ROBIN OF SPOOKWOOD
" ‘ TIS NOW THE VERY WITCHING TIME OF NIGHT
WHEN CHURCHYARDS YAWN, AND HELL ITSELF BREATHES OUT
CONTAGION TO THE WORLD: NOW I COULD DRINK HOT BLOOD
AND DO SUCH BITTER BUSINESS AS THE DAY." HAMLET ACT 111
"CHAINED TO ALL THE PLACES THAT HE NEVER WISHED TO STAY
BOUND WITH ALL THE WEIGHT OF ALL THE WORLD HE TRIED TO SAY
AS HE FACED THE SUN HE CAST NO SHADOWS
AS THEY TOOK HIS SOUL THEY STOLE HIS PRIDE
AS HE FACED THE SUN HE CAST NO SHADOW."
OASIS
Over the past few years reports of paranormal phenomena at Robin Hood’s Grave have been reported to the Yorkshire Robin Hood Society. One of the earliest stories was from an elderly lady who used to visit her aunt in Hartshead many years ago. She and a friend often heard Robin calling for Marian over Kirklees, which was just down the hill, and on one occasion they found a silver arrow near the grave.
In the early eighties,Barbara Green was told by Roger Williams, a local man, how he saw the apparition of a white lady on two occasions when he was clandestinely visiting the grave. On both occasions,1963 and 1972,he saw the same woman gliding across the grass and stated,"Wild horses would not drag me there again."
Barbara Green also had a terrifying experience at the graveside, seeing forms which she identified as the wicked prioress and Red Roger of Doncaster. Mark Gibbons,too, saw the white figure and vowed never to go near the grave again.Two reporters,Judith Broadbent and Sue Ellis,experienced strange happenings at the gravesite and Sue was taken seriously ill immediately after her visit.
However, the most enigmatic and controversial paranormal phenomena was reported by Bishop *********who masterminded aN unofficial mini exorcism at the gravestite in 1990.According to Uri Gellor, ********is the most famous vampire hunter of the twentieth century." This claim to fame came about largely due to the bishop’s investigation into the Highgate Cemetery vampire in the nineteen seventies, which earned him a great deal of fame--and notoriety ! At that time, he was not a bishop, but a lord,reputedly descended from the charismatic nineteenth century poet,Lord Byron, to whom his lordship bore a striking resemblance in those days .
Bishop *********** investigations into the Robin Hood situation led him to conclude that vampiric infestation was the cause of the evil atmosphere ,strange accidents and spectral sightings. These incidents have been written about fully in Barbara Green’s books,SECRETS OF THE GRAVE .
During the Kirklees Vampire investigation,Otley artist and psychic invetigator Evelyn Friend tried to exorcise the evil vibrations in the area by blessing the ley lines which originated at the grave-site. These ancient lines of mystical power were discovered by the Yorkshire Robin Hood Society in 1986--they stretch from the grave to Hartshead Church,The Three Nuns Inn,Castle Hill at Huddersfield and Alegar Holy Well in Brighouse.
The Vicar of Brighouse, the Reverend John Flack was asked to perform a blessing service over the grave, but was taken to task by his bishop and had to withdraw his offer. Shortly afterwards,his church was vandalised for suspected occult purposes. Two other local bishops were asked to intervene and use their position to press for a blessing ceremony , but both declined to be involved in no uncertain terms. In fact, they were decidedly " not amused" and completely disassociated themselves from the entire situation, and strongly advised Miss Friend and the rest of the ghostbusters, to leave well alone. Blessings indeed ! Whatever next?
The mystery of Robin Hood’s Grave remains unsolved at the present time,though it is far from forgotten. We would be very interested to hear from anyone out there who can suggest
how we deal with this very peculiar and frustrating situation. In the meantime, the deterioration of Robin Hood’s Grave and Kirklees Priory Gatehouse continues.
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