Dick turpin and the gregory gang

By Richard Jones. Dick Turpin — is one of those larger than life figures whose legend contains little resemblance to the actual facts of his, often sordid, life. Born in the Essex village of Hempstead in September , he grew up in a relatively well-to-do household and received a modest education from the village Schoolmaster, James Smith. At the age of sixteen, he was apprenticed to a butcher in Whitechapel, then a pleasant village on the outskirts of London, where he spent five years learning his trade before setting up in business for himself at Waltham Abbey. When business was slow, he attempted to supplement his income by cattle stealing, was detected and, to avoid capture, fled into the wilds of rural Essex, where he earned a living from robbing the smugglers on the East Anglia Coast, sometimes posing as a Revenue Officer - an ingenuity that was appreciated by neither the smugglers nor the Customs Officers, and he was soon forced to flee again, this time to Epping Forest.

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We use cookies to ensure that you have the best experience on our website. You can change your cookie settings at any time. Find out more Accept. Dust jacket in good condition, light marks on the rear cover, very slightly rubbed on edges and corners. Green cloth binding with gilt title to spine in excellent condition.

It was said that 'Highwaymen ruled the highways' during the 17th and 18th Centuries. Stagecoaches would be held up by a masked horseman at gun point, the rich passengers would then be robbed of their jewellery and money. Turpin lived in an old cottage just seven miles north of Hinckley , he would often frequent Watling Street and stop at the Harrow Inn that used to be located where Watling Street crosses the Harrow Brook. Over the years Turpin would become a notorious poacher, burglar, horse thief and killer, but his time would come to an end when he was captured and sentenced to death for his crimes. During the s, Dick Turpin was a regular visitor to the 13th century 'The Cock' Inn at Sibson which is the second oldest Inn in the country, and only seven miles north west of Hinckley.