London’s – Notorious ‘Execution Sites’

The traffic island at Marble Arch that commemorates the site of the Tyburn gallows

William Wallace (e.g. Braveheart) was executed at the Elms (Smithfield – where St Barts Hospital now stands) Wallace was hung drawn and quartered at this site, and his head was tarred up and spiked onto London Bridge

Another historic batch of executions at the Elms (e.g. Smithfield) were the Protestant “Marian Martyrs” who were ordered to death by Mary Queen of Scots (Bloody Mary). A plaque containing their names and commemorating their demise, now stands at the site of the gallows

The ‘bell’ that rang on the eve of every execution at Newgate, was called Amen Corner – and was so famous that they even named a nearby street after it.

Newgate Prison The ‘Amen Corner’ bell that was rung at the ‘St.Sopulchre-Without-Newgate’ church, on the eve of every public execution that took place at Newgate Prison

The prison was in use as London’s public execution site for more than 700 years – from 1188 to 1902. The gallows stood on Newgate Street up until 1868. The prison was demolished in 1904, and the Old Bailey now stands on the spot.

Lincolns Inn Fields London’s largest public square – and host to hundreds of gruesome executions

Lincolns Inn Fields London’s largest public square – and host to hundreds of gruesome executions A notorious executioner by the name of Jack Ketch, worked from here – and whose accuracy with the ‘axe’ was so useless, that it often took him up to 5 attempts to behead his victims

Charing Cross:- The landmark outside the station, represents the dead centre of London and the spot where public executions and floggings took place throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. Samuel Pepys makes mention of this site in his diaries – saying that on execution days there would be a carnival atmosphere all around the area, with everyone in jovial spirit (I bet the geeza being hung wasn’t that overjoyed!!)

Banqueting House – Whitehall This bust of Charles 1st – commemorates the spot where temporary gallows were erected and where he met his death

Whitehall Across the road from Banqueting House there is a clock – and where you will see that a black mark sits next to the number 2 on its dial. This mark is there to commemorate the exact hour when King Charles 1 was executed

Old Palace Yard In the grounds just outside The Palace of Westminster – and where Guy Fawkes met his end in 1606 – ironically, outside the very building that he tried to destroy Sir Walter Raleigh was also executed at this site, some 12 yrs later

St.Marks Church – Kennington This was the site of ‘Sarf Londons’ equivalent to Tyburn – and today’s church is on the spot where the “Surrey Gallows” stood. Many of the Jacobites and several highwaymen, met their demise here

Marshalsea Prison – nr Borough Not an execution site, but where all the smugglers and pirates were banged up before being taken across the water to Execution Dock in Wapping

An old pirate at the original gates, and only remaining wall of Marshalsea Prison

A commemorative flagstone at the old Marshalsea Prison site

A commemorative flagstone at the old Marshalsea Prison site

A commemorative flagstone at the old Marshalsea Prison site

Tower Hill Contrary to belief – only a handful of people were ever executed at the Tower of London. The main execution site was Tower Hill – Sir Thomas More and Thomas Cromwell being among the more famous who met their demise here. Within the memorial gardens there is a commemorative area where the original gallows were sited

Tower Hill – commemorative plaque.

Tower Hill – commemorative plaque.

The ‘mean streets’ of Wapping leading towards Execution Dock

Whilst I was at Wapping, this sailed by – which I thought was quite poignant

The steps leading down to the Execution Dock site, in Wapping

Execution Dock The gallows outside the Prospect of Whitby pub – a watering hole where many a pirate or smuggler enjoyed their final flagon of ale, before meeting their maker

Execution Dock A gallows stands on the shores of the Thames at Wapping – commemorating the site where pirates and smugglers met their demise. The practice was to only ‘slightly’ hang them, then leave them so that 3 tides would go over their heads – before cutting them down

A closer shot of the gallows on the shore of the Thames at Wapping

Execution Dock – Wapping One of the most famous pirates hung at Execution Dock, was Captain Kidd. There is now a pub there named after him

Execution Dock – Wapping The “Prospect of Whitby” pub – another stopping point for smugglers and pirates, before heading off to the gallows

Execution Dock – Wapping Having been paraded through the streets from Marshalsea Prison (south of the River) across London Bridge on to Wapping – pirates and smugglers were allowed 1 last ‘quart’ of ale at the Town of Ramsgate public house – before being taken off to the gallows at Execution Dock

An old and exhausted modern day pirate – having a well deserved ale at the Prospect of Whitby pub Wapping, before heading back to his ship