p>[* "A wight (Old English: wiht) is a mythical sentient being, often undead. In its original usage, the word wight described a living human being, but has come to be used within fantasy to describe certain immortal beings." [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wight]]PLOUGH — DICK TURPIN — ALL ABOUT BATTERSEA — HENRY SIMMONDS — 1882
[check punctuation]
On the road to Wandsworth and facing Plough Lane was "Ye Plough Inn," erected A.D. 1701. In front of this Inn grew an oak to which an iron ring was fastened, and it is supposed that here Dick Turpin the notorious highwayman occasionally reined up his bonny black mare. When the Inn was re-built in 1875-6 the trunk was removed to the front of the "Old House" in Plough Lane, which formerly belonged to Mr. Carter, who owned extensive market gardens about here.
The following lines were written in commemoration of the famous Old Plough Tree, and the present landlord has had the lines enframed for his customers to read:
"This stump the remains of the Old Oak Tree,
That flourish'd when knights of the road roamed free,
When bands of lawless yet chivalrous knights
Struck fear to the hearts of purse-proud wights*!
This gay old king of the forest's wilds,
His proud head bow'd to the sun's bright smiles,
In glorious prime when his branches were strong
As shoulders of Atlas in time long gone!
His leaves in the murmuring breeze did fling
Their sweet green shade o'er the Old Plough Inn!
When the knights of the road of their deeds did sing,
'Twas there to his side was first fixed the ring
To which Dick Turpin the gallant and bold
When going to the Plough to spend his bright gold
Did tether his mare, swift Bonny Black Bess,
When rider and horse stopp'd here to get rest.
Removed from his place when the Old Plough's head
By time's fell decree in ruin was laid!
This stump that remains of the Old Plough tree
In front of 'The Old House,' in Plough Lane you may see.
Here placed in memory of the Old Plough Inn
An aged memento of things that have been!
Here in his last stage, sapped branchless and grey,
Here in cool September, the trunk's first day,
In the year eighteen hundred and seventy-six,
Was planted by Messrs. J. Goodman and Wilkes."
[author] William Holloway.
PLOUGH — DICK TURPIN — SHERWOOD RAMSEY — HISTORIC BATTERSEA — 1913
Another tavern of note was " Ye Old Plough Inn," on St. John's Hill, which was built a.d. 1701, and was pulled down in 1874, the present " Plough " being erected upon the site. In front of the old inn grew an oak tree, beneath its shade travellers used to sit and enjoy their refreshments.
There is some grounds for the belief that the notorious Dick Turpin once stayed at this house for some time, when he was nightly visiting the Garrett Lane district, the lane was then a lonely Surrey high road, leading to Tooting and Merton, where many of the gentry resided whom Turpin used to intercept on their way home, and demand his toll. Tradition says that he was often in hiding at the "Plough," when he was hard pressed by the men of law. The house was very picturesque in its surroundings, with seats and benches beneath the overhanging trees, and the old-time lattice windows of the inn. A rhymester of the time wrote the following lines in memory of the old oak tree which grew in front of the "Plough":
"Here stands the remains of the old oak tree, That flourished when knights of the road roamed free, When bands of lawless, yet chivalrous wights, Struck fear to the hearts of purse-proud knights. This gay old king of the forest wild, His proud head bowed to the sun's bright smile; His leaves to the murmuring breeze did fling In the cool shade of the old Plough Inn. When the knights of the road of their deeds did sing, As the chorus loud made the rafters ring, They drank to the health of Turpin the bold, When he brought to the 'Plough' his ill-gotten gold. So here's to the memory of the old Plough Inn, And all the past memories of things that have been."
[Good old bad old days!]
Presumably Dick Turpin's association with a Plough Inn was well-known — hence several Plough Inns claimed an association. And I suspect there are a lot more.
Send me an email if you want to comment on anything you've seen or read on the site, or would like to know more about something, or just want to be kept in touch.
Philip Boys (aka "HistoryBoys")