Anger following damage to the village’s Robin Hood statue

Police are investigating after an “iconic” sculpture of Robin Hood and Maid Marian was damaged.

The bronze statue, in Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire, depicts the two men kneeling together with their hands clasped.

However, during Halloween night it was damaged and a parish councilor said it would ‘require significant work’ to repair and cost up to £6,000.

Nottinghamshire Police said the criminal damage caused to the statue was “completely unacceptable”, adding that officers were investigating and urged anyone with information to contact police.

“World legend”

The statue, sculpted by Neale Andrew, was installed outside the village library as part of a High Street regeneration project in 1998.

Edwinstowe parish councilor John Peck said the “iconic statue” appears to imply that Robin Hood was proposing to Marian.

“Legend has it that Robin Hood and Marian were married at St Mary’s Church in the village,” he said.

“Robin Hood is a world legend and Edwinstowe is the center of Sherwood Forest.

“Hardly a day goes by that I don’t see someone taking a photo next to the statue.”

Peck said he learned that the statue had been damaged, with Robin Hood and Marian “losing part of their arms, including their hands”, and a piece left on the ground on the morning of November 1.

“The village is really disappointed and it’s tragic,” he said. “It’s an iconic statue that means a lot to the village and an important part of the High Street.

“We think someone probably climbed on the statue and I’m afraid it’s not built to withstand that kind of attention.

“It’s solid bronze, and it will be a very difficult repair. It will have to be removed, and it will probably take a few months to repair it. It will be a big loss.

“It’s going to be a long and expensive job.”

Peck said unfortunately the statue had already been damaged.

In May 2020, a car left the road and crashed into the statue, which he said cost several thousand pounds to repair.

He said the “important and beautiful artwork” was then put back into place in December.

He added that there was no CCTV coverage of the area, which they would “seriously consider” to protect the statue.

A Nottinghamshire Police spokesperson said: “The statue of Robin Hood and Good Marian was damaged at some point between 4:00 p.m. BST on October 31 and 7:00 a.m. on November 1.

“This should go without saying, but this type of criminal damage is completely unacceptable.

“Our officers are investigating this incident so we are asking anyone with information to share it with us.”

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