In the earliest medieval ballads of Robin Hood from the fifteenth century, the outlaw is said to have made Barnsdale Forest his abode and base of operations (for example, in "
Robin Hood and Guy of Gisbourne", and in "
A Gest of Robyn Hode"). Notable locations within the forest of Barnsdale which are directly related to the Robin Hood legend include
Wentbridge and
Campsall. There is a
Robin Hood's Well, a small monument (apparently designed by
John Vanbrugh) lying next to the A1 between the Red House junction and Barnsdale Bar, between the villages of
Skelbrooke and
Burghwallis. However, it was moved around 1960 when the junction was being constructed, so the real well is actually beneath the A1. Another well –
Little John's Well – lies to the west of Hampole, between
Wrangbrook and
Skelbrooke (but closer to the latter). It is also called Little John's Cave. Situated by the A638, to the west of Barnsdale, it was once engraved with the outlaw's name, but is now derelict. South of Barnsdale Bar, the A1 follows the old
Roman Ermine Street – north of Barnsdale Bar the A639 follows the course of the Roman Road more closely whilst the A1 follows a more recent route. Several villages and geological features along this route are mentioned in the early ballads of Robin Hood as being places the outlaw visited. TDoncaster, farther south, is not mentioned, but is referred to in the names of
David of Doncaster, a Merry Man in
Robin Hood and the Golden Arrow, and Roger of Doncaster, a villain involved in Robin's murder in
A Gest of Robyn Hode and ''
Robin Hood's Death''. In
Hanging Wood, also known as Highfields Wood, between Hampole and
Highfields, a small stream known as Robin Hood's stream springs from underneath the Roman Road and runs into the
Pick Burn. ==References==