Is the real Robin Hood buried in Welshpool?

The story of the Shropshire born noble who became highwayman has been compared to the famous outlaw Robin Hood.

Others claim Humphrey Kynaston was the real inspiration for tales of Robin Hood whose apparent deeds were written of 300 years after his death – just around the time Kynaston was terrorising north Shropshire.

However just like his Nottingham compatriot, the life of ‘Wild Humphrey’ has become almost mythologised.

Humphrey was the son of the Sheriff of Shropshire, Sir Roger Kynaston, and his second wife, Elizabeth, daughter of the Earl of Tankerville, Sir John Gray and his wife Antigone, granddaughter of King Henry IV.

Despite his high birth in 1468 and life at Myddle Castle, Humphrey had been destined for a life as a criminal.

Myddle Castle. Picture: Wiki Commons.

In 1487 he was joined by his half-brother, Thomas, in committing a felony in Oswestry.

Five years later Humphrey and Thomas were once again accused of crimes – this time the murder of debt collector John Hughes of Stretton Dale.

The brothers were joined by Robert Hopton though it is said many aided and abetted them in their escape before they were captured and convicted in 1493.

King Henry VII had declared him an outlaw.

Four years later Humphrey inherited Myddle Castle upon the death of his father but the castle fell into disrepair with its lord now in hiding at Nesscliffe Rock where he lived in a small cave.

Kynaston's Cave at Nesscliffe Rock. Picture: Geograph.

The cave had two rooms – one where Humphrey lived and the other for his famous horse, Beelzebub which, according to legend, was shod backwards to ensure confusion among his pursuers.

The cave entrance had once been an iron door which is said to later become the door to Shrewsbury goal.

Humphrey seems to have been well liked by the country folk of Shropshire who had been recipients of his ill gotten gains and is said he had enjoyed their protection from the law as a result.

The 1500s had been a boom time for Shropshire and highwaymen.

Shrewsbury based wool merchants bought Welsh cloth at Oswestry Market, then took it back to their hometown to be made into clothes.

Kynaston's Cave at Nesscliffe Rock. Picture: Geograph.

However trading meant carrying large quantities of gold and silver to Oswestry and venturing near Nesscliffe Hill which became a place well known as the home of highwaymen.

Just east of the village, the Wolf's Head, was well-known as a meeting place for all sorts of criminals.

Humphrey certainly had followers and had 10 children through three marriages during his life as a highwayman.

Apparently, he paid his gang of highwaymen, but kept little or nothing of the booty for himself, living simply in his cave.

It appears Humphrey lived quite openly and was a regular at the Old Three Pigeons tavern in Nesscliffe during his 25 year career as highwayman.

One day, so the legend goes, he found a man sitting in his seat at the Nesscliffe pub, so he calmly went over to him, drew his pistol and shot the man dead before escaping up a chimney.

Other such tales of Wild Humphrey include his evasion of his pursuers.

In an attempt to capture Humphrey a Shropshire sheriff removed planks from Montford Bridge near Shrewsbury to prevent his crossing only for the mighty Beelzebub to leap over the gaps as Humphrey lived to fight another day.

Montford Bridge. Picture: Geograph.

There's even a section of the Severn, 40 feet wide, called Kynaston's leap, where the highwayman is said to have jumped the river.

It is said he visited the same sheriff the next day at Aston Hall and demanded ale in a stirrup cup.

When guards gave him the ale and locked the gates he is said to have pocketed the silver cup before charging at the guards on Beelzebub and disappearing into the hills.

Tall tales soon spread of the highwayman and his demoniacally named horse.

Another story from the time claimed the two had jumped from the top of Nesscliffe Hill to Ellesmere nine miles away.

However by 1513 a new king sat on the English throne.

The site of the Old Sun Inn. Picture: Geograph.

King Henry VIII had been at war in France and Humphrey had sent 100 men to serve.

In return he received his royal pardon – albeit only after a wait of between three and five years.

Humphrey died in 1534 though even his passing has created its own myth.

Some claim he saw out his final days in Welshpool where his mother had a home which would later become the Upper Sun Inn while others claim he died in the cave he called home for so long at Nesscliffe Rock.

However his will requested his burial at Welshpool’s St Mary’s Church, suggesting Shropshire’s own Robin Hood is in fact buried in Montgomeryshire.

Welshpool's St Mary's Church. Picture: Geograph.