Background information The Highwayman Background information

What is a “Highwayman?” A highwayman was a thief who preyed on travelers, particularly those who travelled by horse. Such robbers operated in Great Britain and Ireland from the mid-1500s to the early 1800s.

Highwaymen as heroes There is a long history of treating highway robbers as heroes. Originally they were admired because they were considered to be bold men who confronted their victims face-to-face. The most famous English robber hero is the legendary Robin Hood. Some highwaymen were remembered as Robin Hood-like figures who robbed those who were wealthy and helped people who were poor.

How did they operate? Some highwaymen robbed alone, but others operated in pairs or in small gangs. They often targeted coaches, including public stagecoaches; the post-boys who carried the mail were also frequently held up. To be robbed by a famous highwayman was regarded as something of an honor.

Where did they rob? Highwaymen often lay in wait on the main roads coming from London, England. They usually chose lonely areas of woodland. Hounslow Heath was a favorite haunt.

Robberies on Hounslow Heath While many of the highwaymen were thugs pure and simple, it cannot be denied that some of them had a certain flair. Some returned money to needy victims, and released women and children untouched, including the children of the Prince of Wales, held up at Hounslow in 1741. There are even accounts of robberies in which the victim is referred to as 'a man' and the robber as 'a gentleman'.

Photos of Hounslow Heath

Executions The penalty for robbery with violence was hanging, and most notorious highwaymen ended on the gallows. Highwaymen who could go to the gallows laughing and joking, or at least showing no fear, are said to have been admired by many of the people who came to watch

Illustrations

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