Robin Hood Statue at Thoresby Park

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Robin Hood is Nottingham’s most culturally significant attraction; our local hero represents freedom, strength and liberty. If you want to catch a glimpse of Nottingham’s favourite vigilante, you should take a trip to Thoresby Park to see Robin cast in bronze.

Sculpted by artist James Arthur Woodford in the early 1950s, this beautiful motif of Robin Hood was commissioned by Philip Clay, as a gift to the city of Nottingham. Clay spent £5,000 on the 7ft tall commission and its surrounding plaques in order to link Nottingham to the lore and also for the 1947 visit of the then Princess Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh to mark the town’s 500th year anniversary.

Woodford carefully researched the statue to ensure the dedication to Hood would be as close to his likeness as possible; he based his concept of Hood on his mythological tales and historical understandings of medieval foresters’ appearances . Woodford’s depiction thus, of a rather stocky leather capped figure, converged with the popular image of the Robin Hood depicted in the 1938 ‘Adventures of Robin Hood’ film. That said, Hood himself is a controversial figure, it seems only natural that his image should be swamped in controversy too.

Over the years, Hood’s arrow has been stolen many times, most recently in 2018, due to the high value of the lead it is composed of, and by visitors looking for unique souvenirs. The arrow has since been replaced by the type of metal used on gun barrels and has been tightly welded to the sculpture to prevent further vandalism.