Roger Rowle and the Gubbins – the Robin Hood of Dartmoor and his Merry Men ?
While plays about Robin Hood were entertaining 16th century audiences in Chagford and Ashburton (and probably other Dartmoor locations ) the exploits of Roger Rowle and the Gubbins in the Lydford area were creating parallels with the traditional characters. It is said that a gang of outlaws, known as the Gubbins, lived near Lydford Gorge, possibly in caves or ‘cotts’ – rough shed-like structures. They terrorised and robbed any travellers who passed that way. Their leader was Roger Rowle. A pool known as ‘Rowles Pool’ is situated at the village side of the gorge.
Historical records, written in very uncomplimentary terms, tell us about Roger Rowle and the Gubbins, and have formed the basis for characters in literature. For example, in the poem ‘A Lydford Journey’ by William Browne, written in the first half of the 17th century, we read:
And near hereto’s the Gubbins’ Cave
A people that no knowledge have
Of law, or God, or men
Whom Caesar never yet subdued;
Who’ve lawless liv’d; of manners rude;
All savage in their den.
By whom, – if any pass that way,
He dares not the least time to stay,
For presently they howl;
Upon which signal they do muster
Their naked forces in a cluster,
Led forth by Roger Rowle.’(Browne, n.d.)
According to Westcote, writing in c.1630, these verses were ‘commonly sung by many a fidler’(Oliver and Jones, 1845, 359). If the date of Westcote’s manuscript is correctly identified then Browne’s verses must predate 1630.