Many people will recognise this crossroads at Blackbrook. This is where Dalley Lane and Farnah Green Road meet the A517 Belper to Asbourne Road.
Most interestingly, it is the site where people say they have seen the ghost of Dick Turpin, wearing a cloak and a three - cornered hat. Sometimes he is riding a horse. Sometimes he has no face. It is a common tale among Belper residents that Turpin haunts this crossroads, and that he sometimes gallops along the hilltop path.
Although the tale is often retold, the only published references found so far are in Bell’s Haunted Derbyshire and on Richard Felix’s Belper TV clip (on You Tube). Both sources mention sightings in the 1990s by Mike Woodhouse. These stories were being told long before 1990, however. Mike is not the only one to have a surprise at the crossroads, or on the path.
Recently, Fortean Belper put a question about this crossroads on Facebook. There were lots of replies in just one fleeting day. There were four replies from people who believed they, or someone in their family, had experienced something. There were six rather more cryptic hints from people who did not give details. Others mentioned Turpin riding down Dark Lane in Makeney. If just one day, using just one platform produced four definites and six maybes, this does suggest that quite a lot of people believe they have seen something. Especially since people now in their 90s have always known the same tale.
Something happens at this crossroads. It must be one, or more than one, of the following:
People are making mistakes. Is there something about the crossroads which causes an optical illusion? The view coming down Dalley Lane is limited. In some conditions, it might be confusing, momentarily. Some could be relating dreams or false memories. The brain plays tricks on us. People are telling lies. Some people who claim to have had paranormal experiences are just making mischief. People are seeing a horseman. A respondent offered the following explanation: at one time, a resident liked to exercise his horse early in the morning and late in the evening, dressed in an old-fashioned cape and sou’wester hat. The informant was unfortunately not available to provide any more details, but if this is true, then it might account for some sightings. It is not rare, after all, to see people riding horses. People are having hallucinations. Some researchers suggest that physical conditions give rise to the experience of apparitions in certain locations, or under certain circumstances. There are a number of theories of this type; summed up neatly in Peter McCue’s book, if anyone would like to read more. People are having paranormal experiences. Who can be sure? Is it the ghost of a highwayman?
Time for more History The history of highway robbers is linked to the history of roads. In Turpin’s time, the roads were awful. What system there was, especially in out-of-the way places, depended on the medieval network of old paths and trading routes. An explosion of road building started in the last half of the 18th century, and by the end of the next hundred years, the network of main roads as we know it was established. As part of this change, the route down Dalley Lane became a road, and that (possibly) haunted crossroads took the form it has today.
There are two buildings here today: Crossroads Farm and Turpin’s Cottage (a splendid-looking holiday let converted from outbuildings). They are both grade two listed buildings, first constructed by Strutts in the early 19th century. In 1846, part of the farm was opened as the Owl Inn, run by William Winson.
Before these buildings, there were three cottages. Not, then, a significant place when Turpin was alive. Something more like the meeting place of two tracks.
For a number of reasons, highwaymen were less common from the early 19th century onwards. So, probably no Turpin at this crossroads and, given the time frame, it’s not very likely any other highwayman waved his pistols there, either. Once again, cold water descends on a much-loved bit of Belper folklore. Sorry. However….
Looking at it Another Way When people claim to have seen the ghost of Turpin, they may well have seen something strange. They identify whatever they saw as a highwayman because they are familiar with that image, and maybe familiar with the story as well. Peeling away their interpretation, we can say they saw the figure of a man in dark clothing and a hat, sometimes on a dark horse, sometimes with no visible face. Not necessarily a highwayman. Not necessarily from the 18th century. But somebody or something.
Crossroads are important. They are liminal places.
The concept of liminality is fascinating. Liminal means ‘in between’. People can be in liminal states, such as the transition from child to adult, or from a single person to part of a couple. These special times are marked by ceremonies and procedures in all societies.
Midnight and New Year’s Eve are liminal times, in between one day and another, or one year and another. Midnight is the witching hour. New Year’s Eve has its own collection of rituals and customs.
Liminality gives rise to special rules or special conditions because it is both important and dangerous. The tradition of a bride wearing a veil, for example, comes from the belief that evil spirits could attack a person at times of change, especially happy changes, so brides hid their faces for protection.
In modern terms, we have borders to our countries and to our property. These are liminal spaces, because they mark the change between one place and another. Crossing those boundaries has to be done under certain conditions, and it may be a cause of dispute. Borders, boundaries, crossings… all potentially dangerous in the past and in the present. Crossroads were once considered to be magical. Roads, and maybe worlds, met there. They were places to perform spells. Courts met at crossroads, and people could be hanged there. Those considered to be outsiders or transgressors, such as suicides, gypsies and witches, were buried there, so that their ghosts would stay in between places, and not travel. The Greeks connected Hermes and Hekate to crossroads. The Romanians believed you could raise a demon. In Japan and parts of India, it was thought necessary to have a special god watching over the space, for protection. Not forgetting …if you are a musician, you can make a bargain with the devil at a crossroads, so you become the best player in the world.
The dark figure at our crossroads comes from a long line of crossroads strangeness, with connections reaching back through the centuries and around the world to Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. Just take care when crossing the road.
Add this to the Mix Just a short way from the crossroads is Dalley Farm, set in a cluster of buildings. This was redeveloped by the Strutts, but parts of the buildings are very old. It was said to have originally been a 16th century shepherd’s cottage, but the oldest visible part is 17th century. In his 1894 book, Charles Willott describes a visit to the farm, and mentions seeing the date 1764 carved over the door. Charles tells us this tale about the farm:
‘I have heard some strange tales told about the former residents of this farm in bygone times; they were a sort of English moos-trappers heroes alike of the field and of the road, where thy levied black-mail on the inhabitants of the surrounding country in Rob Roy or Dick Turpin fashion. According to the story, they made frequent nocturnal visits to their old rendezvous, after they had shuffled off this mortal coil. They made no attempt to take possession of any of the good things they had left behind; they came as it were to amuse themselves by roaming about the house, up and down the stairs, whip in hand, booted and spurred, to the great annoyance of the farmer and his family.’ (p 33)
Moos trappers is a misprint. There were no moose here. Moss trooper is a name used to describe the bandits and cattle raiders who terrorised the England/Scotland border in the mid-17th century. Like the English highwaymen, many of them were thought to be ex-soldiers with no other occupation. Charles seems to be saying that a gang of criminals like those had a base there, and ran some kind of protection racket as well as robbery.
Charles did not really have our needs in mind when he wrote about his tea party, so there are no helpful details like names or dates. He is just repeating a story he was told. However, if we are looking for a scary man on a horse, with a connection to the Blackbrook area, we seem to have found a few. Of course, this does not prove anything.
We have covered a lot of ground here, and we have not yet explored sightings on the North Lane or on Dark Lane. As we wind up this topic for the present, we will leave with a request. If, in the course of your travels and strolls, you happen to pass through any of these places, be prepared. Keep a camera ready. If you see a strange figure, take a snap quickly. You never know. If you see him, whoever he is, send an email to this site. We don’t of course, all need to charge up there together in a pandemic. Let’s keep count for a couple of years, and see what we get. Pass it on. References Belper TV ‘Derbyshire Ghosts & Legends’, David Bell ‘Explore Mythology’, Bob Trubshaw. Derbyshire council’s historic records site (derbyshire.gov.uk) ‘Derbyshire Miscellany’ – Local History Bulletin of the Derbyshire Archaeological Society, Autumn 1973. British Listed Buildings.co.uk ‘Belper and its People’, Charles Willott ‘Zones of Strangeness’ Peter A. McCue
