Turpin Cottage

Turpin was the first cottage to receive its name. What better way to keep the fairytales alive than to follow Dick Turpin, probably the most famous highwayman that ever lived and with his connections to York what better choice?

Richard Turpin, son of John and Mary Turpin was born in Essex in 1705. It was intended that Turpin was to follow the family trade and become a butcher, but as we all know he had other plans and joined an Essex gang who invaded isolated farmhouses. To escape capture Turpin is known to have relocated to Yorkshire, famously riding from London to York in less than 24 hours on his horse Black Bess.

Factually this is not true...it was another highwayman, Swift Nick who actually did this ride and it is not known why Dick Turpin takes the credit for this amazing gallop with his famous black horse. It is also not actually known when Dick Turpin arrived in York but it is said that he took his time travelling up the country before settling under the name of John Palmer. After leading an exciting life of crime Dick Turpin found himself being paraded around the streets of York in an open cart before he was executed at York racecourse for horse stealing on Saturday 7th April 1739.