ROBIN HOOD, SHERWOOD FOREST, COMBERBACH
Trip Start
Oct 01, 2008
1
313
320
Trip End
Sep 02, 2009
Comberbach, England, United Kingdom
Friday, August 28, 2009
We go into town to the Tourist Information Office and get information on Nottingham Castle and Sherwood Forest. We walk to the castle, it is very high on a hill and overlooks the city and surrounding country side. This is a modern building and not the first castle was built in 1067 by William the Conqueror, the next castle was built by Henry II in 1167 and taken over by Richard the Lion Heart in 1194 the time of Robin Hood.
The grounds have lots of very beautiful gardens. The castle is now a museum and art gallery. We did enjoy the film segment about the manmade sandstone caves underneath the castle used ever since the first castle was built.
The entrance gate is the oldest remaining part of the castle. Outside of the old castle wall is a statue of Robin Hood. This was the best part here.
We then went around the wall to the oldest pub in England call the Jerusalem Inn. Part of it is also dug into the caves. The doorways were about 5'8" high, lots of ducking as we went from room to room.
We drive out of town and north towards Sherwood Forest. It is sunny and cloudy, rains on and off. We arrive at the car park and it rains so we have lunch in the car. It stops raining and we begin our walk in the forest. There are lots of families here for picnics, walks and workshops by the parkies.
The main thing to do here is to go and see the Major Oak. It is 1,150 years old and very big. It would be similar to the oak tree that Robin and his Merry men would hide in from the Sheriff on Nottingham. The write ups on the forest, trees and Robin Hood are well done on a board. There is also an indoor display on how life was live in Robin Hood’s time and another display on the forest preserve.
Back on the road and we are off to the village of Comberbach through Mackelsfield. I am sure you all recognize these famous names – no! I will explain, around 1978/9 I began to look into the genealogy of my family name Comberbach. This was pre-internet, emails, etc. so it was all done on a typewriter and snail mail. I loved doing this and all the incredible challenges of getting the information. I was very lucky that the ancestors in 1850 had the family researched and a book was written. Five copies of the book were published on the family beginnings back to William the Conqueror. There were 3 young brothers who were on their own and assumed the name of Comberbach.
My great grandfather William Sucker Comberbach lived in Mackelsfield before he immigrated to Canada. Actually my great grandmother came to the Stonewall area of Manitoba with 2 of the sons and established the homestead. I guess this is where I inherited some of my spunk from. My great grandfather then came with the only daughter to the homestead. I have no addresses of homes in Mackelsfield, but we are here so we go through the town. It is in a valley and is quite a big city.
We drive on to the village of Comberbach. Now this is a small place. Actually last night I found the village has it’s own web site – www.comberbach.com. There are 2 pubs in the town, a Methodist Church, a primary school and a few social clubs. A bed and breakfast was listed on the web site so we will look to stop there.
I stop in at the pub, it is fancy and full of lots of people. I ask the young bar man and he has no idea as he is not from here. He asks the owner and they tell us to go over to Holly Bush in the next village. I tell him that my maiden name was 'Comberbach’ and he says oh. Not impressed. We go down to the Drum and Monkey pub. It too is full of people sitting and talking and drinking. There is a group playing cards, I ask about the B & B and no one knows about it. I tell them who I am, a couple are interested but it soon falls off. I take some pictures of the village and we leave. I was disappointed that no one got too excited that they had an original Comberbach right there. We leave and go to the Holly Bush in the next village.
They have a room and I tell the woman who I am and about our travels. She is just thrilled and so interested in it all. We have diner in the pub and then to bed.
