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Summary

A stone fronted spring-head, possibly of medieval origin, to the east of the Infirmary.

Protected Status

• Registered Park or Garden (I)
• Scheduled Monument 1014395: FOUNTAINS CISTERCIAN ABBEY; MONASTIC PRECINCT, MILL, WATER MANAGEMENT WORKS, AGRICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL FEATURES AND 18TH CENTURY GARDENS
• Listed Building (II) 1149812: ROBIN HOOD'S WELL

Other References/Statuses

• Guardianship Area
• Guardianship Monument

Monument Types

• WELL HOUSE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Full description

A stone-built spring/well head, set in the southern side of the Skell Valley, c. 5m south of De Grey Walk (30166). It consists of a central sub-rectangular trough (1.30m E/W by 1.05m N/S) at least partly cut into natural rock. The remaining walls of the central chamber are raised in well dressed sandstone masonry, curving into a semi-circular arch, up to 1.66m above the chamber floor. The front of the trough is marked by a 30cm high stone block, with an ornately carved overflow notch, centrally placed. The facade of the feature also consists of neatly dressed stonework. This involves a chamfered arch matching the internal arch, with decorative hooding including spiral terminals. These are set in an ashlared wall face of irregular limits. Further "fallen" ashlar work lies to the north of the ends of the main face, quite probably as set dressing for the well. Also before the facade is a T-shaped gutter stone, now leading to a modern drain. The date of this feature is not known. It may well be medieval, Coppack mentioning lead pipes being found leading to the infirmary from the direction of this feature, and it may well have been fed from the ponds 30224 and 30225. There are references to work being done at "Robin Hood" before Aislabie acquisition of the Fountains estate. It is not impossible that the feature has Georgian origins, but this is not, perhaps, as likely as medieval ones - see below. The spring is currently dry, possibly because the whole structure has pulled away from the cliff side. It remains damp - and therefore less than pleasant - in this condition.


Documentary Sources: The origins of Robin Hood's Well are not greatly clarified by the documentary sources. Glyn Coppack (1993) sees it as a medieval feature, connected with water supply to the infirmary. The nature of the structure makes this a perfectly plausible explanation, but the Walbran papers at York Minster Library contain a note that the feature was built by Mrs. Lawrence at the suggestion of Sir Walter Scott. He even penned an inscription to be hung from it -

"Beside this chrystal font of old/
Could his flushed brow an Outlaw bold/
His bow was slackened while he drank/
His quiver rested on the bank/
Giving brief pause of doubt and fear/
To feudal Lords and forest deer/
Long since the date - but village sires/
Still sing his feats by Christmas fires/
And still old England's free-born mood/
Stirs at the name of Robin Hood"

- although there is no evidence that this was ever actually inflicted on the public. This version of events is retold by Lefroy in 1891 (Text 26) and Parker in 1907 (Text 23), probably drawing on Walbran. The wellhead is depicted on the 1831 estate map (Map 12) and on subsequent surveys.

The estate papers include occasional mentions of works at "Robin Hood" in the 1750s. At that time, of course, the site of this feature lay outside Aislabie ownership and these appear to be references to an area of landscaping further along the Skell valley below the Chinese garden, called Robin Hood Butts (not NT property) not this feature.

Since the completion of the Archaeological Property Survey, it has been noted that the well is mentioned by name in the botanical list given by Langdale in the 1826 edition of the Tourist's Companion - the earliest reference found to date. MN 6.V.97

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• ENA3852 - Unnamed Event
• ENA5583 - Recording and excavation, Robin Hood's Well

Related records: none recorded

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