Robin Hood's Bay

 

Robin Hood's Bay

Robin Hood's Bay is on the north Yorkshire coast.
How the bay got its name has been lost with the passing of time, and its unclear if the bay was named after the legendary outlaw or if the prince of thieves and his merry men ever visited Robin Hood's Bay.

There is a guide book “A Walk Round the Old Village” widely available in the village, I got a copy from the Post Office; it cost one pound in April 2010.
With the help of the guide book I walked around the narrow cobbled streets of the old village. History seemed to come alive as I passed by the many places of interest including the Old Fisherman's Arms where smugglers and excisemen fought in 1779.

Smugglers would bring contraband including Tea, Spirits and Tobacco into the country from the continent to avoid paying duty. The financial rewards were high, but so were the risks, and there were fierce battles between smugglers and excisemen.

The old fishing village is a delightful place to explore with its narrow streets leading down to the Sea, and the old Coastguard Station which closed in 1901.
Outside the old Coastguard Station, which is now an information centre, there is a collection box for the R.N.L.I in the shape of a fish which has been in use since 1871.

The old village is in a constant battle with coastal erosion, and over the years, the village has lost many houses to the sea.