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The Halifax Gibbet

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The Halifax Gibbet
The most notable forerunner of the guillotine was in use in Halifax, England, from 1286 until 1650. Convicted criminals - those who stole goods assessed by four constables to be worth over 5p. - were taken to the gibbet on market day for execution. When the offender was placed with his head on the block every man nearby took hold of the rope and gave a mighty pull to unleash the pin and allow the blade to crash down, thereby placing justice into the hands of the people.
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The Halifax Gibbet

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Posted by Kallisti on September 18, 2006 12:27 PM | ♥

Comments (2)

Mary Burdis:

Your 5p is wrong! The law at that time allowed the death penalty for thefts valued at 12 old pence (one shilling). In Halifax the one shilling one penny, ie, 13 pennies.

Posted by Mary Burdis | July 18, 2007 11:39 PM

Posted on July 18, 2007 23:39

Tami:

Does anyone know of some books with info on the Halifax Gibbet?

Posted by Tami | April 30, 2008 10:48 AM

Posted on April 30, 2008 10:48

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posted on: September 18, 2006 12:27 PM

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