The Halifax Gibbet - Cutting your losses in Yorkshire in a very literal sense

Consistently Eccentric History

English - October 27, 2023 16:00 - 1 hour - 85.9 MB
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This evening we invite you to join us for a tale of blood and death as we discuss one of the more unique execution methods ever used in England.

A head chopping machine with a lovely view of the nearby brook, the Halifax gibbet was essentially a business sponsored initiative to reduce the amount of cloth theft in the local area. An obscenely over the top (though arguably very successful) method of ensuring profits were protected, the gibbet was infamous throughout the land for over 100 years, during which time the blade was reportedly never sharpened...

...though at least the people facing the gibbet in Halifax could console themselves that they weren't being executed in Hull.

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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