Hampstead Heath

Hampstead Heath

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6 Responses

  1. Mysteryshopper says:

    Re: Hampstead Heath
    Are there any known recent witnesses? If so, how did they know it was Turpin?

  2. Ian Topham says:

    Re: Hampstead Heath
    I am not even sure that he has been seen.  It may just be the sound of a horse galloping that has been heard.  There are several pubs in the Hampstead and Highgate area with claims that he hid there from time to time, so he was active in the area.

    I think it is probably just a local legend, but as always, if anyone knows differant add your comments below.

  3. PeterH says:

    Re: Hampstead Heath
    [quote=Ian Topham]The ghost of the highwayman Dick Turpin (1705 – died 7 April 1739) is said to haunt Hampstead Heath riding his black horse.

    [/quote]

    He Must have had a hell of a ride to get to Hamstead Heath,  he was hanged and buried in York,  I’ve seen his grave. 

                      http://www.information-britain.co.uk/famdates.php?id=66

  4. Ian Topham says:

    Re: Hampstead Heath
    He had strong links with the Hampstead Heath area and his father was was said to be landlord of the nearby Spaniards Inn.

  5. Megiddo says:

    Re: Hampstead Heath
    Turpin’s father was not connected to the Spaniard’s Inn. He was both a butcher and landlord of the Bluebell Inn, Hempstead in Essex, which is where Dick Turpin was born. However, Dick Turpin is said to have used the Spaniard’s Inn as one of his bolt holes but I’m not sure if there is any concrete evidence of this.

    Turpin was indeed executed in York. He had given up highway robbery and moved with his family there, where he set himself in business as a horse trader under the assumed name of John Palmer and even mingled with the gentry. However a simple argument got him thrown into jail for a minor offence and from his cell he wrote a letter to his brother-in-law in Essex. This letter was seen by Turpin’s old school-master who recognised the handwriting and notified the authorities.

  6. Ian Topham says:

    Re: Hampstead Heath
    Thanks for that Megiddo.  There seems to be a few pubs around Hampstead Heath and Highgate claiming links to Dick Turpin.  I was unsure of how valid the claims of his father running the Spaniards Inn were.