Eakring to Southwell

So plans changed !
I realised that Wellow was close so I went to see their maypole after 50 yrs - a previous trip out with Catherine ,my University lecturer ! Actually it’s why I’m visiting Eakring which was discussed was when we visited Laxton , the last remaining Open field system!

Eakring is a pleasant village with an odd history!
For centuries it was an "Open Field" village and its can be seen when approaching Eakring from either east or west, where two of the three large fields can be seen . It was only in the Second World War that the last remaining strips in these fields finally disappeared from use.

At the same time there was a new addition to the village -the arrival of the "Nodding Donkeys", when oil was discovered under the village just before the war . Extraction of oil at this crucial time was speeded up by some Oklahoma oilmen, whose visit was kept a closely guarded secret. Oil production only ceased in 1966, but a small oilfield museum remains in Duke's Wood on the Kirklington side of the village, and site of earlier oil extraction.
It explains why The Training Centre of National Grid Transco now occupies the site of the first discovered oil well !

https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/local-news/…

Just to the west of the village, along a farmer's track and the Robin Hood Way, is Mompesson's Cross at Pulpit Ash. This marks the spot where, in the 1670s, William Mompesson, the newly arrived rector, preached to his flock. He had come from the plague-sticken village of Eyam in the Peak District, where he had witnessed the death of the population that included his wife. Credited with having prevented the spread of the infection to neighbouring villages he has ever since been considered the "Hero of the Plague". During the epidemic he abandoned the church and preached in an open area in an attempt to avoid the spread of infection. Whatever the real reason, there is no doubt that he used an open-air pulpit at that spot for a time. He rests beneath the little parish church.

The parish church is dedicated to St Andrew. The building was constructed in the 13th–15th centuries .It contains a font bearing the date 1674, and a plaque commemorating the installation of the tower clock in 1887.

I pass through Kirklington
and head to Southwell - its pronunciation varies and there are two schools of thought - South Well or Suthell! ?

The Southwell Workhouse was built in 1824 as a place of last resort for the destitute. Its architecture was influenced by prison design and its harsh regime became a blueprint for workhouses throughout the country.

The name 'South Well' is first recorded in the charter 956AD, but Southwell was already an ancient place - a Roman villa has been found to the east of The Minster, and it’s possible that this is why the site was chosen for an important church.

Many of the town's most interesting buildings are the 'prebendal' houses, for supporting the priests who helped in the running of the Minister.
Southwell also became an important market centre during medieval times, and the street patterns of that era still exist around King Street.

Southwell Minster, is strictly since 1884 actually Southwell Cathedral, and formally the Cathedral and Parish Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The current church is the successor to one built in 956 by Oscytel, Archbishop of York. Some eleventh century aspects survive but the majority dates from between 1108 and 1150, when it was reconstructed in the Romanesque style.
The chancel was rebuilt from 1234 to 1251 in the Early English Gothic style.
In 1288 the chapter house was built and it is decorated with carved foliage of quality. The minster's rood screen is also impressive!

The church was collegiate from its foundation until 1841, although it was twice dissolved and re-founded during the English Reformation.

Southwell is where Charles I surrendered to Scottish troops in 1646 during the English Civil War. The fighting saw the church seriously damaged and the nave used as stabling. The adjoining palace was almost completely destroyed .

The nave, transepts, central tower and two western towers of the Norman church which replaced the Anglo-Saxon minster remain as an amazing Romanesque design.

Today in the Minster ,however, appears to be a special day as there is strange almost Bayeaux tapestry like event ! It’s knitted scenes of WW2 ! The longest yarn has drawn the crowds after a tv link last night! It’s pretty weird but strangely interesting ! I glance at it and avoid the crowds and then get my personal tour of the minster as no one is asking her today about the minster! All the blurb which is very interesting - ornate carvings old and new - there are lot of the mouse man’s woodwork all over the altar area!

https://www.southwellminster.org/events/event/t…

Picked up by Harry Haz old uni pal and a lunch chatting over strange times with him
and Martina ! Great lunch ! Great chat !

A train back to Loughborough and I’m done

And that’s it ! A walk about someone who probably didn’t exist or was several stories rolled together !

Robin Hood ? Who was he ?
Errol Flynn? Sean Connery ?
Kevin Costner ? Russell Crowe?
No it was Richard Greene!

It struck me I’ve never heard of a classic book about his legend !
Strangely the most famous and classicversion of the Robin Hood story is Howard Pyle's The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, first published in 1883. While there are many retellings, Pyle's book, with his own superb illustrations and pseudo-medieval style, is considered a definitive version of the legendary outlaw- at least for kids !
I must dig it out !Read more