Hanging Wood (or Highfields Wood) is an area of woodland situated between the old Great North Road and the Roman Road, and between the mining villages of
Highfields and
Woodlands Woodlands may back refer to:
* Woodland, a low-density forest
Geography
Australia
* Woodlands, New South Wales
* Woodlands, Ashgrove, Queensland, a heritage-listed house associated with John Henry Pepper
* Woodlands, Marburg, Queensland, a her ...
in
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a ceremonial and metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and Humber Region of England. The county has four council areas which are the cities of Doncaster and Sheffield as well as the boroughs of Barnsley and Rotherham.
In N ...
, England. The Woodlands wildlife park and an ornamental lake,
Highfields Lake
Highfields Lake is an ornamental lake in the Woodlands wildlife park at Highfields, north of Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England.
It is filled by the Pick Burn, which then flows on to join the River Don as Bentley Mill Stream. The lake was ...
are features of the wood, as is Woodlands, a former country house, now a social club.
Hanging Wood was part of
Barnsdale Forest
Barnsdale, or Barnsdale Forest, is an area of South and West Yorkshire, England. The area falls within the modern-day districts of Doncaster and Wakefield. Barnsdale was historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire. Barnsdale lies in th ...
, where the original
Robin Hood
Robin Hood is a legendary heroic outlaw originally depicted in English folklore and subsequently featured in literature and film. According to legend, he was a highly skilled archer and swordsman. In some versions of the legend, he is depic ...
ballads are set. A "Robin Hood's stream" rises near the Roman Road at Highfields approximately 200 yards east of the Cinder path between Highfields and Woodlands and flows into the river Pick or (Pick burn) which itself flows into Highfields Lake.
Hanging Wood was reputedly one of the favourite 'hold up' spots for the 17th Century Highwayman William Nevison (Swift Nick, Black Bob). The London to York Stage coach had to negotiate a small valley at the point where the Roman Ridge crossed over the Pick Burn in Hangingwood due to having to reduce speed to negotiate this natural obstacle the Stage coaches had to reduce speed to walking pace which made them vulnerable to ambush in what is still an isolated location.
There is a record of one such attack in the Archives at Doncaster Council where a 'Hue and Cry' (Posse) was raised and said highwayman chased to Owston Village via Skellow before he evaded his pursuers.
The Ghost of a
Headless Horseman
The Headless Horseman is a mythical figure who has appeared in folklore around the world since the Middle Ages. The figure is traditionally depicted as a rider upon horseback who is missing his head.
Description
Depending on the legend, the Hor ...
allegedly haunts the Roman Ridge at Hanging wood.
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Forests and woodlands of South Yorkshire
Adwick le Street
Headless Horseman