Robin Hood's Bay

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Robin Hood's Bay
latitude= 54.4345
longitude= -0.5344
population =
shire_district= Scarborough
region= Yorkshire and the Humber
shire_county = North Yorkshire
constituency_westminster= Scarborough and Whitby
post_town= WHITBY
postcode_district = YO22
postcode_area= YO
dial_code= 01947
os_grid_reference= NZ950053

Robin Hood’s Bay is a small fishing town or village located five miles south of Whitby on the coast of North Yorkshire, England. Bay Town, as it is known to the locals, is in the ancient parish of Fylingdales and in the wapentake of Whitby Strand. The origin of the name is uncertain, and it is doubtful if Robin Hood was ever in the vicinity.

The town, which consists of a maze of tiny streets, has a tradition of smuggling, and there is reputed to be a network of subterranean passageways linking the houses. The main legitimate activity had always been fishing, but this started to decline in the late 19th century. These days most of its income comes from tourism. Robin Hood's Bay is also famous for the large number of fossils which may be found on its beach.

Robin Hood's Bay is the setting for the "Bramblewick" books by the author Leo Walmsley, who was educated in the schoolroom of the old Wesleyan Chapel, in the lower village. Robin Hood's Bay is a poem by children's poet Michael Rosen.

The town was once served by Robin Hood's Bay railway station however this closed in 1965 and now the nearest railway station is in Whitby. The town connects to the A171 allowing access to Whitby and Scarborough.

The Bayfair newspaper contains news and local information on the town. Wireless internet access is provided for visitors all around the town by The Bay Broadband Co-operative.

The "Wine Haven-Profil" near Robin Hood’s Bay is Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) of Pliensbachian Epoch (183,0–189,6 mya), one of four chronographic substages of Early Jurassic Epoch. [ [http://www.stratigraphy.org/pliensbach.htm GSSP for the Sinemurian-Pliensbachian Boundary] , www.stratigraphy.org]

A plaque in the village records that a Brig named "Visitor" ran ashore in Robin Hood's Bay on 18 January 1881 during a violent storm. In order to save the crew, the lifeboat from Whitby was pulled 6 miles overland by 18 horses, with the 7 feet deep snowdrifts present at the time cleared by 200 men. It was launched two hours after leaving Whitby, with the crew and the Visitor rescued on the second attempt.Plaque located at the top of Robin Hood's Bay. ]

References

* M.K. Howart: "The Lower Lias of Robin Hood's Bay, Yorkshire, and the work of Leslie Bairstow." In: "Bulletin of The Natural History Museum. Geology Series" 58/2002, S. 81–152 Cambridge University Press, The Natural History Museum, 2002, doi: 10.1017/S0968046202000037 ( [http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?aid=126851 abstract] )

External links

* [http://www.robin-hoods-bay.co.uk/html/local_history.htm Local information website]
* [http://www.bayfair.co.uk News, pictures and holiday accommodation for Robin Hood's Bay]
* [http://www.northyorks.com/robin_hoods_bay.htm Local Robin Hood's Bay Mini Guide]
* [http://www.chromavision.co.uk/yt/robin.htm Page on Yorkshire-Tour]
* [http://www.rhbmesh.net/ Wireless Internet Access for Tourists]