Fine Ale
[The Salutation Inn, is at the corner of Hounds Gate and Jews Lane,
is known to many a local as a comfortable quite old style public
house; and so it should. The rear of the building, that before
the construction of Maid Marion Way was the side, faces on to
Jews lane and the entrance their is the oldest still surviving
after the row of buildings were cut in half by Maid Marion Way.
Although this part of the building has seen some changes it still
retains some of the character of bygone days, especially when
theirs a log fire in the grate. The smaller of the two downstairs
rooms, that flank the entrance passageway, is said to have been
used by Cromwell's solders as a recruiting room in the 1640's
during the Civil War.
The best part of the "Sall", as it's known locally, is hidden;
not deliberately but due to circumstances. I would be not
surprised to learn that most of the people that class it as
their local have never seen, or if they have not understood
the significance, or marvelled at it's cave complex.
Marvelled is no understatement, before this area had any
buildings on it, it had buildings under it. These rock hewn
chambers were a Saxon farm stead.]
Our throng being swelled by welcome new faces. Their aim, to seek out and track down the remaining vistaed of England's most famous outlaw. A motley band of legend seekers they were too, each of them his or her own reason for joining the quest.
Fine AleAfter tales of the inn's ancient Saxon past and partaking of the landlords fine brew we gathered in the main thoroughfare outside to begin our quest. I had heard tell of a story teller who had great knowledge of the outlaw and had set up in a nearby dwelling an entertainment, therein all that he knew or believed about the outlaw, for a few crown's, could be seen and heard. He had named it "The Tales Of Robin Hood". It was decided that a viewing of this tale may give us a better insight into the Man who's traces we were seeking.
We entered in to the building and were at once confronted by two huge wooden doors. We each
paid our dues and the great doors swung open, with intrepidness we entered. A story teller
told us what we were to expect and before long we were transported into a tavern. We travelled
the road with him and learnt of many things. But all to soon it was time for us to continue on
our quest. After a hard gallop out of the town, leaving its small and narrow streets, we arrived at our
appointed place, The white post. One had once marked this spot but was now long gone, it is said
that at night this no spot for honest folk as thieves, cut-pursers and highway men meet here to
share out their ill-gotten gains. After some difficulty finding a suitable place to tie-up our horses we walked to the edge of
the field in which it's remains are situated. Alas it's former glory is gone and nought but a
few wall's stand of what was a mighty palace. It is said by them that know, that here Robin Hood
and his outlaw band dressed as strolling players, did free some prisoners. The palace's history
goes back beyond King John's time and some say it is possible it was built as a chapel for Edwin
of Northumberland, the King of Northumberland, but more of this connection later.
We rode on a short distance to The Parliament Oak, I fear the one that we viewed was but a
grandson of the original. By this oak Edward I held Parliament in 1290, legend has it that near
this spot was the hovel of Little John, Robin's stalwart companion.
Another short ride brought us to a clearing by a cross-roads were we dismounted and walked
through the green wood to a little known spot. When reaching it we came upon a travelling artist,
Alan Hawkins from the nearby village of Mansfield, at work sketching, we asked to see his work
and he did show us the said sketch.
A short canter on and a few strides into the greenery we came to the swath of grass cut through
the forest, part of the original green avenue that used to run from King John's Palace to his
hunting grounds in Sherwood Forest. Majestically sat astride it stands Archway House built as
both a memorial and a folly. A two storey gatehouse with statues of Robin Hood and Little John
decorating the facades of it's upper floor.
Once again we mounted our stead's for a short gallop to the village of Blidworth, there in the
church yard to see what is reputed to be the last resting place of Will Scarlet. Alas it is but
a poor pile of old worked stones, the lower one we thought to be an inverted font, the middle a parapet stone and the top one a cap stone.
Our Stead's well secured in the yard of a local Inn we crossed the cart way by the church and
followed Rickitts lane to the point where the foot path to the Druid Stone departs.
As day had turned into evening and the last rays of sunlight fell upon the green wood we
began our homeward journey, our quest at an end, we had seen many things and many places,
but now it was time to leave the legends and tales for another time. We rode back to Nottingham
to a cottage in the meadows, the abode of a Doctor Morrell a scholar, who was one of our number.
He invited us in, and then brought forth sustenance, and we sat and discussed the days
adventures in the Legendary Land Of Robin Hood.
Paul Nix [ Team Leader, Nottingham Hidden History Team ] A period treatment of a field trip around but a few of the local Robin Hood sites.
See...Index of the Past
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Each went his own way to were his horse was stabled, but we all agreed to meet on the
road to York, at the sign of the White Post, some five miles to the north.
Charts and maps were viewed and a plan of action decided upon
I was to lead the party, and the next stop to be the Palace of King Johns, that lies close by the
small hamlet of Clipstone.
The Parliment Oak
This is the spot
were in 633 A.D. Edwin King of Northumberland was laid to rest after being slain at the nearby
battle at Cuckney, against King Penda of Mercia. A tall iron cross held up by a pile of stones
marks the reputed spot were according to the board attached, "...marks the site of a Royal Chapel,
Chancery and hermitage dedicated to St. Edwin King of Northumbria of which the few stones here
collected are evidence...". It said his comrades returned years later and built a small wooden
chapel to mark the spot. Many think the nearby village got it's name this way, as Stowe in
olden times meant a Holy Place and the village is called Edwinstowe. The connection with King John
mentioned earlier, details the fact that he paid a priest to live there and pray for his soul,
and those of who he had wronged. King Henry VIII in his Dissolution wiped away the last remains
of the chapel.
The Greenwood
Archway House
Here in single
file, as the way was narrow, we proceed over styles and fields until we reached the stone.
Standing over fifteen five feet high and having a girth of forty feet and a hole through it's
base large enough for a man to get through, it form an impressive sight. In olden times it was
not unusual to see local people pass children through the hole, as they firmly believed it would
cure them of Rickets, which is possibly how the lane got it's name. This stone being such a
prominent landmark and well out of earshot of anyone, it would have been an ideal meeting place
for our outlaws.
Cottage in the Meadows
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Pan's / Paul A. Nix / pansoft@inotts.co.uk
Created May 1996
Last updated: 7th May 1996