Shropshire's Robin Hood
From 1491 to 1518, "Wild Humphrey Kynaston" supposedly lived a life that would closely match the fictional character Robin Hood.His cave still exists and can be visited in Nesscliffe Hill Country Park.
It seems he had a reputation for robbing from the rich, and giving to the poor.
In return, the locals protected him, and gave him and his horse ('Beelzebub') food.
The cave is in the woods above the original A5 which went through Nesscliffe village here, and was still an important route in Kynaston's time.
The road was built by the Romans as the route from London to Holyhead, and Ireland.
Once, in an attempt to capture him, the local sheriff removed several planks from the Montford Bridge, to keep him from crossing the River Severn.
But his horse managed to leap and safely clear the distance.
It is also said that he was a regular patron at the Old Three Pigeons tavern in Nesscliffe village.
They say his original seat is still there.
On 20 December 1491, Kynaston was found guilty for the murder of John Hughes at Stretton, and declared an outlaw by Henry VII.
Some time after that, he moved from Myddle castle to a cave in Nesscliffe Rock.
Some sources claim that the reason he moved was due to the criminal charges, and others claim that he was outlawed due to debts.
He may have been pardoned by Henry VII in 1493, but some say that in 1513, Humphrey provided 100 men to aid Henry VIII in France, and in return received a royal pardon 3 to 5 years later.
If it wasn't for his "outrageous" lifestyle, you would not expect him to have been short of money.
He was the youngest son of Sir Roger Kynaston, High Sheriff of Shropshire, and he inherited Myddle Castle from his father, but allowed the estate to fall into disrepair.
While the year of his death is well known, how he died and where, are disputed.
Some sources claim he lived comfortably in an estate near Welshpool until he died, and others claim he died of illness in his cave.
Source: Wikipedia
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