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Dick Turpin the highwayman and Heathrow Airport

Turpins Cottage at Sonning-on-Thames

Fact

Along the A4 Bath Rd near Heathrow Airport was where the infamous highwayman Dick Turpin used to wait to rob the stagecoaches going to Bath from London. Before the airport's time, the area was known as Heath Row.

Fact by: Paul Hilton   Image by: ©Edward Lever

Comment by Edward Lever(19th April 2019)

There are many legends about Dick Turpin's exploits all over England. Many of the stories are fantasy. It is certain though, that Dick Turpin existed as a historical figure with a long criminal record. He changed his name to John Palmer, was tried at York Assizes for horse theft and was hanged there n 1739. The connection of Turpin with this area of Berkshire is uncertain. What is true is that the travellers on the Bath Road were easy prey for highwaymen, particularly in the densely wooded areas such as Maidenhead Thicket east of Sonning.

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