Horncastle Discovered               The heart of the Lincolnshire Wolds

William Marwood

Hangman - Executioner - Cobbler

William Marwood, born 1818 in Goulceby, was a master boot and shoemaker resident in Horncastle living in Foundry Street with his cobblers shop in Church Lane (also see Marwood's Cottage). Whilst taking care of the towns footwear he took a keen (and morbid ?) interest in capital punishment, namely the technical aspects of hanging. His work and research lead to the method of hanging with which he is synonymous - The Long Drop ! Remarkably at the age of 54 with no experience of the penal system, never mind executions, he managed to persuade the governor of Lincoln Prison to allow him to perform his first execution, the hanging of William Frederick Harry on 1st April 1872. The execution went very smoothly, much more so than normal, and greatly impressed all those present, though presumably William Harry was less than enthusiastic. His use of the long drop involving a six to ten foot drop lead to a near instantaneous death, believed at the time to be due to a broken neck. In fact death was still as a result of asphyxiation but the prisoner was unconscious during the process. The method, whilst clearly more humane to the condemned,  perhaps appealed more to the delicate sensibilities of the governor and official witnesses. Since the abolition of public hanging officials and accredited witnesses were forced to watch the gruesome sight of a 'dancing man.' Accordingly Marwood became the official hangman of the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex. For his services he received an annual retainer of £20 plus £10 per execution and travelling expenses. As an added bonus he was able to keep the unfortunates clothing ! He became something of a celebrity in his time, travelling all over England and Ireland to carry out executions, he was even referred to in popular songs and rhymes. Presumably he also enjoyed his fame and notoriety as well having the sign Marwood Crown Office above his shop he had visiting cards printed William Marwood Public Executioner Horncastle, Lincolnshire During his time in office he was involved in many notorious and high profile cases including the hanging of Charles Peace, the infamous murderer and housebreaker, at Armley Gaol in Leeds. In 1879 he executed Kate Webster the only woman ever to hang at Wandsworth Prison. He remained in his post for nine years before dying of a lung disease in 1883, during that time he hung 176 people, 8 of which were women. He was buried at the Holy Trinity Church but now lies in an unmarked grave because of the number of people breaking parts from the headstone as souvenirs! © R.D. Collins 2004

History Section

Horncastle Discovered

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