London: The Executioner`s City
An interesting recent addition to the vast number of books already published about London is "London: The Executioner`s City".
It is written by David Brandon and Alan Brooke.
The authors acknowledge that Tyburn (where Marble Arch now stands) is by far the most famous execution site in London, but there were many more.
They look at some of these other sites, such as Smithfield, Newgate and the Old Bailey, the Tower of London and Execution Dock at Wapping, along with many others.
They also look at the history of penal policy and of public attititudes to executions, which were once regarded as a choice form of public entertainment.
Posted by colin on Thursday 13th November, 2008 at 8:52am