For this week’s ‘culture’ gig my entry onto my London Shoes website blog got me researching and exploring a particularly dark and macabre topic that is a fascinating part of London history that you wouldn’t necessarily find covered off in great detail, in any history book.
The subject matter this week focussed on the landmarks that were “Blackwall Point” and “Cuckold’s Point” and their connection to the activity of river (e.g. the Thames) ‘Pirates’!!!
For over four centuries captured and convicted “pirates” were hanged at Execution Dock in Wapping, on the north bank of the Thames.
Convicted pirates were held in Marshalsea Prison in Southwark on the south side of the Thames, and then transported across to Wapping on the north side, to Execution Dock – where they were hanged.
Having been hung at Execution Dock, they were generally left on the gallows for a period of “3” tides, before being cut down.
Back in the day, pirates were not to be granted Christian burial rights – and therefore, their bodies were usually coated in tar and then transported back across the Thames to 2 specific locations south of the River – where they were then placed in to a ‘Gibbet’, which was basically an iron framed cage, and then put out on display at 2 strategic locations on the Thames, to act as a visual deterrent to any would be sailors entering the ‘pool of London’ who may have been having thoughts of ‘plundering’ and piracy.
The 2 locations where the gibbets containing the decaying bodies of pirates were displayed, were “Blackwall Point” and “Cuckold’s Point”.
“Blackwall Point” is the northernmost tip of the Greenwich Peninsula, right at the back of the now O2 arena – and is a natural position as a gateway to central London, as all ships would have had to pass by it, on their final approach into London – so it was the ideal place to parade the ‘gibbets’ containing the convicted, deceased pirates – as every sailor would have had no choice than to see these gruesome displays.
Today, Blackwall Point is simply a Thames pathway that provides excellent uninterrupted views of Canary Wharf situated across on the north side of the river – and the only landmark of cultural interest at Blackwall Point is the art work known as the “Slice of Reality” – which is a sculpture commissioned in 1999 for the O2 Arena and is quite simply an old ocean going sand dredger cut in half!!! (strange but true).
The other strategic point on the River Thames where the ‘gibbets’ containing the convicted pirates bodies where hung out for all to see, is a spot formerly known as “Cuckold’s Point”.
“Cuckold’s Point” is the name given to part of the sharp bend on the River Thames on the Rotherhithe peninsula, south-east London – and it marks the point where the river narrows and the rougher waters of the Thames Estuary turn into the calm of what’s commonly known as the ‘Pool of London’.
Again, like ‘Blackwall Point’ – it is a part of the river that would have always had to be viewed by any sailor on ships entering into London – and therefore was the ideal spot to display a ‘deterrent’ warning to any would be pirates.
The actual location of what was ‘Cuckold’s Point’ in Rotherhithe, is now the residential housing complex known as Pageant Crescent.
So – although a bit of a gruesome topic, and even though the weather was pretty gruesome, in terms of it being extremely cold and windy at the time of my visit – these 2 lesser known locations have seen a vast array of historic activity throughout past centuries, and are well worth a visit.
With my visit completed and before setting off back home – this freezing cold explorer dropped in to the historic Mayflower pub in Rotherhithe.
In July 1620, the Mayflower ship took on board 65 ‘pilgrim’ passengers from its London homeport of Rotherhithe – before setting off for its historic and well documented journey to the ‘new world’ – and this delightful, ancient and extremely popular pub is full to the brim of references to that epic journey and its Rotherhithe starting point.
Hope you find this topic and its accompanying photos interesting.
The plaque on the only remaining exterior wall of what was Marshalsea Prison – Southwark – Where convicted pirates were held prior to being transported across the River Thames to Execution Dock-Wapping
The steps leading down to what was “Execution Dock” – Wapping
Another view of the steps leading to “Execution Dock” Wapping
The mock gallows on display at the site of Execution Dock – Wapping
The mock gallows depicting the site of what was Execution Dock – Wapping
Some old pirate – at the site of Execution Dock – Wapping
An old map showing the Greenwich Peninsular on the River Thames – where “Blackwall Point” was located at the very northern tip – just behind where the O2 Arena now stands
The site today, of what was known as “Blackwall Point” – where the deceased pirates caged up in a gibbet – were hung on display – to act as a deterrent to any would be pirate
The view today from “Blackwall Point” – looking across the River Thames to Canary Wharf. Incidentally – you can just, about identify Level 24 of the Barclays building, where I used to work
The view today from “Blackwall Point” – looking westward down River Thames towards the Pool of London and the City
The view today from “Blackwall Point” – looking eastward down River Thames towards the eventual Thames Estuary
The “Slice of Reality” – In other words, and old sand dredger cut in half – on display at the site of what was “Blackwall Point” on the Greenwich Peninsular – Apparently it’s ‘art’!!!
Me – at the spot of what was “Blackwall Point” – at the very northern part of the Greenwich peninsular
An image of how executed pirates were displayed in a ‘gibbet’
A very cold me – having landed on the south side of the River Thames at Rotherhithe
The mean streets of Rotherhithe – south of the River – with Canary Wharf, north of the River, in the distance
Street art – on the mean streets of Rotherhithe
An old map of Rotherhithe that makes reference to “Cuckolds Point” – the other location where gibbets containing the bodies of executed pirates, were hung out on display, to act as a deterrent to any would be pirates
A view of what was “Cuckolds Point”-Rotherhithe – taken from the north side of the River Thames
A close up view of what was “Cuckolds Point”-Rotherhithe – taken from the north side of the River Thames
The actual spot that was once “Cuckolds Point” – Rotherhithe
The location that was once known as “Cuckolds Point” in Rotherhithe – where the sailors on the ships entering the ‘Pool of London’ wold have no escape from seeing the executed pirates caged up in gibbets
A view of the north side of the River Thames – taken from Rotherhithe on the south side
A close-up view of “Limehouse Reach” on the north bank of the River Thames – taken from Rotherhithe on the south side
Me – at ‘Cuckolds Point’ – south of the River – with Canary Wharf (north of the River) in the background
‘Cuckolds Point’ – south of the River – looking westward towards the ‘Pool of London’ and the City
An image of how executed pirates were displayed in a ‘gibbet’
The Mayflower pub – Rotherhithe. The starting point of the Pilgrim journey to the ‘new world’
The Mayflower pub – Rotherhithe
Me – outside The Mayflower pub – Rotherhithe
Inside the Mayflower pub – Rotherhithe
Inside the Mayflower pub – Rotherhithe
Inside the Mayflower pub – Rotherhithe
Necking down a ‘cheeky’ one in the Mayflower pub – Rotherhithe
Necking down a second ‘cheeky’ one in the Mayflower pub – Rotherhithe
Loved this blog – plus The Mayflower is my favourite pub. We took my mum there for her 70th birthday and we often frequent it in the summer to have lunch on the jetty with the whole family – although my tall son-in-law often struggles with the low beams – Very envious of your days out
Thanks for fіnally writing about >”Blackwall Point” & “Cuckolds Point” – & (tһe Thames)
Rіver Pirаtes – London Shoes
I enjoyed your articles about the historic spots along the Thames, especially the Pirate history. My family has a direct connection to these sites.
Hope Point was another location where Pirates were displayed in a Gibbet. According to documents and a London Newspaper, one of my ancestors took the drop at Execution Dock and was displayed at Hope Point, 22 May, 1701 as a warning sign to maritime trade heading for the London Docks. His name was Captain Joseph Bradish from Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was caught at about the same time as Capt. Kidd and both were transported to London along with their crews for trial and execution on the same vessel.
Hello – I checked-out your London Shoes blog on “Blackwall Point” & “Cuckolds Point” – & (the Thames) River Pirates”. Your story-telling style is awesome, so keep up the good work!