The Cock Road Gang by Steve Mills

Description

Cock Road was, in the 18th Century, a tiny little hamlet on the outskirts of Bristol. However, the exploits of the inhabitants brought it to the attention of the authorities of Bristol, Gloucestershire and Somerset. It was claimed that a criminal gang came from Cock Road, and no gang matched their notoriety. They were engaged in horse stealing, burglary, highway robbery, and possibly the first ram raid. They had links in the area, and up and down the country. Generations of the same families were hung, transported, and imprisoned. They were so renowned, that they even had a structured protection racket, where farmers paid due the size of their estate. It took the full force of the authorities, and the undermining of their way of life to stop the gang.