. The first English Carmelite Friary was built in Kent, and their habits were white, hence the nickname of the "White Friars".

The Carmelite Friary in Nottingham was established c.1272 between Friar Lane and St. James's Street, even though the Friars had already been in the town some years beforehand. By February 1539, when the Friary closed, only the prior, Roger Cappe, and six friars were still in residence. In 1541 the Crown granted all rights to the building to James Sturley of Nottingham, (probably a descendant of the Sturley who had been joint founder of the Friary in 1272.) During the road widening works of 1923, several significant archeological items were found, together with skeletons, proving the site also incorporated a burial ground for the Friary.

The Bell Inn stands where the Carmelite Friary once stood. That Friary is one of the places often named in the tourism documents as a possible home to Friar Tuck, but is a far less likely a candidate for that role than Foutaindale, Lynhurst.

Above: "The Story of Robin Hood and his Merry Men" (1952). "Robin Hood Prince of Thieves" (1991).

The Sheriff and Angel Row, Nottingham.

 

Contrary to popular belief, most persons who took on the Office of Sheriff of Nottingham probably wouldn't have lived in Nottingham Castle. That would have been home to the Constable and his soldiers. According to legend the Sheriff, in his duties as Tax Collector and Clerk, lived with his wife in "The Red Lodge" which once stood at the end of Angel Row, a narrow street leading down into the Market Square from the opposite side to the Council House. It is interesting to note that, although the Sheriff's wife appears in the old tales about Robin Hood, she is totally absent from the films and television programs.

Robin Hood encountered more than one Sheriff of Nottingham in his day. In fact, according to the stories, he killed more than one.

Above: "Robin Hood" TV series (2006 -2009). "The Adventures of Robin Hood" TV series (1955 - 1959).

Above: "Bandit of Sherwood Forest" (1946). Below: "The Story of Robin Hood and his Merry Men" (1952).

Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem.

 

"The Trip to Jerusalem" stands at the base of a sandstone rock, beneath Nottingham Castle. It is the oldest Inn in England, and served as a favourite drinking place for King Richard's Crusaders across the midlands before departing for the Holy Lands. The word "trip" in fact comes from an old English term meaning "stopping place". Of course, as with numerous historic sites across Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire, Robin Hood and his Merry Men are said to have been frequent visitors of this establishment. That may be so, but as it is situated so very close to the soldiers in the castle, such an act of shear audacity would have required much courage indeed.

Above: "The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men", 1952. Below: Insert portrait from "Adventures of Robin Hood" TV series, 1950s.

 Robin Hood did not actually go on the crusades. That story was made up by Walter Scott in his writing about Ivanhoe. I believe Robin came later. King Richard was once seen as a much more heroic figure than today, so placing the much loved outlaw in his company made for a good story.

 Robin Hood’s supposed relationship with King Richard remains a constant feature in movies today, but often with a more balanced view of history. King Richard's actions in more recent films portray a Robin Hood sickened and disillusioned by what happened on the Crusades.

Above: "Robin Hood" silent movie 1922. Below: "Robin and Marian" 1976.

Robin Hood & St Mary's Church, Nottingham.

Robin Hood, in the earliest known printed collection of his adventures (c15th / 16th century), declared his enemies to be Bishops, Archbishops, and the Sheriff of Nottingham. (Not, you will note, the Sheriff of York). These were typical of the people who Robin perceived to be corrupt, and who perhaps benefited most from the Norman Conquest of England, when many lands and properties were redistributed, probably before Robin's day but grievances can be carried for a long time. However, much as he obviously despised Bishops, Robin Hood was a very spiritual man and is said to have prayed daily to the Father, the Holy Ghost, and "Our Dear Lady". Indeed, such was his devotion to the Virgin Mary that these same tales tell us he would not harass any group passing through Sherwood Forest that had a woman in its company

Above & below: Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham, "The Adventures of Robin Hood", 1938.