RMweb Gold The Fatadder Posted October 8, 2009 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 8, 2009 Wondering if anyone can help... I've just been having a discussion with a teacher friend whos about to be teaching a primary school class on Highwaymen. This sparked an old memory of a tree alongside a road somewhere between Salisbury and Devises in Wiltshire. If I remember rightly there is a plaque next to it saying something like "this is the the tree where the last highwayman was hung in xxxx, with a bit more info about the event. Other than the memory of the tree and stopping next to it one time when I was little to read the plaque I cant remember any more details (although I am pretty certain I've seen it mentioned on a history program on TV at some point a few years ago). Does anyone have any idea about the place I'm thinking of, and have any more details about it? Sadly Wikipedia & Google have let me down Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Phil Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 Interesting one Rich. Part of the lore of traincrew route knowledge is to know tremendously trivial trivia of trivial nature en route. To this end I was told that a tree visible to the downside near Kings Langley on the WCML has the same reputation as the one you mention. Wonder if Nidge knows this one ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
5XP Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 The only snippets I can find I think are in a different area to that which you have mentioned (I'm still a bit useless with UK Geography) but these may be of help: http://wilwheaton-paracosm.buzznet.com/user/photos/?id=98001 http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/nostalgia/crimelibrary/highwaymen/ http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tadra.secretary/website/snooks.htm hope this is of help, Darren. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Maiden Posted October 10, 2009 Share Posted October 10, 2009 Darrens webpage links confirm what I thought... James Snooks was the man in question and he was Hanged from a Chestnut tree near the village of Boxmoor in 1802. After taking a drive down to Wales a few weeks back I think I'll contest the claim that he was the last highwayman in Britain....have you seen the prices they charge at motorway services Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertiedog Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 Although it refers to the Last Highwayman Hanged, I think the last one shot during a highway robbery was in 1829 on the old Canterbury road, the modern A2, just beyound Sittingbourne. The place was pointed out many years ago, and was noted locally. It was just before the period of change as the railways started and Highway Robbery was transferred to the ticket price! Stephen. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Fatadder Posted October 12, 2009 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted October 12, 2009 Thanks for that, all very interesting. Although a little dissapointed that the tree I remembered in Wiltshire sounds like its a fake Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trog Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 Interesting one Rich. Part of the lore of traincrew route knowledge is to know tremendously trivial trivia of trivial nature en route. To this end I was told that a tree visible to the downside near Kings Langley on the WCML has the same reputation as the one you mention. Wonder if Nidge knows this one ? Snooks's grave marked by two white stones under one of the clumps of trees on Boxmoor north of Hemel Hempstead. Last highwayman to be hung at the scene of his crime, I was told. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertiedog Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 It seems from the web that the last "Highway Robbery" reported as such, was on the Great North Road in 1831, so it ties in with the rise of railways and decline of coach travel. The Kent incident was a shooting by the Royal Mail guard of a Highway Robber attacking the Canterbury Mail Coach on the main A2 route over the downs near Sittingbourne. Stephen. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertiedog Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://cdn.buzznet.com/assets/users/wilwheaton/paracosm/james-snooks-last-highwayman-hanged--large-1078154249-msg-10728-2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://wilwheaton.buzznet.com/user/photos/%3Fid%3D98001&usg=__MUwshJkoVcHaQAXEj-_mxaR1DGQ=&h=667&w=500&sz=107&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=S8ugbsEl9D7fvM:&tbnh=138&tbnw=103&prev=/images%3Fq%3DJames%2BSnooks%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1C1CHMI_en-USGB299GB328%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1 Above link to posted picture of the grave marker for Highwayman Snooks. Stephen Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold SouthernRegionSteam Posted October 13, 2009 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 13, 2009 Thanks for that, all very interesting. Although a little dissapointed that the tree I remembered in Wiltshire sounds like its a fake This one...? http://images.google...sa%3DN%26um%3D1 'Big Belly Tree'- Savernake Forest Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOARD OF TRADE Posted October 14, 2009 Share Posted October 14, 2009 I remember many years ago seeing a white stone marker by the side of the Salisbury to Devises road,if it's the same one then his name was Miles from London and he was 95. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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