Robin Hood and Maid Marian Statue in Edwinstowe Damaged, Police Investigate

Law enforcement officials have initiated an inquiry following damage to an “iconic” sculpture depicting Robin Hood and Maid Marian. The bronze artwork, situated in Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire, portrays the figures kneeling with their hands clasped. The damage occurred on October 31, and a local parish councillor indicated that the necessary repairs would “need extensive work” and could incur costs of up to £6,000. Nottinghamshire Police characterized the criminal damage inflicted upon the statue as “completely unacceptable.” The force confirmed that officers are conducting an investigation and appealed to anyone possessing relevant information to get in touch. Created by sculptor Neale Andrew, the statue was erected outside the village library in 1998, forming part of a High Street regeneration initiative. According to Edwinstowe parish councillor John Peck, the “iconic statue” appears to suggest a marriage proposal from Robin Hood to Marian. He stated, “Legend has it that Robin Hood and Marian were married at St Mary’s Church in the village.” Peck further noted the global recognition of the Robin Hood legend and Edwinstowe’s position as the heart of Sherwood Forest, adding, “There’s hardly a day that goes by where I don’t see somebody taking a photograph next to the statue.” Peck reported that they discovered the statue had been vandalized on the morning of November 1, with both Robin Hood and Marian “losing part of their arms, including their hands,” and a fragment found on the ground. “The village is really disappointed, and it’s tragic,” Peck conveyed. He described it as “an iconic statue that means a lot to the village and an important part of the High Street.” He speculated, “We think somebody’s probably got up on the statue and I’m afraid it isn’t built to stand that kind of attention.” Peck elaborated on the repair challenges, stating, “It’s solid bronze, and it’ll be a very difficult fix. It will need to be taken away, and it’ll probably take a couple of months to repair. It’ll be a big loss.” He concluded, “It’s going to be a long and expensive job.” Peck mentioned that the statue had sustained damage on a previous occasion. In May 2020, a vehicle veered off the road and collided with the statue, an incident Peck stated incurred repair costs of several thousands of pounds. He added that the “significant and beautiful piece of art” was subsequently reinstalled in December. He further noted the absence of CCTV surveillance in the vicinity, a measure they would “seriously consider” for the statue’s protection. A spokesperson for Nottinghamshire Police stated: “The Robin Hood and Maid Marian statue was damaged at some point between 16:00 on 31 October and 07:00 on 1 November.” The spokesperson added, “It really should go without saying, but this type of criminal damage is completely unacceptable.” The statement concluded, “Our officers are in the process of investigating this incident, so we would ask anyone with any information to share it with us.”