Bakewell - a story of ancient gangsters

Is this linked to the story of Robin Hood

The Derbyshire Dales town of Bakewell is synonymous with Bakewell Pudding. Not the Bakewell Tarts or Mr Kipling’s Bakewell Slices. Those tasty morsels do take their name from Bakewell. The original pudding, though, is very different to those. However, I am not writing about food today!

The “Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop” Image: Roland’s Travels

Bakewell, Derbyshire

While researching the town of Bakewell, I came across a story I had to share with you. Before I do, let me tell you a little about Bakewell, and then I will get into this most intriguing story. 

Bakewell is a small town with many houses and shops built in Derbyshire stone. The population is under 4000. The shallow River Wye flows through it and is popular with tourists who come not just for the Bakewell Pudding but to take in the area's scenery and enjoy the hospitality this town offers. It’s a pleasant walk along the river through the town, and there are plenty of seats. As I walked along this area, several large trout and the proverbial collection of ducks were to be seen.

The 17th-century bridge crossing the River Wye in Bakewell and river scenes - notice the trout swimming in the foreground of picture 3. Images: Roland's Travels

You will find plenty of people in the town if you visit on a Monday, as that is market day when the farmers bring their livestock and other traders sell a variety of wares.  

The oldest bridge across the river is on the northeast side of the town and dates to 1664, and it still carries a great deal of modern traffic across it.  See the photo above.

Our story, though, came to light when I was looking for information about the church. This led me to investigate the story of a 14^th-century gang terrorising the wealthy. They were very much the equivalent of the Mafia. Murder, extortion, kidnap, protection rackets and theft were all in their lawless toolbox. 

The beating of the vicar of All Saints’ Church started my quest for more information. Let’s see what happened to the vicar and discover more about the gang involved. 

Racketeering, Extortion, Murder, and Mayhem

The vicar of Bakewell, Walter de Neuton (Newton), was attacked and evicted from his church. In addition, the criminals involved stole ten shillings stolen from the collection plate. Who committed this atrocity? It was a group of men known as the Coterel (also Cotterill) Gang. They were an armed group operating in the North Midlands. The gang was led by James Coterel and supported by his brothers, Nicholas and John.

Bakewell Parish Church. Image: Roland’s Travels

I will return to the vicar and his story later. Firstly, I must provide more background information about England during this time.   

The Coterel Gang - Derbyshire

England, during the 14^th century, was experiencing political upheaval. A number of armed gangs roamed across the country. The Coterel gang was one of these and was first mentioned in official records with the attack on Walter. The three brothers were the son of Ralph Coterel, a major landowner in Derbyshire. The young James has been described as a 14th-century juvenile delinquent by one historian. Coterel and his immediate supporters were regarded as of the gentry class, which was supposed to assist the Crown in upholding the law and not breaking it. 

The gang based themselves in the peaks of Derbyshire and the heavily wooded area of north Nottinghamshire, such as Sherwood Forest. (Does that ring any bells? Men dressed in Lincoln Green and all that!). The term ‘greenwood gang’ was given to those gangs who lived in the forests and woods. 

The Crown tried but failed to suppress them. Like any criminals who get away with things, the Coterel gang continued their activities, increasing their confidence. By 1330, they had committed at least two murders, engaged in kidnap and theft, and ran a protection racket. They had a fearsome reputation, and people soon paid up, fearing the beatings (or worse) they would otherwise receive.

Walter, the vicar of Bakewell

Let’s get back to Walter, the vicar of Bakewell. The attack on him was instigated by Robert Bernard. This man had an axe to grind. Robert was the previous vicar of Bakewell (1327-1331) and, by all accounts, a despicable man. One day, his parishioners, fed up with him stealing church funds and, no doubt, other dubious activities, threw him out of the church. Robert took up a position at Lichfield Cathedral as Chantry Priest, where it seems he could syphon funds for himself unhindered. 

Walter sent a petition in 1331, written in old French, to the King, complaining about the Coterel Gang and his mistreatment. See a copy below of the original document stored in the National Archives. 

In 1332, possibly due to Walter’s petition, Royal Justice Richard de Willoughby was sent to Derbyshire to bring the gang to justice. He was outsmarted by the gang, and working in collaboration with another gang called the Folvilles, named after their leader, they kidnapped the King’s man. Both gangs had previous dealings with Willoughby and would see this as an opportunity not just to avoid capture but to get revenge.  

Willoughby not only came away without the gang members but also empty pockets. He had to pay 1300 marks. The mark was used in a notional way for accounting purposes. It was worth around ⅔ of a pound. That makes Willoughby’s ransom valued at approximately £867—an enormous sum in 1332. 

It was doubtful the gang would be brought to justice. They had friends in high places with support from seven local men who had attended Parliament. Sir Robert Ingram was personally recruited by the Coterel’s. He was High Sheriff of Nottingham and Derbyshire 1322-1328 and 1327-1328. He has also had two terms as the Mayor of Nottingham, 1314-16 and 1320-1324. Lichfield Cathedral also supported the gang, not just support from the corrupt priest, Robert Bernard, but seven canons were accused of supporting the gang. Maybe they or the cathedral received ‘donations’ from the Coterel’s. 

The ordinary person seemed to view these gangs as on their side and tolerated them. After all, they went after the rich, and maybe the leaders were viewed as a kind of Robin Hood. Steal from the rich and give to the poor. More likely, it’s because, in those days, the poor had nothing worth stealing. Having the poor on your side was more valuable than having any goods they had to take. 

The gang received very few penalties from law enforcement, and James Coterel was given Royal Pardon in 1351, possibly at the instigation of Queen Phillipa (wife of King Edward lll). Many of the gang took on royal service in Scotland and engaged in the early part of the One Hundred Years War (1337-1453). James' and Nicholas Coterel's names are on the 1338 summons to join the royal army in Flanders. The gang fizzled out, and one of the last occurrences of James Coterel's name in official records (November 1336) indicates that he had regained the King's trust.

It’s quite a story, and I had no idea of this story emanating from Bakewell. It does indicate how the legend of Robin Hood and his run-ins with the Sheriff of Nottingham could have originated and the connection with Sherwood Forest. There are so many stories connected to every place, no matter how small, and there is so much more history during this time in 14^th-century England with its lawless gangs controlling the country. 

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