Under-threat pub's Dick Turpin claim debunked

A pub historian has poured cold water on claims a historic inn at the centre of a campaign to save it from disrepair was a haunt of legendary highwayman Dick Turpin.

Repairs to The Cock Inn in Sibson, Leicestershire, will go ahead next month while a campaign to reopen the timber-framed pub which shut seven years ago continues.

Campaigners said the pub was "believed to date to 1250 and be the second oldest pub in England" while a sign inside before it called last orders claimed Turpin took "refuge" in the bar chimney while working Watling Street.

But Dr James Wright, a buildings archaeologist specialising in mediaeval and early modern architecture, said these claims were all "probably untrue".

The claim that the Star Pubs-owned inn goes back as far as the 13th Century are backed by the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) listing for the venue, which adds The Cock was "a reputed haunt" of Turpin.

The listing says the highwayman, who was active in the early 1700s, used to access the pub via a "secret tunnel from pub to village".

Wright said a good tale can be as useful as a good ale in bringing in customers.

"Such claims are routinely made by tenants, landlords, breweries, pub companies etc and are usually marketing schemes - if someone writes something on a sign then it must be true, right?" he said.

"When even the tiniest bit of critical evaluation is applied the stories usually fall apart.

"As far as I am aware, there is not a single pub anywhere that has an accurate date printed on its sign."

Wright said Historic England has the building as being "late sixteenth or early seventeenth century" which would "seem consistent" with its timber frames.

He added Turpin was known to target victims in Middlesex, Essex, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and latterly East Yorkshire throwing "doubt" on any strong Leicestershire link.

"There does not seem to be documentation to back up that claim," he said.

But despite the legends and myths, the pub has plenty of verifiable historical importance - enough for it to have been Grade II listed for 70 years.

And a campaign to protect it on Tuesday handed a petition backed by more than 2,600 people to Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council's full council.

Councillor Miriam Surtees said the council "had a duty to protect listed buildings" adding: "The appearance of the collapsing pub seen by thousands driving along the A444 is a disgrace."

Council leader Stuart Bray confirmed that an interested buyer had been looking to take on the pub before pulling out due to the Covid pandemic.

He said council officers and architects met Star Pubs to discuss plans for the pub and remedial work would take place in mid-May - adding the council would use "enforcement powers" if necessary.

Star Pubs previously told the BBC it carried out "significant structural works" in 2025 and a second phase of works had been put forward to the council.

A spokesperson said: "We will complete the renovation of an external wall – making it structurally sound – and undertake some internal repairs. In the meantime, we are tidying up the outside of the site, such as replacing the fence and pruning."

And the pub chain added a search for a new tenant for the pub was ongoing with "strong candidates".

Wright said: "The importance of pubs isn't necessarily how old they are.

"Yes, ancient buildings deserve respect, conservation, and appropriate use - but the real importance of pubs is the offer that they make as community hubs.

"I'd rather hear about how good the beer is, whether the food is great, and what the atmosphere is like."

Additional reporting by Chris Harper, Local Democracy Reporting Service.

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