# Barnsdale > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Barnsdale > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Barnsdale.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnsdale > Source revision: 1353216225 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Area of South Yorkshire, England For the garden created by broadcaster Geoff Hamilton, see [Barnsdale Gardens](/source/Barnsdale_Gardens). This article needs more citations. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Barnsdale" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (February 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Human settlement in England Barnsdale Robin Hood's Well is on the east of the southbound carriageway of the A1, about 1 mile south of Barnsdale Bar. Barnsdale Location within South Yorkshire OS grid reference SE508136 Metropolitan borough City of Doncaster City of Wakefield Metropolitan county South Yorkshire West Yorkshire Region Yorkshire and the Humber Country England Sovereign state United Kingdom Post town DONCASTER Postcode district DN6 Dialling code 01302 Police South Yorkshire Fire South Yorkshire Ambulance Yorkshire List of places UK England Yorkshire 53°37′03″N 1°13′53″W / 53.617533°N 1.231403°W / 53.617533; -1.231403 **Barnsdale**, or **Barnsdale Forest**, is an area of [South](/source/South_Yorkshire) and [West Yorkshire](/source/West_Yorkshire), [England](/source/England). The area falls within the modern-day districts of [Doncaster](/source/City_of_Doncaster) and [Wakefield](/source/City_of_Wakefield). Barnsdale was [historically](/source/Historic_counties_of_England) part of the [West Riding of Yorkshire](/source/West_Riding_of_Yorkshire).[1] Barnsdale is commonly associated with [Robin Hood](/source/Robin_Hood). ## Geography Barnsdale [historically](/source/Historic_counties_of_England) was in the [West Riding of Yorkshire](/source/West_Riding_of_Yorkshire).[1] As there is no village or parish with the name Barnsdale, the area does not have clear boundaries.[2][3] Barnsdale Bar is the site of the junction of the [A1](/source/A1_road_(Great_Britain)) (the historic [Great North Road](/source/Great_North_Road_(Great_Britain))), the [A639](/source/A639_road), and Wrangbrook Lane, Woodfield Road and Long Lane (junction 38 of the A1). *Bar* refers to where there was once a [toll gate](/source/Tollhouse), now a service station lies just north of the junction, about eight miles north-northwest of Doncaster.[4] There are three [limestone](/source/Limestone) [quarries](/source/Quarry) nearby, and archeological digs at the site have turned up materials dating back to the [Iron Age](/source/Iron_Age) and [Neolithic](/source/Neolithic) eras.[5] Barnsdale Forest refers to the area south of Barnsdale Bar. Despite the name, archeological evidences suggests historically the area was predominantly an agricultural landscape of enclosures, trackways and fields; rather than being covered with trees. The name may derive from the [medieval legal sense of "Forest"](/source/Royal_forest) meaning an area designated for hunting.[4] Maps from 1579 and 1610 show small enclosed areas of woodland in Rutland, one of which is labelled Barnsdale, that were created for hunting and would have been enclosed by earth banks and wooden palings.[2] ### Notable structures - At Barnsdale Bar there is a 1,226 yards (0.697 miles) railway tunnel, part of the former [Hull and Barnsley Railway](/source/Hull_and_Barnsley_Railway) that closed in 1959.[6] - The [model village](/source/Model_village) of [Woodlands](/source/Woodlands%2C_South_Yorkshire) lies about 4 miles south of Barnsdale Bar between the [Roman Road](/source/Roman_roads_in_Britain) and the [A638](/source/A638_road) (the "Great North Road"). ## Connections between the Barnsdale area and the Robin Hood legend Golf course in Barnsdale In the earliest medieval ballads of Robin Hood from the fifteenth century, the outlaw is said to have made Barnsdale Forest his abode and base of operations (for example, in "[Robin Hood and Guy of Gisbourne](/source/Guy_of_Gisbourne)", and in "[A Gest of Robyn Hode](/source/A_Gest_of_Robyn_Hode)"[7]). Notable locations within the forest of Barnsdale which are directly related to the Robin Hood legend include [Wentbridge](/source/Wentbridge) and [Campsall](/source/Campsall). There is a [Robin Hood's Well](/source/Robin_Hood's_Well), a small monument (apparently designed by [John Vanbrugh](/source/John_Vanbrugh)) lying next to the A1 between the Red House junction and Barnsdale Bar, between the villages of [Skelbrooke](/source/Skelbrooke) and [Burghwallis](/source/Burghwallis). However, it was moved around 1960 when the junction was being constructed, so the real well is actually beneath the A1.[8] Another well – [Little John's Well](/source/Little_John's_Well) – lies to the west of Hampole, between [Wrangbrook](/source/Wrangbrook) and [Skelbrooke](/source/Skelbrooke) (but closer to the latter). It is also called Little John's Cave. Situated by the A638, to the west of Barnsdale, it was once engraved with the outlaw's name, but is now derelict. South of Barnsdale Bar, the A1 follows the old [Roman](/source/Roman_roads_in_Britain) [Ermine Street](/source/Ermine_Street) – north of Barnsdale Bar the A639 follows the course of the Roman Road more closely whilst the A1 follows a more recent route. Several villages and geological features along this route are mentioned in the early ballads of Robin Hood as being places the outlaw visited. Doncaster, farther south, is not mentioned, but is referred to in the names of [David of Doncaster](/source/David_of_Doncaster), a Merry Man in *[Robin Hood and the Golden Arrow](/source/Robin_Hood_and_the_Golden_Arrow)*, and Roger of Doncaster, a villain involved in Robin's murder in *[A Gest of Robyn Hode](/source/A_Gest_of_Robyn_Hode)* and *[Robin Hood's Death](/source/Robin_Hood's_Death)*. In [Hanging Wood](/source/Hanging_Wood%2C_South_Yorkshire), also known as Highfields Wood, between Hampole and [Highfields](/source/Highfields%2C_South_Yorkshire), [53°33′39.96″N 1°11′58.68″W / 53.5611000°N 1.1996333°W / 53.5611000; -1.1996333](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Barnsdale¶ms=53_33_39.96_N_1_11_58.68_W_) a small stream known as Robin Hood's stream springs from underneath the Roman Road and runs into the [Pick Burn](/source/Pick_Burn). ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-west_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-west_1-1) [Smith, Albert Hugh](/source/Albert_Hugh_Smith) (1961). [*The Place-Names of the West Riding of Yorkshire*](https://web.archive.org/web/20110521004246/http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/m/mec/hyp-idx?type=id&id=hyp.948.19991101T123123). EPN Society. Archived from [the original](http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/m/mec/hyp-idx?type=id&id=hyp.948.19991101T123123) on 21 May 2011. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Howlett_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Howlett_2-1) Sue Howelett (2008). "Barnsdale". [*The Heritage of Rutland Water*](http://www.rutlandhistory.org/HRW/chapter-003) (pdf). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780907464419](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780907464419). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Fortunaso_3-0)** Robert Fortunaso (29 June 2010). ["Barnsdale"](https://robinhoodlegend.com/barnsdale/). *RobinHoodLegend.com*. Retrieved 28 March 2024. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Morris_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Morris_4-1) Richard Morris (2008). "In Barnsdale Forest". *Yorkshire: A Lyrical History of England's Greatest County*. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781780229096](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781780229096). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["The Magnesian Limestone in South and West Yorkshire"](https://web.archive.org/web/20060618025512/http://arch.wyjs.org.uk/MLALSF/html/results.html). Archeological Services, West Yorkshire Joint Services. Archived from [the original](http://www.arch.wyjs.org.uk/mlalsf/html/results.html) on 18 June 2006. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Barnsdale Tunnel"](http://www.forgottenrelics.org/tunnels/barnsdale-tunnel/). *ForgottenRelics.org*. Retrieved 28 March 2024. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Stephen Knight; Thomas Ohlgren, eds. (1997). "A Gest of Robyn Hood". [*Robin Hood and Other Outlaw Tales*](http://www.lib.rochester.edu/CAMELOT/teams/gest.htm). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Robin Hood's Well (Skellow)"](https://web.archive.org/web/20050903040435/http://www.britannia.com/tours/rhood/rhwella1.html). britannia.com. Archived from [the original](http://www.britannia.com/tours/rhood/rhwella1.html) on 3 September 2005. Retrieved 27 January 2006. v t e Robin Hood Characters and settings Characters Main Robin Hood Maid Marian The Jolly Pinder of Wakefield Sheriff of Nottingham Guy of Gisbourne Prince John Bishop of Hereford Richard at the Lee King Richard Merry Men Little John Much the Miller's Son Will Scarlet Arthur a Bland David of Doncaster Will Stutely Friar Tuck Alan-a-Dale Gilbert Whitehand Settings Sherwood Forest Major Oak Nottingham Loxley St Mary's Abbey, York Barnsdale Wentbridge Media Screen Film Robin Hood (1912) Douglas Fairbanks in Robin Hood (1922) The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) The Bandit of Sherwood Forest (1946) The Prince of Thieves (1948) Rogues of Sherwood Forest (1950) Tales of Robin Hood (1951) The Story of Robin Hood (1952) The Men of Sherwood Forest (1954) Sword of Sherwood Forest (1960) The Triumph of Robin Hood (1962) A Challenge for Robin Hood (1967) Long Live Robin Hood (1971) Wolfshead: The Legend of Robin Hood (1973) The Arrows of Robin Hood (1975) Robin and Marian (1976) Aaj Ka Robin Hood (1988) O Mistério de Robin Hood (1990) Robin Hood (1991) Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) Princess of Thieves (2001) Robin Hood (2010) Robin Hood (2018) The Death of Robin Hood (2026) TV Robin Hood (1953) The Adventures of Robin Hood (1955) The Legend of Robin Hood (1968) The Legend of Robin Hood (1975) Robin of Sherwood (1984) The New Adventures of Robin Hood (1997) Robin Hood (2006, episodes, characters) Robyn Hood (2023) Robin Hood (2025) Animated Robin Hood Makes Good (1939) Rabbit Hood (1949) Robin Hood Daffy (1958) Robin Hoodwinked (1958) Rocket Robin Hood (1966) Robin Hood (1973) Robin Hood (1990) Young Robin Hood (1991) Tom and Jerry: Robin Hood and His Merry Mouse (2012) Sherwood (2019) Parody About Seven Brothers (1968) When Things Were Rotten (1975) The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood (1984) Maid Marian and Her Merry Men (1989) Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993) Alternate settings Mexicali Rose (1939 film) Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964 film) Naan Sigappu Manithan (1985 Tamil film) Nyayam Meere Cheppali (1985 Telugu film) Robin of Locksley (1996 film) Catch Me Now (2008 Chinese TV series) Alyas Robin Hood (2016 Philippines TV series) Popular culture Statue of Robin Hood Robin Hood (DC Comics character) Robin Hood (Disney character) Child ballads 8: Erlinton 102: Willie and Earl Richard's Daughter 103: Rose the Red and White Lily 115: Robyn and Gandeleyn 117: A Gest of Robyn Hode 118: Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne 119: Robin Hood and the Monk 120: Robin Hood's Death 121: Robin Hood and the Potter 123: Robin Hood and the Curtal Friar 124: The Jolly Pinder of Wakefield 126: Robin Hood and the Tanner 127: Robin Hood and the Tinker 128: Robin Hood Newly Revived 129: Robin Hood and the Prince of Aragon 130: Robin Hood and the Scotchman 131: Robin Hood and the Ranger 132: The Bold Pedlar and Robin Hood 136: Robin Hood's Delight 138: Robin Hood and Allan-a-Dale 139: Robin Hood's Progress to Nottingham 140: Robin Hood Rescuing Three Squires 141: Robin Hood Rescuing Will Stutly 142: Little John a Begging 143: Robin Hood and the Bishop 144: Robin Hood and the Bishop of Hereford 145: Robin Hood and Queen Katherine 146: Robin Hood's Chase 147: Robin Hood's Golden Prize 148: The Noble Fisherman 151: The King's Disguise, and Friendship with Robin Hood 152: Robin Hood and the Golden Arrow 153: Robin Hood and the Valiant Knight 154: A True Tale of Robin Hood Stage / theatre The Downfall and The Death of Robert Earl of Huntington (1598 and 1601 plays) The Merrie Men of Sherwood Forest (1871 operetta) Robin Hood (1890 De Koven opera) The Foresters (1892 play) Robin Hood (1934 Tippett opera) Twang!! (1965 musical parody) Robin Hood (1998 ballet) Robin des Bois (2013 musical) Video games Robin of Sherwood: The Touchstones of Rhiannon (1985) Robin of the Wood (1985) Super Robin Hood (1986) The Adventures of Robin Hood (1991) Conquests of the Longbow: The Legend of Robin Hood (1991) Robin Hood: The Legend of Sherwood (2002) Robin Hood: Defender of the Crown (2003) Robin Hood's Quest (2007) Volume (2015) Hood: Outlaws & Legends (2021) Literature A Gest of Robyn Hode (probably 15th century) Ivanhoe (1819) Maid Marian (1822) The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood (1883) Bows against the Barons (1934) The Once and Future King (1958) The Outlaws of Sherwood (1988) Through a Dark Mist (1991) Lady of the Forest (1992) In the Shadow of Midnight (1994) The Last Arrow (1997) Lady of Sherwood (1999) King Raven Trilogy (2006) Music Legend (1984 soundtrack) "Robin (The Hooded Man)" "Love" (song) "Not in Nottingham" (song) "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" (song) The Tale of Gamelyn Robin Hood (2010 soundtrack) Robin Hood (2018 soundtrack) Alan Dale Outlaw (2009) Holy Warrior (2010) King's Man (2011) The Outlaw Chronicles (2012–2016) Related Miss Robin Hood Son of the Guardsman The Son of Robin Hood The Bandit of Sherwood Forest Robin Hood's Larder Robin Hood Morality Test "Robot of Sherwood" "Robin Good and His Not-So-Merry Men" Once Upon a Time The Tales of Robin Hood (former Nottingham attraction) Once Upon a Studio Category --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Barnsdale](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnsdale) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnsdale?action=history)). 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