The indicator., 1897-03-20

with the best OF 'em. says London.
| Several hundred stage coaches and at
/ least 1900 horses were employed In
daily transit through the High strest
! OF what was, for most coaches, the first
stage on the important road to Wind
sor, Staines. Bath. Bristol and the west
OF England generally. 1t was here that
| timid travellers first experienced un-
! comfortable apprehenslons in regard to
| those whom they might meet on the
road, for only a short way out OF the
then flourishlng Mlddlesex town began
the dreaded Hounslow heath. And,
truly, twas enough to give one pause.
for more desolate and awesome waste
than was presented by the noted rem
devious of highwaymen at that time
could scarcely be imagined, To begin
with, 1t was entirely unincloscd, and
Its area had been variously recorded at
1922 and 6.65S acres. Many and ter
rible were the stories in circulation as
to the boldness and ferocty OF the
footpads and mounted robbers who fire.
quented the hiding places in the vi
cinity. so that It is no wonder the
guards cautiously examined the prim-
ings OF their huge bunderbusses as the
gallant equipages left the Bell inn be-
hind them on starting across this
wilderness. Moreover there were many
gibbets to be seen (some even as late
as 1880, with their nolsome occupants
exposing bleached skeletons to the
shuddertng passerby. The heath has
undoubtedly been the scene of many
~ irsn
peaceable wayfarer and the adventur-
Gus robber. The great Dick Turpin, al
though he is supposed to have paid
more devoted attention to the York
road than to the Bath road. was con-
cerned in many Of these explolts-ac-
cording to well-estabished local tradi-
tlon. that is, and to much indirect evil
dence which seems to bear the impress
of probability
1t is also related that Dick once met
poor laborer returning homeward on
a Saturday night with his scant pit
tance hidden in his pockets under his
huge ''smock' frock. The robber hap
pened to be pressed for even n few shil-
lings. and he forthwith stopped the
man, near place known az the Ave-
nue., at Crawford. The poor fellow read
| lily parted with the siller" on hearing
Dick Turpins name, but was not sur
| prised to receive a promise that IL he
would attend certain place at an ap-
| pointed time the amount would be re-
| stored He did attend and received
not only his own again but substan-
tial addition. The story goes that at
the first meeting at the mans reuuest.
Turpin discharged pistol through his
smock frock, so that all beholders
might realize that meeting with the
noted rascal had actually taken place.
~ the same time it should be stated
that the tales told of Turpin In the vi
cinity today are generally tInged with
shade OF respect. IL not exactly of ad-
miration, and he I'D seem to have
enjoyed well-established reputation
for generous and kindly dealing with
| all the poorer classes with whom he
came in contact.
To find the spot where these events
of long past era occurred would he
now an impossible task, for the heath
was many years since brought into cul-
tivation. But those who care TO take
a stroll through the present-day
Hounslow will find much that is n, in
terest to reward them. You NAV still
discern, in the quaint old tavern signs
and names. some reflection of past
glories. The roomy stables of the an
cient time speak eloquently. in their
dreary solitude, of the hustle and an
imation once to be seen In the palmy.
coaching days Some time. perhans
Hounslow will have the laugh. when
the motor car has done It's work in our
horseyards of the next few years of
grace. The High street VIRTUALLY the
street, presents as many specimens of
the architecture of the last 15O Years Ms
the ordinary man can desire. The past
and present are inextricably mixed. and
at length the group of old houses
known as "Turpin's cottages" ia In
course of demolition, to allow of the
building of modern postoffice. Dick
Turpin is further reported to have
many times lodged in the building
which was known as the Cock tavern.
once the Oldest house" in Hounslow
subsequently the inn was divided by
slight partitions into private dwellings
and the title was dropped The block
was entirely swept away in 1866.