Hayman Rooke
Major Hayman Rooke (1723-1806) became an antiquary on his retirement from the Army. The Major Oak is named after him.
[edit] Biography
Rooke was born on the 20th February 1723.[1] After a modest military career, in which he achieved the rank of major, Major Rooke retired to Mansfield Woodhouse in Nottinghamshire and turned himself into an antiquary. He is particularly associated with Roman finds around Mansfield Woodhouse, but he was a pioneer archaeologist within the county of Nottinghamshire. Despite having no formal training, he was well versed in a range of archaeological fields, and a frequent contributor to the journal Archaeologia between 1776 and 1796. As well as the Romans he wrote about medieval churches and local great estates such as Welbeck, Bolsover, Haddon Hall and Thoresby. Rooke died on the 18th September 1806 and is buried in the chancel of St Edmund's church in Mansfield Woodhouse.[1]
The Major Oak is named in his honour and in recognition of his writings and love of Sherwood Forest.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Major Oak Day, accessed October 2011
