Posted on 10/17/2007 2:33:00 PM PDT by blam
ROBIN HOOD'S PRISON? SHERIFF'S DUNGEON FOUND AT NOTTINGHAM GAOL
By Caroline Lewis 17/10/2007
One of the above ground prison cells at the Galleries of Justice. © Galleries of Justice
New evidence has been discovered that the medieval caves under Nottingham’s Galleries of Justice museum were once used by the Sheriff of Nottingham as a prison.
The dark dungeon cells would have been in use when the Sheriff resided at the Shire Hall and County Gaol.
“It is an exciting discovery,” said Tim Desmond, Chief Executive at the Galleries. “The cave has always been known as the ‘Sheriff’s Dungeon’, but until now we have only been aware of its later use as a chapel for the Georgian prison.”
He pointed out that not much thought had ever been given to its previous use as a cell for the Sheriff’s Hall that was originally on the site, until research into a new exhibition on the Sheriff of Nottingham. Staff then uncovered evidence that the Sheriff did indeed imprison felons in the lower level caves under the building.
“So far we have discovered an ancient staircase that led down to the cells and we are also excavating an area next to the cave,” said Tim.
There is, of course, the tantalising possibility that the cave prison had a very famous resident, and there are plans to allow the public to have a look for themselves.
“This is the first time visitors to the Galleries of Justice will be able to see the dungeon where Robin Hood would have been imprisoned in medieval times and already we have received a lot of interest from the public, from as far away as Japan,” said Tim
And for anyone else who was curious about the Galleries of Justice...
Off to check out that link now.
In the latest movie version of Robin Hood, made a few years ago in England, Robin brings back a Muslim woman from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Of course she's smarter than all the men in Robin's band of men. There seems to be no end to the ways in which this legend can be bent to suit contemporaries.
Wow, somebody responded to this old thread. Yes, I know the new version of which you speak, made for the BBC. And now there’s a Ridley Scott film coming out with Russell Crowe as Robin Hood, just finished filming this year. Can’t wait to see it, since I’m a big ‘Gladiator’ fan.
I hope they play the story line straight and don't try to update it. I have the The Adventures of Robin Hood by Roger Lancelyn Green. He has written the story of Robin Hood by researching all of the original sources. I hope the movie producers do the same.
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