Genealogy Chat

Hi, Do's anyone know of any website's about Public hanging in the Uk during the early 1900's. As we have found out a Family member may have been hung between 1902 1910 Possibily in London. I Can't give a name as there are other Family members to think of. Thank's Priscilla

You could try The Times online archive. It would likely have been in the newspapers. Jim

The last public hanging in England happened in 1868. Sam x

Hi, Thank's Jim, I will give it a go and post a reply. Thank's Sam,do you know If that is just Public Hanging's? Best wishes Priscilla

Take a look at this site http://www.richard.clark32.btinternet(.)co(.)uk/timeline.html

Hangings went on for quite a long time. It was just the public ones which stopped. 'British' hangings continued to various odd dates and you need to be careful as some colonies/protectorates continued after hanging was stopped in the Uk but the hangings were done as British. Do not understand the law side of it one iota - has me completely foxed. Clive

Jim, do you have a web address for the times i can't seen to find it Best wishes Priscilla

If you google 'Judicial Hanging' (UK sites only) you should find a useful site which lists ALL people hanged in England, Scotland and Wales between about 1700, until the law was repealed. Sorry I can't give the addy - I didn't bookmark it! OC

Early 1800s there were 135 hanging offences. Juries would not convict (even though very few executions were carried out) so the law was reformed. Half a century later the young were sent to the colonies, not exactly transported, but, er, well, sent to the colonies and their services were bought by the settlers for the time up until they were18. Clive

Wikipedia has a list of 'People Executed By Hanging' (Go to wikipedia and put that in the search box) Your relative may be on that list - it is quite a long one! OC

I am tired, and getting a bit silly - but is it possible you have misunderstood? '...and he was publicly hung' might mean he got into terrible trouble, rather than actually being hung! There have been no public hangings for over 140 years, so I can't imagine why your informant thought someone would be publicly hung in the 1900s. If you want to pm me a name, I will have a look. OC

If you google Capital punishment uk you should find a site with the answer you need. It is also quite shocking to note the executions taking place worldwide. Names dates places all included. Not for the faint hearted! Ray Whincup

Last hangings to take place in UK were on 13 August 1964. One in Walton, Liverpool and the other in Strangeways Manchester. The two men (their names escape me for the mo) were hung at the same time so that neither could be said to be the last person hung in the UK. I think they'd been involved in shooting 2? policemen. Please don't quote me on any of this 'cos its just off the top of my head.

The two last men to be hung in England were Peter Anthony Allen and Gwynne Owen Evans, who died at 8 a.m. on 13 August 1964. They brutally murdered a Laundry Van driver, in his home, in the furtherance of theft. One was hung at Strangeways and one at Walton Prison. The fact that they hanged at the same time is not remarkable - 8 a.m. was the usual time for hanging people. Also - it could not have been known at that time that they would be the last people to hang in England, as the Hanging Bill was not repealed for a further five years (although no more hangings took place) OC