That was quite something in Turpin's day and the genuine article will be on view in St Ives over the next few weeks.

The historic artefact, which dates from the 18th Century, is just one of many interesting displays which are brought together in a new exhibition, Huntingdonshire Pubs In Old Pictures.

This special exhibition has been collated at the Norris Museum and runs until Tuesday, September 30.

According to curator Bob Burn-Murdoch, the knife and fork once said to be used by the ruthless highwayman was given to the museum by a lady from the Warboys area.

However, how Mr Turpin came across them remains a mystery – although all evidence surrounding him today suggests they were stolen during one of his many highway robberies.
The story of our infamous ancestor is countered by one of the beautiful paintings from the artist William Watt Milne.

Praising the painter who lived in the St Ives area, Mr Burn-Murdoch said: "He produced such lovely colourful paintings and there are many works in private collections in this area."
The museum has just one and Milne is represented at this exhibition by his view of the Three Jolly Butchers pub at Wyton which is painted in the 1920-30s era.

Mr Burn-Murdoch added: "This colourful oil painting is a new addition to our collection as a result of a recent generous bequest.
"The pub looks much the same nowadays, but Watt Milne has used artistic licence in rearranging the village street in the background – there are no thatched cottages, trees or distant horizons there really!"
This autumn exhibition looks at some of the historic pubs in our county, as seen in prints, paintings and old photographs.

The pictures on display include etchings by the Victorian engraver Edwin Edwards – you can see his delicate prints of pubs at St Neots, Huntingdon, Stilton and Stukeley as they were in the 1870s. 
Mr Burn-Murdoch added: "Artists like Edwards often liked to draw the picturesque and old fashioned inn yards instead of the more modern front parts of the buildings." 

Many other local hostelries appear in prints, paintings and photographs and the exhibition contains village pubs, riverside pubs, town pubs and the Great North Road. 

You can find out how the Swan and Salmon got its name, look at jars and bottles from local breweries and even discover a 2000-year-old pub game.

>> Huntingdonshire Pubs is on show now and runs until September 30. The Norris Museum is open Monday to Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 2pm-5pm. Admission is free. 
The museum is located at The Broadway, St Ives, PE27 5BX. Call 01480 497314.