Stand and Deliver - It's Dick Turpin!
  
 


Little Ottle Museum is proud to be associated with the notorious highwayman and brutal murderer Dick Turpin. The town still plays host to public houses named in his honour - "The Black Horse" and "Turpin's Brasserie".

Dick Turpin was born in in 1706 in rural Essex, the son of John Turpin, landlord of the Crown Inn. As a youth, young Dick served as an apprentice in his local butchers.

  
 


But meat soon lost it's appeal for the young Turpin, who then took to stealing cattle and smuggling. Becoming a bit of a local character, he then formed a gang known as the "Essex Gang" which invaded local farmhouses, terrorising and torturing the occupants..

One such attack took place at Loughton in Essex where Turpin raided the house of an old widow, holding her over a fire until she surrendered her belongings to him.

 

  
   
 

Turpin then built his career robbing travellers all around the Home Counties. The Essex Gang were renowned for their cruelty and torture.

In February 1735 the gang invaded the house of a wealthy farmer called Francis at Mary-Le-Bone (now Marylebone), beating his wife and daughter until they gave up their valuables.

One day Turpin attempted to hold up a traveller who turned out to be Tom King, another notorious highwayman. After getting to know each other they teamed up and robbed nearly everyone who were misfortunate enough to pass their way. They often accosted innocent local towns folk returning from selling livestock at the local market.

A bounty of £100 was placed on Turpin's head, and in 1937 he was confronted by a gamekeeper called Morris who tried to capure him. Turpin drew his pistol and shot him dead.

A friendly Dick Turpin Bear
  
 

After stealing a horse and shooting his partner in crime Tom King, Turpin retreated to Yorkshire where he changed his name to John Palmer and earned a living stealing cattle and carrying out the occasional robbery.

  
 

Someone dressed as Dick

Turpin's demise was particularly bizarre. One night, returning home from a day of hunting, Turpin shot a cock which belonged to his landlord. He was subsequently brought before the local magistrate and investigations were made into his earnings - they soon discovered his cattle and sheep stealing antics. On April 19th 1739 Turpin was sentenced to death. Before his execution Turpin bought himself a fancy outfit of fustian cloth and a pair of pumps and paid five men to act as his mourners.
  
 

Before his death, Turpin rode through the streets of York in an open cart, waving to the crowds. He was then taken to York Racecourse where he ascended onto the gibbet, and after chatting to the executioner for half an hour, he threw himself off the ladder and was dead within minutes. And that was the end of Dick Turpin.