LAST week's back page Review story prompted a snowstorm of letters and many calls backing the name 'Robin Hood' on a sign marking a junction on the A4136 near Coleford.
Many readers were keen to point out that the name comes from the abandoned Robin Hood iron ore mine close to the junction with the B228, even though other readers say the area is known as 'Robin's Wood'.
And freeminer Mike Jones of Redbrook-on-Wye offers the intriguing though that it might have started as 'wood' but was corrupted by Forest dialect.
Mike writes: "I was born and raised nearby and have always known the area as Robin Hood, but that could be a result of corruption over the years caused by Forest dialect, i.e. Robin's 'ood to Robin 'ood to Robin Hood.
"Of course the other line of thought is this – could it be that the real Robin Hood was a Forester who perhaps fell in love with Maid Marion on his way back from the Scottish Wars?
"The timing is certainly right and the question arises as to why the kings were so reliant on Forest of Dean archers if there really were so many in Sherwood!"
Mike has supplied a map of the western part of the Forest's iron ore field which shows the mine's proximity to Coleford.
He adds: "According to Cyril Hart's Industrial History of Dean the mine was reopened in 1940 by the Ministry of Supply and Canadian soldiers helped work it. It was closed for good in 1944."
Rob Rutsch also says the area is named after the mine – and he should know, because the nearest dwelling to the junction, Marian's Cottage, was his home for 25 years.
Similarly Paul Morgan of Coleford points to the proximity of Marian's Inclosure nearby, and raises the question whether this might be a reference to Robin Hood's Maid Marion.
Others agreeing with this are Gordon Thomas of Berry Hill, who knows the area well as a fine wildlife site, and C.J. Yemm of Cinderford, who says he believes the area surrounding the junction is actually known as Blake's Wood.