Author’s Note.
The “Robin Hood relics,” referred to in the foregoing legend, are objects of great local interest and curiosity. The “Robin Hood’s Picking Rods” are situated on Ludworth Moor, and consist of portions of two upright stone pillars rising from a massive stone base. They are thought by many to be relics of the Druidical period, and are referred to in the “Legend of Coombs Rocks”—the first legend of the present series. It is said that they received their present name because Robin Hood and his outlaws used them as a target for their arrows, and the dents in the pillars are said to have been caused by the arrow points.
The “Robin Hood Stone” is a huge rock which lies in the bed of the River Tame near the Denton Cemetery at Hulme’s Wood, almost opposite the Arden Paper Mill.
As stated in the legend, there are fragments of Little John’s stone near it, and old traditions state that both stones were thrown to their present positions from the top of Werneth Low by the two foresters whose names they bear. Certain indentations in the larger stone are said to be the imprints of the fingers of Robin Hood, whose grip was so strong that he left the impression in the solid stone.
