Barnsdale

The term Barnsdale originated in the medieval period and was used to donate the area between the towns of Doncaster & Pontefract in the old West Riding of Yorkshire, a county in the United Kingdom. At this time the area was known as Barnsdale Forest and was used as a hunting ground by the nobility of the time. The term forest is perhaps a misnomer as although there was much woodland, there also existed areas of open common land as well as several villages like Campsall, Smeaton, Wentbridge, Burghwallis and Askern.

Through the centre of Barnsdale Forest passed the old Roman road from Doncaster to the north of the country. This road forked at Barnsdale Bar, the highest point in the district. The western fork continued via Pontefract and Castleford to Hadrian’ Wall, whilst the eastern fork, known as Watling Street continues via Wentbridge and Ferrybridge to the city of York.

Following the departure of the Romans the roads were used by travellers in medieval times but Barnsdale Forest had gained a reputation as the home of bandits and outlaws who preyed upon people passing along these roads. One such bandit was known as Robin Hood and the ballad “A Lytell Geste of Robyn Hode” printed around 1500, places this famous outlaw in Barnsdale Forest rather than in Sherwood Forest to the south in Nottinghamshire. There are still connections today with the myth of Robin Hood where in Barnsdale can be found Robin Hood’s Stone, Robin Hoods Well, Little Johns Well, Saylis Plantation as well as the sites of the Bishop’s tree and the Robin Hood Inn at Skelbrook.

During the 17 & 18 centuries Watling Street and the roman roads of Barnsdale became part of The Great North Road from London to Edinburgh. Stagecoaches would pass this way, calling at the inns at Redhouse, Skelbrook and Wentbridge and when the roads were turn-piked a toll bar was placed in the fork at Barnsdale Bar. The Great North Road would eventually become the main A1 road which is presently being upgraded to motorway status. Today most of the woods of Barnsdale have been replaced with fields and the Barnsdale villages are mostly used by commuters working in the nearby towns of Doncaster and Pontefract.