Little John’s Grave and the Robin Hood Connection
The Peak District in Derbyshire, England, is steeped in myth and legend, none more enduring than that of Robin Hood. And of all the Merry Men, it is Little John that appears in the earliest stories and ballads about the famous outlaw, dating to between 1420 and 1440. Depicted as a dependable and highly capable man, he is also reputed to be the only member of the group present at Robin’s death. But did this giant and his famous leader really roam Sherwood Forest?
In popular folklore, Little John (real name supposedly John Little) is described as “a giant of a man”, thus giving way to the pun on his name. His origins are most commonly associated with the village of Hathersage, where a grave bearing his name can be found today, nestling beneath an old yew tree.
The inscription on the grave reads: “Here lies buried Little John, the friend & lieutenant of Robin Hood. He died in a cottage (now destroyed) to the east of the churchyard. The grave is marked by this old headstone & footstone and is underneath this old yew tree.” This tombstone is modern, although an ancient one also adornes the grave, but the inscription is too weathered to read. Since there is no substantive historical evidence of Little John’s existence, the origins of the grave are uncertain. However, in 1784 it was opened by Captain James Shuttleworth, who unearthed a gigantic thigh bone belonging to a man of over 7 feet tall!
Origins of Robin Hood
Like John, the origins of Robin Hood himself have been heavily debated. In popular culture, there are usually two theories, one pitching Robin as a country peasant, the other a nobleman who has turned away from his birthright. Both concepts were explored successfully in the Robin of Sherwood television series of the 1980s (probably the best portrayal of the character to date, with a rich mixture of “swords and sorcery” that took TV audiences by storm on both sides of the Atlantic. The sorcery angle tackled brilliantly the more romantic and superstitious aspects of the legend in the context of the times in which it was set, and the iconic characterisation helped cement “The Hooded Man” as a symbol of the Longbowman of England). As a peasant, he is characterised as “Robin of Locksley”, widely believed to refer to the village of Loxley eight miles from Hathersage – now a suburb of the city of Sheffield. Once upon a time, Sherwood Forest stretched between Sheffield and Nottingham, depicted in the stories as the local seat of Norman oppression.
St Michael’s Church, Hathersage
The current church at Hathersage (pictured) dates back to 1381, although there had been churches on the site up to 200 hundred previously. It stands on top of a hill overlooking the village with stunning views of the surrounding countryside. The church is also the final resting place of the Eyre family. The most famous is the alter tomb of Robert Eyre (died 1459) who fought at Agincourt in France, and built much of the current structure. Interesting, Charlotte Bronte also stayed in the village while she was writing Jane Eyre.
Image by BasiliskSam
Pagan Influence
The Peak District National Park abounds with stories of Robin Hood. Robin Hood’s Cave on Stanage Edge was supposedly used by the outlaw as a hideout. Another intriguing landmark is Robin Hood’s Stride overlooking the Nine Stones stone circle (below) – curiously named, since there are only four! This component of the legend, however, is thought to have more pagan than Christian origins, and is often confused in context, certainly where place names are concerned. It is believed to refer to Robin of the Greenwood (The Green Man – a fertility symbol), perhaps derived from Robin Goodfellow (the fairy Puck), as portrayed by Shakespeare in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Scholars assert that most cultures have a Robin Hood figure, which Puck lending his name to the English variant. It also brings into play the summer country festivals of Medieval times – such as dancing around the maypole and the May Queens – deriving from pagan rites and traditions which are still recognised in rural places today.
Image by BasiliskSam
According to legend
Little John was said to be the only “Merry” present at Robin’s death, after he was supposedly deceived and poisoned by the abbess of Kirklees Priory. After failing to save him, Robin asked John to bury him. While there is a grave at Kirklees Priory that relates to the Robin Hood legend, it is popularly believed that he requested that John bury him where “the last arrow” fell. To this day, the precise location remains a mystery (more to come on this in due course).
