Footpad

A footpad was a type of robber who attacked people who were travelling, they specialised in pedestrian victims. They were common in the British Isles from the time of Elizabeth I to the 1800s. They were thought to be socially inferior to highwaymen (who robbed on horseback), often considered low criminals, opposed to highwaymen who would sometimes become infamous as well as famous. This term was commonly used from the 16th century to the 19th century, but slowly fell out of use.

Footpads always operated on foot, and robbed people after scaring them. Usually operating in the dark, they used this to their advantage by frightening the victim and getting away unseen; some of these crimes were brutally violent, although most commited them out of need and preferred more passive methods.

They opted for this method due to the high price of horses and the incognito factor of the dark. These activities usually took place in gangs.

Footpad Media

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  WORK 16/376; is an illustration, said to be from about 1680, of the permanent gallows at Tyburn, which stood where Marble Arch now stands. This necessitated a three-mile cart ride in public from Newgate prison to the gallows. Huge crowds collected on the way and followed the accused to Tyburn. They were used as the gallows for London offenders from the 16th century until 1759."