The Ghost of Dick Turpin

Dick Turpin, the infamous highwayman, was executed at York’s Knavesmire on April 7, 1739. He died with theatrical bravado, leaping from the gallows ladder to hasten his death. His ghost has been reported in York ever since.

The Highwayman

Richard “Dick” Turpin was a butcher turned criminal who became one of England’s most notorious highwaymen. His legendary ride from London to York on his horse Black Bess is fiction, but his real crimes were violent enough.

The Execution

Turpin was captured in York under an assumed name and identified through his handwriting. He spent his last days buying new clothes and entertaining visitors. At his execution, he chatted with his executioner and jumped to his death.

The Haunting

Turpin’s ghost has been reported throughout York. He appears in period costume, sometimes on horseback. Sightings concentrate around the Knavesmire, the site of his execution, and the streets of the city center.

The Cell

The cell where Turpin was held before execution, in York Castle, has generated reports of supernatural activity. Visitors have reported feeling presences, hearing footsteps, and seeing a shadowy figure matching contemporary descriptions of Turpin.

Black Bess

Some witnesses claim to have seen a phantom horse on the roads around York. While Turpin never made his legendary ride, the power of the story has apparently created its own reality.

Assessment

Dick Turpin’s theatrical death and subsequent romanticization have made him an ideal candidate for ghostly legend. Whether genuine spirit or folklore made manifest, his ghost has become part of York’s identity.