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Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan



Wigan Album

Bryn

6 Comments

Gibbet irons
Gibbet irons
Photo: Karen
Views: 3,129
Item #: 30407
Gibbet irons used on James Weldon the highway man at Bryn

Comment by: Veronica on 8th April 2018 at 13:37

Imagine having to enfold a corpse into that contraption with all those metal parts and especially the hook separating the legs and supporting the head! Horrible! It would have had to be done straight after death.
They were beyond doubt cruel times.

Comment by: Mick on 8th April 2018 at 16:14

They generally covered the body with a coating of tar before putting it in gibbet irons, Veronica.
This acted as a preservative, and also discouraged birds from using the corpse as a snack bar.

Comment by: Veronica on 8th April 2018 at 16:31

And probably served as a warning too Mick for all would be robbers!

Comment by: James on 11th April 2018 at 00:15

Mmm Kinky...

Comment by: Johnny on 16th April 2018 at 13:48

Probably Tarmac Construction who were based at Landgate provided the macadam for such a macabre enterprise!

Comment by: Ruth Strong on 15th May 2020 at 19:37

The somewhere the corpses of hanged criminal were displayed was on Whitledge Green and on the old maps you can see a property called Gallows House. The executions were carried out in Preston especially highwaymen who robbed travellers in the road to Wigan, then brought to Bryn.

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