As you tour York or Stratford you'll find truth and myth closely entwined in the towns origins and history. Can you really shoot Scotsman from the walls of York? Is Robin Hood from Nottingham? Is there really a pub for every visitor in Stratford?

Let's start with...

Robin Hood

Robin Hood is strongly associated with Nottingham, but delve deep enough you'll discover his home village of Locksley was a village in West Yorkshire. The village fell foul to the Normans during the Harrowing of the North.

The early Ballards of Robin Hood place him firmly in the county of Yorkshire where his greatest rival was the Abbot of Saint Mary's Abbey in York. The Lord Mayor was said to have chased a Robin Hood from the walls of York its self.  It is not until the 12th Century the Ballards sing of Robin Hood fighting the Sheriff of Nottingham and robbing the rich to support the poor.

Whatever the origins of this legend he'll always be synonymous with the fight for good! Even if the truth is lost in time.

Devils Doors

Some early churches have a small door, not because people were smaller back in the past but to allow the Devil to leave the church!

When Holy water was poured on the Childs head making them cry, it was thought the Devil was leaving the child! Once the devil left through the Devils Door, I guess you were left with a little angel! Other local myths have vikings pinning skins of their enemies to theses features.

Where ever you go there are local myths and legends regarding a Devils Door, I guess in this instance myth is more exciting than the truth!

Shooting Scotsman from City walls

Murder my friend has always been Murder! Originally the North East Gate of York was entered by Scotsman whom had to have written permission from the Lord Mayor to gain access. From this gateway jokes and stories have changed, been embellished on and developed into the myth we hear today. Everyone from Scotland can comfortably come to York, any day of the year, with out fear of being shot at with arrows. This has always been the case. It's easy to create myths, look at Mel Gibson in his film Brave heart, William Wallace never came to York, but many believe he did on the back off this film. Nor did the Scotts wear Kilts until the 1700's long after Wallace's Demise. Anyone can become a Myth Maker even Mr Gibson!

Creating a language

By the birth of William Shakespeare the language 'English' was developing its own unique words, not just the amalgamation of Norman French, Scandinavian, Latin and Germanic influences. Some 500 words could be considered 'English.' By the death of the Bard there were over 40,000 words, many made up but remain in use to this day. Language constantly changes, even today we make up words, current trend is to take two words and mix them 'Brexit for example. Text messaging and abbreviations create a different prose. But not many can claim to have influenced language more than William Shakespeare.

And finally...



A pub for everyday of the Year

A nice thought isn't it? Going to a different pub every day for 365 days. Sadly in York this has never been possible. 268 during the reign of our Georgian kings in the 1700's seems to be the best we did in York. (Though if you count licensed bars and cafes today I bet we are not far off).

Many of our older towns and cities claim this fact but the best claim comes from the city of Norwich. It is certainly most likely where York 'borrowed' the fact to attract tourist in the early days of the railways. Nowadays of course the fact is used to attract students to York. Fact, Myth Legend...Cheers!

History is always subjective, open to interpretation, but one thing is for sure the human imagination has a unique way of creating its own legend and myths. Whatever we believe it will be grounded in truth somewhere and that's what makes exploring so much more fun!