Introduction

In the early 1970’s I watched a film at my local cinema that sent me on a historical journey. That film was Walt Disney’s ‘Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men’. As a child I had seen other films and read the books, but this film in particular inspired me to research the historical evidence behind one of the most famous legends in the world.

Studying the attempts to find Robin Hood, by many antiquaries and historians, has taken me on a complex, but fascinating path through the dense forest of British history. So using the story from the film, come with me as we journey with Allan A Dale, through the past and see what has been discovered about Robin Hood and how they made that wonderful film.

This is the tale of Robin Hood

"O, I'll sing a song, a rollicky song,
As, I roll along my way,
With a hey derry die 'n' a derry die do
And a riddle de diddle de day!

This is the tale of Robin Hood,
And of his merry men,
His like you are not like to see,
In all the world again."