London : The Executioner's City

London: Sutton, 2006. Hardcover. Fine/fine. A colourful and grimly entertaining exploration of the many execution sites within London, from Mediaeval times to the last century. Amongst the better known sites are, Tyburn; Smithfield; the Tower; Tower Hill; and Newgate Prison, but the book delves much deeper into the city's murky past to reveal many, many more sites of execution. Certain places were reserved for the execution of distinct types of felon. For example, The Tower of London, for those found guilty of treason, and Execution Dock by the Thames at Wapping, for pirates (including the notorious Captain Kidd). Executions were also often held close to where the crime had been commited, such as Aldgate; Gracechurch St; Aldersgate; and Bishopsgate. Even St.Paul's Churchyard was used for hangings, including several of the Gunpowder Plotters. A powerful evocation of the dark side of London's history, where at one time, severed heads decorated London Bridge, and where a King, several Queens, heretics, archbishops, pirates, poisoners, plotters and murderers met their deaths by hanging, beheading, burning or boiling in oil. Just the thing for a 'cheery' read before bedtime. Contains 248 pages, 24 x 16cm, with 8 pages of b&w illustrations. Black cloth boards in Fine illustrated dustjacket. Internally, Fine: clean, bright and unmarked in excellent bindings. Looks, feels and smells like new.