Executions: 700 Years of Public Punishment in London

Paperback / softback

Main Details

Title Executions: 700 Years of Public Punishment in London
Authors and Contributors      By (author) Jackie Keily
Contributions by Thomas Ardill
Contributions by Beverley Cook
Contributions by Meriel Jeater
Physical Properties
Format:Paperback / softback
Pages:144
Category/GenreExhibition catalogues and specific collections
British and Irish History
Antiques and collectables
Museum, historic sites, gallery and art guides
ISBN/Barcode 9781781301081
ClassificationsDewey:364.66
Audience
General
Illustrations Fully illustrated throughout with exclusive museum archives such as documents and paintings

Publishing Details

Publisher Philip Wilson Publishers Ltd
Imprint Philip Wilson Publishers Ltd
Publication Date 13 October 2022
Publication Country United Kingdom

Description

A fascinating record of how London and Londoners were shaped by nearly 700 years of public executions. More frequent in London than in any other city or town in Britain, these morbid spectacles often attracted tens of thousands of onlookers at locations across the capital and were a major part of Londoners' lives for centuries. From Smithfield to Kennington, Tyburn to Newgate Prison, public executions became embedded in London's landscape and people's lives. Even today, hints of this dark chapter in London's history can still be seen across the city. Featuring the lives and legacies of those who died or who witnessed public executions first hand from 1196 to 1868, this book tells the rarely told and often tragic human stories behind these events. It includes a range of fascinating objects, paintings and documents, many from the Museum of London's collections, such as the vest said to have been worn by King Charles I when he was executed, portraits of 'celebrity criminals', and last letters of the condemned. From the sites of execution to the thriving 'gallows' economy, the book reveals the role that Londoners played as both spectators and participants in this most public demonstration of state power over the life and death of its citizens.

Author Biography

Thomas Ardill is a curator of paintings, prints and drawings at the Museum of London. Beverley Cook is a curator of social and working history (19th-21st Century) at the Museum of London Meriel Jeater is a curator of archaeology at the Museum of London. Jackie Keily is a freelance museum curator specialising in exhibition curation and the history of London.

Reviews

It's a fantastic new book in its own right and well worth checking out. * History Answers *