The Halifax Gibbet: A Gruesome Chapter in History

 Imagine a time when justice was swift and often brutal. A time when a simple theft could lead to a gruesome public execution. Welcome to the chilling world of the Halifax Gibbet, a medieval guillotine that once loomed over the English town of Halifax.

A Legacy of Fear

First used in the 13th century, the Halifax Gibbet was a stark reminder of the consequences of breaking the law. Over the next 400 years, it claimed the lives of 52 known individuals, and up to 100, including women and children. The condemned were often executed for petty crimes, such as stealing cloth or livestock.

A Gruesome Execution

The execution process was as terrifying as it was efficient. The condemned would be placed on a platform, their neck positioned beneath the heavy, blunt blade. A cord would be pulled, releasing the blade, which would swiftly sever the victim's head.

Escaping the Blade

However, there was a glimmer of hope for the condemned. If a victim could manage to escape the immediate vicinity of the gibbet, specifically across the nearby Hebble Brook, they could avoid execution. This daring escape was attempted by a few, including the infamous "Running Man," John Lacey. Unfortunately, Lacey's luck ran out, and he was eventually captured and executed.

The End of an Era

The Halifax Gibbet was finally outlawed by Oliver Cromwell in 1650. The last victims of this gruesome device were Anthony Mitchell and Abraham Wilkinson, who were executed on April 30th of that year.

A Dark Past, A Haunting Legacy

Today, the site of the Halifax Gibbet stands as a chilling reminder of a bygone era. A replica of the guillotine has been erected, allowing visitors to appreciate the brutality of this dark chapter in history. The original blade, now preserved in the Bankfield museum, serves as a chilling artifact of the past.

I took these pictures on the 27th March 2019 with a Nikon d3300, they can be seen in a higher resolution on Clickasnap.

Discover my world of art and photography on Zazzle and photo4Me! Explore my curated collections and find the perfect piece to bring your space to life. From Stunning wall art to unique merchandise, there's something for everyone, and with Zazzle's customisation options, you can personalise your favourite image to match your style and create a truly one of a kind piece.

Click any picture below to open a link to the store you require.

All links will open in another window and all the images remain the copyright of Colin Green.

The Halifax Gibbet: A Precursor to the Guillotine and a Brutal Past

When you think of the guillotine, your mind likely jumps to the French Revolution. However, centuries before the streets of Paris ran red, a similar, equally brutal device was at work in the quiet town of Halifax, England. Known as the Halifax Gibbet, this early form of public execution offers a chilling glimpse into medieval justice.

Centuries of Swift (and Not-So-Swift) Justice

The Halifax Gibbet first saw use in the 13th century, a staggering 500 years before its French counterpart gained notoriety. The earliest confirmed execution dates back to 1286, when John of Dalton met his end. Over the centuries, at least 52 confirmed executions took place, though local belief suggests the true number exceeds 100. The last to face the gibbet's blade were John Wilkinson and Anthony Mitchell on April 30th, 1650.

The Mechanics of Death

Standing approximately 15 feet high on a 4-foot-high, 13-foot-square platform, the gibbet was a formidable sight. The blade itself was surprisingly simple: a 10-inch by 8-inch piece of metal, not sharpened, but relying on speed and weight to sever the head from the body. It was held in place by a pin, which was dramatically withdrawn by a cord at the moment of execution.

The Infamous Gibbet Law

The Halifax Gibbet operated under its own unique and unforgiving set of rules: the Gibbet Law. This law decreed that any thief caught or confessing to stealing cloth, goods, or animals worth at least 13 1/2d within the boundaries of Sowerbyshire or the Forest of Hardwick (which included Halifax) would be arrested. After a trial by jury, if convicted, the individual would endure six days in the town stocks before their execution on the seventh day. The Gibbet Law made no distinction between men and women, and sadly, at least five women are confirmed to have been executed by this method, their names etched into the grim history:

• July 13th, 1588: Wife of Thomas Roberts, Halifax
• February 22nd, 1603: Wife of Peter Harrison, Bradford
• November 23rd, 1623: George Fairbank & his illegitimate daughter Anna
• July 5th, 1627: Wife of John Wilson, Northowram
• December 8th, 1627: Sarah Lum, Halifax

The "Running Man" and a Glimmer of Hope

Remarkably, Gibbet Law offered a slim chance of escape. If the accused could withdraw their head after the pin was released and flee across the Hebble Brook (the then-boundary, approximately 500 yards from the gibbet), they would be granted freedom, provided they never returned to the prescribed boundaries. Two men are said to have achieved this remarkable feat: a Mr. Dinnis and the more famous John Lacey, also known as "the Running Man."

Lacey's escape in 1617 became legendary. However, his story has a tragic postscript. A few years later, he foolishly returned to Halifax, was recaptured, and ultimately met his fate on January 29th, 1623.

The End of an Era and Rediscovery

The reign of the Halifax Gibbet came to an end in 1650 when it was outlawed by Oliver Cromwell. The last two victims, Anthony Mitchell (convicted of stealing 16 yards of cloth) and Abraham Wilkinson (convicted of stealing two horses), were executed on the same day, April 30th, 1650.

For centuries, the gibbet's site was lost to time, buried under layers of rubbish and soil. It wasn't until 1839, when Mr. Bates purchased the land for a warehouse, that its gruesome past was unearthed. Workmen discovered the bodies and heads of two individuals (believed to be Mitchell and Wilkinson), and further excavation revealed the gibbet platform.

Today, a 15-foot high replica of the gibbet stands on the restored platform, erected in August 1974, a stark reminder of Halifax's dark history. The original gibbet blade, once thought lost, was miraculously discovered in 1970 in a solicitor's office in Wakefield and is now a chilling exhibit at the Bankfield Museum in Halifax.

The Halifax Gibbet serves as a powerful reminder of the brutal realities of justice in centuries past, a local innovation that predated its more famous French cousin by half a millennium, leaving an indelible mark on the town's history.

The pictures were taken on the 23rd August 2014 using a Polaroid is2132 bridge camera, clicking any of them should open a link in another window to my Colin Green Photography store on Zazzle.

Please take a moment to share this post, follow me on social media, and explore my work on Photo4Me and Clickasnap using the links below. Your Support means a lot!

All the pictures remain the copyright of Colin Green.