Comments on: England’s Top 10 Gibbets, Gallows & Places of Execution https://www.davidcastleton.net/gibbets-gallows-executions-england/ David Castleton Blog - The Serpent's Pen Tue, 26 May 2026 13:11:16 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 By: Trev https://www.davidcastleton.net/gibbets-gallows-executions-england/#comment-11335 Sun, 03 May 2026 09:11:39 +0000 https://www.davidcastleton.net/?p=14590#comment-11335 In Shrewsbury, there is a district called Ditherington. It lies on the road that once led to the gallows. “Dither” is, amongst other meanings, an old word for “shake” or “quiver”. IT is widely believed that the shaking of the condemned gave rise to the name.

]]> By: David Castleton https://www.davidcastleton.net/gibbets-gallows-executions-england/#comment-10847 Wed, 11 Mar 2026 11:40:46 +0000 https://www.davidcastleton.net/?p=14590#comment-10847 In reply to Fiona.

Hi Fiona, you could maybe try court records – I think they are available online.

]]> By: Fiona https://www.davidcastleton.net/gibbets-gallows-executions-england/#comment-10818 Thu, 05 Mar 2026 19:54:46 +0000 https://www.davidcastleton.net/?p=14590#comment-10818 My Scottish mother told me one of our ancestors was hanged for stealing a sheep, but I don’t know any other details. I imagine it might have been around the time of the Highland Clearances, as my mother’s clan was McDonald., and they were highlanders. I don’t suppose there is any way I can find out more about him?

]]> By: David Castleton https://www.davidcastleton.net/gibbets-gallows-executions-england/#comment-5722 Sat, 22 Mar 2025 22:16:46 +0000 https://www.davidcastleton.net/?p=14590#comment-5722 In reply to Beverley Barsby.

Hi Bev, I’m afraid I haven’t written a book on the topic of execution sites. I have, however, written one about strange objects in churches and the weird legends associated with them: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Church-Curiosities-Strange-Objects-Bizarre/dp/1784424447/

]]> By: Beverley Barsby https://www.davidcastleton.net/gibbets-gallows-executions-england/#comment-5719 Sat, 22 Mar 2025 11:49:20 +0000 https://www.davidcastleton.net/?p=14590#comment-5719 Hello David
I was wondering if you have written, or plan to write, a book about your execution site findings. I’d love to buy a copy if so.

Regards, Bev Barsby

]]> By: David Castleton https://www.davidcastleton.net/gibbets-gallows-executions-england/#comment-5427 Thu, 13 Feb 2025 22:36:57 +0000 https://www.davidcastleton.net/?p=14590#comment-5427 In reply to oswyn murray.

Thanks for your comment, Oswyn, very interesting. I can’t say I know of any decorated gibbets or gallows – might be an interesting topic for further investigation.

]]> By: oswyn murray https://www.davidcastleton.net/gibbets-gallows-executions-england/#comment-5367 Tue, 04 Feb 2025 13:15:15 +0000 https://www.davidcastleton.net/?p=14590#comment-5367 In the village of Sibford Gower (Oxon) a 17th century painted beam has survived which I believe to be part of a gallows associated with the Battle of Edgehill (1642), perhaps erected by Royalists before the battle. Do you know of any other decorated gallows? For details see Cake and Cockhorse (Banbury Historical Society Journal) 2025

]]> By: DAVE https://www.davidcastleton.net/gibbets-gallows-executions-england/#comment-3534 Sat, 16 Dec 2023 15:50:48 +0000 https://www.davidcastleton.net/?p=14590#comment-3534 There is, standing in a wood, named ”Potsford wood” just outside Wickham market in Suffolk The original remains of the gibbet post (Around 8ft of it) used in 1689 to display the freshly hung body of one Jonah Snell who was executed on Gallows hill In Wickham. His body hung in the gibbet frame for 41years, only being cut down in 1740 He Murdered a father and son who were the local watermill owners
I have just made a video about it all telling the whole story. You can watch it here.
https://youtu.be/sWHV5PM5a0Y

]]> By: David Castleton https://www.davidcastleton.net/gibbets-gallows-executions-england/#comment-815 Thu, 02 Sep 2021 14:47:32 +0000 https://www.davidcastleton.net/?p=14590#comment-815 In reply to Andy14976.

Hi Andy, I’m afraid I don’t know about any other gibbets in south Lincolnshire, but if anybody else reading this does, please feel free to drop in a comment.

]]> By: Andy14976 https://www.davidcastleton.net/gibbets-gallows-executions-england/#comment-810 Wed, 25 Aug 2021 17:25:09 +0000 https://www.davidcastleton.net/?p=14590#comment-810 There was a gibbet in Spalding, Lincs.. A second-hand one as it is said to have been moved there from Crowland. Do you have any details about it as I am writing a local history. Were there any other gibbets or gallows in south Lincolnshire?

]]>