Friday, June 07, 2013

OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE NOTTINGHAM'S BRIGG BRANCH


Left to right: Robin Hood (Ross Allen), Tracey Bendon, Lorraine Giddings, Sue Depledge, Coun the Rev Alec Depledge (Deputy Town Mayor), Simon Taylor, Lesley Kerrigan, Maid Marion (Erin Clark).

2 comments:

Ken Harrison said...

Everyone knows that Robin Hood came from Yorkshire!!
Early ballads from the 13th/14th centuries focus on Bansdale - now the Yorkshire Forest between Sheffield and Barnsley - the area even contains the village of Loxley!!
Most of the ballads of that time suggest that Robin Hood was a likeable rogue - a simple, homeless outlaw who despised the tax laws of Kings Richard and John.
It has even been strongly suggested that the early Robin Hood ballads and folklore stories were protest songs that ordinary folk could legitimately tell/sing to disguise their disquiet of having to pay taxes and be under the thumb of Norman landlords.
It wasn't until about the 15th century, that Robin Hood acquires his Merry Men - ie Little John and Friar Tuck....and began to migrate towards Nottingham.
Suddenly, Robin Hood becomes an excellent archer, 'gives to the poor' and was allegedly a displaced nobleman
Maid Marian was a folk-lore character in so-called May-Day ballads, story-telling and dance celebrations during the 14th to 16th centuries...and she appears to have been re-modelled to become Robin Hood's love-interest about this time.
In addition, in contrast to his early defiance of Kings Richard & John, by the 16th century, he seems to have become an ardent supporter of King Richard-the Lionheart although he still disliked King John!!)
It wasn't until the 17th century that characters, such as Alan-A'Dale were added to the Merry Men.
Tales of Robin Hood have been embellished over the centuries - each new story-line seems to contain new characters and skills - for example, in the 1980's film, a Muslim had become one of Robin Hood's Merry Men.

Ken Harrison said...

Everyone knows that Robin Hood came from Yorkshire!!
Early ballads from the 13th/14th centuries focus on Bansdale - now the Yorkshire Forest between Sheffield and Barnsley - the area even contains the village of Loxley!!
Most of the ballads of that time suggest that Robin Hood was a likeable rogue - a simple, homeless outlaw who despised the tax laws of Kings Richard and John.
It has even been strongly suggested that the early Robin Hood ballads and folklore stories were protest songs that ordinary folk could legitimately tell/sing to disguise their disquiet of having to pay taxes and be under the thumb of Norman landlords.
It wasn't until about the 15th century, that Robin Hood acquires his Merry Men - ie Little John and Friar Tuck....and began to migrate towards Nottingham.
Suddenly, Robin Hood becomes an excellent archer, 'gives to the poor' and was allegedly a displaced nobleman
Maid Marian was a folk-lore character in so-called May-Day ballads, story-telling and dance celebrations during the 14th to 16th centuries...and she appears to have been re-modelled to become Robin Hood's love-interest about this time.
In addition, in contrast to his early defiance of Kings Richard & John, by the 16th century, he seems to have become an ardent supporter of King Richard-the Lionheart although he still disliked King John!!)
It wasn't until the 17th century that characters, such as Alan-A'Dale were added to the Merry Men.
Tales of Robin Hood have been embellished over the centuries - each new story-line seems to contain new characters and skills - for example, in the 1980's film, a Muslim had become one of Robin Hood's Merry Men.