Where can I find out where any sites of public execution were in Sheffield? I know Spence Broughton was gibbetted on Attercliffe common but wasn't he hung elsewhere? York? Did old Sheffielders ever execute people more closer to home, Paradise Square perhaps?

didnt the Noose and Gibbet pub near the arena get its name for that reason?

I believe they were hanged in Leeds, Armley jail.

Yep, named after Spence's demise.

didnt the Noose and Gibbet pub near the arena get its name for that reason?

Wasn't the last person to be hung there called Broughton and thats why they call it Broughton lane?

Armley was the place where people from this area were hanged in the 1800's onwards. I seem to recall from my schooldays I was told that Broughton lane was where the gallows were. The Noose and Gibbet pub is not too far away too so it could well be true. I'd like to know more

http://www.made-in-sheffield.com/people/spencebroughton.htm

[QUOTE=Harry1000]Where can I find out where any sites of public execution were in Sheffield? I know Spence Broughton was gibbetted on Attercliffe common but wasn't he hung elsewhere? York? Did old Sheffielders ever execute people more closer to home, Paradise Square perhaps?[/QUOTE In the R E LEADER BOOK OF 1876 REMINISCENCES OF OLD SHEFFIELD,It Quotes that a massive block of oak18inches square passing through a framework 10ft long 1ft square firmley embedded in the ground thought to be Broughtons gibbet of 1792,these were found opposite the Yellow lion Clifton st Attercliffe common when excavating for cellars in 1867, it also adds that the crowds blocked Attercliffe common the day of the excecution.

I don't believe there are any recorded executions in Sheffield. Two people were gibbeted, - Frank Fearn on Wadsley Common in 1783 and Spence Broughton on Attercliffe Common in 1792. Both were executed in York where they were tried and convicted.

The bodies were suspended in chains from the gibbet with the arms and legs dangling so as to sway in the wind. Fearn's remains fell out of the chains on Christmas day 1797 but Broughton is supposed to have still been hanging around in 1817 :D

I don't believe there are any recorded executions in Sheffield. Two people were gibbeted, - Frank Fearn on Wadsley Common in 1783 and Spence Broughton on Attercliffe Common in 1792. Both were executed in York where they were tried and convicted.

The bodies were suspended in chains from the gibbet with the arms and legs dangling so as to sway in the wind. Fearn's remains fell out of the chains on Christmas day 1797 but Broughton is supposed to have still been hanging around in 1817 :D

Hi Greybeard

I also think that most excecutions of local fellons, up to the begining of the nineteenth century, was carried out at York because thats where the Assizes were held. When Assizes were established in Leeds, then people in the Sheffield area, accused of murder were tried there, and if convicted, hanged at Armley Jail in Leeds. This was still the procedure when I was growing up in Sheffield. Sheffield Assizes ( don't know what they call them now) on Castle Street was a comparatively recent development.

Incidentally, when kids of my generation used to misbehave, they were likely to be threatened with "The Drop o' York". Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't York one of the earliest places - perhaps not the first place - where the victim was first "dropped" before the noose tightened and therefore broke the victim's neck. Before that, most peole who were hung actually died from strangulation.

And with that happy thought, I will wish you all a good evening/morning.

He was not hung on BROUGHTON LANE, he was hung on CLIFTON STREET where the gallows were found in the back of the "THE YELLOW LION" pub.
The noose & gibbet only got its name by the owners jumping on the band wagon, That pub when it first opened was called the RAILWAY INN as the railway station was only 150 yards from the pub and the railway cottages were more or less less next door.
Where the arena now Stands used to be the " CO-OP DAIRY, COAL YARD" as you came over the bridge from Darnall you came to Kings scrap yard. Walking down broughton lane you would then approach the dairy and scrap yard,with the RAILWAY INN across the road.further down broughton lane you would reach the houses. on the corner of broughton lane and Attercliffe you would reach the BROUGHTON INN .Back of the RAILWAY INN which is now the noose and gibbet used to the GREYHOUND GARAGE with the american style coaches.
for big important hangings, like Dick Turpin then they used york and armley, but the odd hangings were done in the area that the crime was commited.

Falls, this is an interesting site about juduicial executions...

http://www.richard.clark32.btinternet.co.uk/

Think you're generally correct about County Assize courts and the death sentence, although in medieval times the local lords may have had some jurisdiction for some crimes.

I believe they were hanged in Leeds, Armley jail.

my great great great grandad charles peace was

but Broughton is supposed to have still been hanging around in 1817 :D
bwoy he'd be smelling a bit after over 20 years?

So, most people were executed either at York or Leeds as they had the Assizes, then transported back to Sheffield for gibbeting (in the case of Mr. Broughton). I heard that what we would call a kangaroo court was sometimes held near the area of the Wicker Arches, if you got sent there you were found guilty even if you weren't and dealt with near the site. Does anyone else know of this? Or any other places, what happend when Sheffield got the Assizes, did they still send them to Leeds or York?

I don't believe there are any recorded executions in Sheffield. Two people were gibbeted, - Frank Fearn on Wadsley Common in 1783 and Spence Broughton on Attercliffe Common in 1792. Both were executed in York where they were tried and convicted.

The bodies were suspended in chains from the gibbet with the arms and legs dangling so as to sway in the wind. Fearn's remains fell out of the chains on Christmas day 1797 but Broughton is supposed to have still been hanging around in 1817 :D


Found this whilst looking through the Times online,
The Rioter hanged at Sheffield is said to have died for want of a Birmingham Jury, dated Sep 1791,
so there must have been a gallows somewhere.

Where can I find out where any sites of public execution were in Sheffield? I know Spence Broughton was gibbetted on Attercliffe common but wasn't he hung elsewhere? York? Did old Sheffielders ever execute people more closer to home, Paradise Square perhaps?there were none, most sheffield criminals were hung in leeds or sometimes york

Found this whilst looking through the Times online,
The Rioter hanged at Sheffield is said to have died for want of a Birmingham Jury, dated Sep 1791,
so there must have been a gallows somewhere.

posted by Depoix,

there were none, most sheffield criminals were hung in leeds or sometimes york.

In which case where did they hang this one?

The others on the list were executed at the Old Bailey.

posted by Depoix,

there were none, most sheffield criminals were hung in leeds or sometimes york.

In which case where did they hang this one?

The others on the list were executed at the Old Bailey.possibly hung here when dead, in a gibbet, im interested in olde sheffield so if you ever find out that he was executed here please let me know

Found this looking here,
http://trials.galegroup.com/nlw2006/history.html

also just found the story on albert-ken
this is a free trial this month only, go to the times digital archive link in the menu

posted by Depoix,

there were none, most sheffield criminals were hung in leeds or sometimes york.

In which case where did they hang this one?

The others on the list were executed at the Old Bailey.found it

http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itw/infomark/411/578/80011215w1/purl=rc2_TTDA_1_for+want+of+a+birmingham+jury+____ __________________________________________________ _____&dyn=sig!2?sw_aep=nlw2006
the only thing i can think of is that they were hung at sheffield park, near london,im certain we never had an execution gallows here in sheffield

There is a book which I have read called the Sheffield Hanged should answer most of your questions. Cathy

Found this whilst looking through the Times online,
The Rioter hanged at Sheffield is said to have died for want of a Birmingham Jury, dated Sep 1791,
so there must have been a gallows somewhere.

I suspect the Times may be in error here. Five men were arrested following the riots in 1791 and were sent to York for trial. Four of them got off with minor punishment or none at all but the fifth - "John Bennett, a half-witted fellow who had been employed by the mob as the monkey used the cat to take the chestnuts from the fire, received sentence of death, and was duly hanged at the York Tyburn."

Quoted from - Reminiscences of Sheffield by R. E. Leader

And it seems he was the victim of perjury. Wonder if a 'Birmingham Jury' means an honest jury ?

Another result of these riots was the establishment of the Old Barracks in Philadelphia.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/legacies/myths_legends/england/south_yorkshire/article_1.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/legacies/myths_legends/england/south_yorkshire/article_1.shtml

http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=20790

http://www.bbc.co.uk/legacies/myths_legends/england/south_yorkshire/article_1.shtml

Good link ! I doubt many will remember the Pheasant, - reputedly built on the site of the Arrow. The pub is now called 'The Stumble Inn'.

I've stumled out a few times :hihi:

posted by Greybeard,
I suspect the Times may be in error here.

I suspect you may be correct, but it gave a bit of interest.

Spence Broughton was arrested in London after robbing the post messenger in Sheffield. he was executed in York following his trial at York Assizes. His body was brought to Sheffield and gibbeted near the old Arrow Inn.
He was the first criminal to have a road named after him.

While were on the topic, can anyone help with this one please? I found a reference in the Local Studies Library this week that said " Gibbett Hill in Ecclesall Bierlow in use in 1428 and 1495, John Kay and John Dore executed for horse stealing". I've never come across a Gibbett Hill in Ecclesall Bierlow, does anyone know?

Good link ! I doubt many will remember the Pheasant, - reputedly built on the site of the Arrow. The pub is now called 'The Stumble Inn'.

I've stumled out a few times :hihi:

Sorry Greybeard but you are wrong. I have sent an old drawing from the early 1800's to the library and it has the old Pheasant as it was which was a wooden inn called the Pheasant Inn. across the road was or is the Carbrook Hall which was a lot smaller and further forward is the old Arrow or Harrow inn as it was called. this was roughly where carbrook street is today.
I hope that this puts things clearly.
Broughton lane was called Green Engine Lane at this time

This drawing can be viewed from picture sheffield.com.