Tyburn, Explained

Situated in the northeast corner of Hyde Park in London, a stone plaque on a traffic island near Marble Arch marks the place where the notorious Tyburn hanging tree once stood.

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Tyburn was the main place of execution for London and Middlesex until that honor passed to Newgate prison in the 18th century. In 1571, the infamous ‘Triple Tree’ replaced the previous smaller gallows, making it possible for 24 prisoners to be hanged at one time.

The Tyburn Tree stood in the middle of the roadway, a major landmark in West London as well as a major roadblock. It was replaced by a portable gallows in 1759.

The first recorded execution at Tyburn took place in 1196 when William FitzOsbert was hanged for trying to organize an uprising of the poor. The Tyburn executions ended in 1783 when John Austin was hanged for highway robbery.

Tyburn figured frequently in the language of the time. A Tyburn blossom was a young thief likely to end up on the gallows. The Lord of the Manor of Tyburn was the public hangman, also known as Jack Ketch or the sheriff’s journeyman. To take a ride to Tyburn was to go to one’s own hanging, as was to preach at Tyburn cross. To be hanged was to dance the Tyburn jig or hornpipe — or the Tyburn waltz.

[image error] The Tyburn Trilogy, Book I