Was Robin Hood a Yorkshireman? Teacher believes he has found legendary figure's birthplace behind a primary school playground
- Dan Eaton believes a stone and carved cross behind the playground of Loxely Primary School in Sheffield marks the birthplace of the legendary folk hero
- Hallamshire, now called Sheffield, has been named as the birthplace in legend
- Claims are part of a new book as part of a campaign to 'bring Robin home'
- It hasn't gone down well in Nottingham, which claims Hood as one of their own
A teacher claims to have found the birthplace of Robin Hood – and it would make him a Yorkshireman.
Dan Eaton believes an ancient marker stone and carved cross he discovered behind the playground of Loxley Primary School in Sheffield marks the cottage where the legendary folk hero was born.
His revelation is made in his book, Reclaiming Robin Hood, which is sponsored by Sheffield Council as part of a campaign to ‘bring Robin home’.
Hallamshire – an old name for Sheffield – was mentioned in medieval legend as Robin’s birthplace. And ancient records have come to light stating the outlaw, Robin of Loxley, was born at Little Haggas Croft, Loxley, in around 1160.
There are now calls for a statue depicting Robin as a young boy to be built in the suburb as part of Sheffield’s increasingly popular Robin Hood tourist trail
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Co-author Dr David Clarke, of Sheffield Hallam University, said: ‘Loxley, in Hallamshire, was identified as Robin’s birthplace in two historical sources that date from the early 17th century.’
There are now calls for a statue depicting Robin as a young boy to be built in the suburb as part of Sheffield’s increasingly popular Robin Hood tourist trail.
But the book hasn’t gone down well in Nottingham, which has long claimed the outlaw as its own.
Current Sheriff of Nottingham Merlita Bryan said: ‘Robin Hood is as much from Sheffield as Jarvis Cocker is from Nottingham. Everyone knows his arch rival wasn’t the Sheriff of Sheffield.’
Dan Eaton believes an ancient marker stone and carved cross he discovered behind the playground of Loxley Primary School in Sheffield marks the cottage where the legendary folk hero was born.
She added: ‘We get it - Yorkshire wants a piece of the legendary action.
‘We’ve had similar claims from Kent, Wales and elsewhere before, but really everyone knows that he was from Nottingham.
‘But we’re always happy for others to help spread the word about the world’s favourite outlaw.’
It has also been claimed the outlaw met his death around 1247AD after leaving the safety of Sherwood Forest to be healed by nuns in Kirklees Priory in West Yorkshire.
The Prioress was the mistress of one of Robin’s enemies and is said to have slashed open one of his veins while pretending to treat him.
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