Athelstane's Repose

Athelstane's Repose was named after the lazy Saxon knight in Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott. This bench is the fourth stop along the Harthill Walk.

Athelstane is not very active throughout the story, but he is a descendent of Edward the Confessor, who was Saxon nobility. Cedric of Rotherwood wants to wed Lady Rowena to Athelstane to keep the Saxon line going. But when the story comes to a close, Athelstane backs down to Wilfred of Ivanhoe for the hand of Lady Rowena.

There is a moment in the story, before Cedric's party was taken captive, when Athelstane requests the group stop for a repose, or break. This is likely where the idea of Athelstane's Repose came from.