Major Hayman Rooke

Major Oak (Queens Oak)
Major Hayman Rooke

Little is known about the private life of Major Hayman Rooke who after his retirement from the Royal Artillery around 1780 took up residence at Woodhouse Place , which is still situated on the corner of Leeming Lane South and Mansfield Road , hiding behind a high stone wall, opposite the Mines Rescue Station.

Although he is little known by his name he is remembered in away that makes him known to millions of people the World over. During his residence in the area he would have become known as ‘The Major’. The Major enjoyed long walks especially through the woods. It is conjected that he often rested under the branches of the well known “Queens Oak” where he would perhaps have his lunch or write his notes. As time went on the locals began to call this tree “The Major’s Oak” and has since become known as “The Major Oak”.

During his retirement he became somewhat of an antiquarian, especially relating to matters concerning natural history and meteorology. His knowledge enabled him to become a Fellow of the Society of Antiquarians and a Fellow of the Royal Society. He wrote many articles and communications which were included in ‘The Archaeologia’ (vol’s 8-11).

He made many discoveries and observations both locally and further a field but possibly his most well known discovery was that made on land just west of Mansfield Woodhouse. During the spring of 1786 he had noticed some Roman bricks and small stones which the locals called ‘fairy pavements’. This aroused his curiosity and he commenced his search for their origin. This search didn’t take long and soon he had discovered the remains at a Roman Villa situated in the parish’s north field.

A small scale model of the villa has been made, and can be viewed at Mansfield museum, showing the living quarters, barns and the tessellated mosaic pavement, from whence the fairy pavements came from, amongst other buildings on the site. He later found a second villa near the site along with some sepulchres.

The owner of the land erected a shed in order to protect part of the discovery but it was noted in 1811 that the door had been broken open, the pavement ruined and a mare and foal were sheltering on the stones. The site was once again buried in order to protect it from vandals and the weather.

The forest was a great love of his and he studied many of its larger trees particularly in Welbeck Park . He proceeded to write a “Description or Sketches of remarkable Oakes in Welbeck Park” in 1790 followed by publishing a pamphlet nine years later entitled “A sketch of the ancient and present state of Sherwood Forest”.
The first work included such oaks as: “Dukes Walking Stick” which stood 111 feet high and was estimated to have weighed 11 tons; “The seven Sisters” being seven trunks issuing from one stool; “The Porters”, which stood either side of a road, one being 98 feet high and 38 feet around the circumference while the other stood 88 feet high and 34 feet around the circumference and the “Greendale Oak”, which had, in 1724, an arch cut through it large enough for a carriage and four horses to pass through.   Major Rooke describes the latter oak as follows: “This famous oak is thought to be above 700 years old, and from its appearance, there is every reason to suppose it has attained to that age at least. The circumference of the trunk above the arch is 35 feet 3 inches; height or the arch ten feet three inches; width about the middle six feet three inches; height to the top branch fifty four feet.”

His second pamphlet, published in 1799, tells how he discovered, upon the felling of certain trees in Birkland and Bilhagh, the brand of King John (about 18 inches beneath the bark and twelve inches from the centre), James 1, and William & Mary cut and stamped in the body of the trees. He describes how far each was from, the bark and from the centre.

He died in 1806 but his name, or rather his title ‘Major’, will live on for centuries to come whenever our descendents talk of Robin Hood, Sherwood Forest and the Major Oak.

This article was originally written for the Chad in 1992, who have given their permission for its reproduction on this website.

Comments about this page

  • The mosaic sounds great! Is the mosaic still on display at Mansfield Woodhouse library?

    By Linda Hardy (27/10/2021)
  • After all these years I was never aware of the Major Rooke story in respect of the Major Oak. As a child we were just told that Robin Hood used it as a hideout from time to time. We visited the tree on many occasions when we were kids and enjoyed family picnics nearby from time to time.

    I can remember the tree looking more or less as per the picture. However It must now be roughly three or four years since I last saw the tree or what remains of it. It was in a sad state, held up by ropes and chains or whatever. Fencing had been erected around the tree, presumably to deter people from attempting to get to close to the old, very old oak.

    A sad state of affairs indeed but then again it’s done well to endure for so long given its history, including the weathering of many a storm no doubt. Has it been pulled down entirely? Will certainly have a look on my next visit, in the Spring with a bit of luck, keeping an eye out for Robin and his Merry Men of course! Will I have a drink in the Edwinstowe pub that bears the trees name? You bet I will, (if it’s still doing business of course).

    By Steeve Cee (07/12/2020)
  • Old Mansfield Woodhouse Society,havea large display, re Major Rooke, at Woodhouse Library,together with a large mosaic, constructed by Staff, and local people.The display is on until the end of June,to be followed with further displays by the Society, by kind permission of the Library Staff.

    By ralph holt (20/06/2010)

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