London’s – Notorious ‘Execution Sites’

The traffic island flagstone at Marble Arch that commemorates the site of what was London’s notorious 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 took place at the Elms (e.g. Smithfield) were the Protestant “Marian Martyrs” were ordered to death by Mary Queen of Scots (Bloody Mary). A commemorative plaque displaying their names and reason for their demise, now stands at the site of where the Elms gallows were situated. 

A ‘bell’ rang on the eve of every execution at Newgate, to notify Londoners that there would be an execution for them to come along and watch the next day. The bell 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 this historic London Prison

Newgate prison was used as a London ‘public’ execution site for more than 700 years – from 1188 to 1902. Gallows stood on Newgate Street right 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 the site of hundreds of gruesome executions

Lincolns Inn Fields – hosted hundreds of gruesome executions A notorious executioner by the name of “Jack Ketch” was the ‘resident’ axe-man there  – 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, not only represents the ‘dead’ centre of London, it was also 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 poor blokes being hung were’nt that overjoyed!!)

Banqueting House – Whitehall – This bust of King 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’ London’s equivalent to Tyburn – the 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 as such, but the place where all the smugglers and pirates were banged up before being taken across the water to Execution Dock in Wapping

Some toothless 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 actually 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 sailing ship passed by – which I thought was quite poignant

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

Execution Dock – and 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. The practice of leaving them strung-up there, was done as a visible deterrent to any ‘pirates’ sailing down the Thames, who may have fancied a bit of pilfering

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 flaggon of ale at the Prospect of Whitby pub Wapping, before heading back to his ship