Hanged at York

Hanged at York gathers together the stories of criminals hanged at York from the middle of the eighteenth century to the late nineteenth century when Leeds superseded York as the place where capital punishment was carried out. Then condemned featured here range from coiners and forgers to murderers, thieves and highwaymen, the most infamous being Dick Turpin, who was hanged on York's Knavesmire in 1739 for horse-stealing. As was the custom at that time, the execution was carried out by a condemned prisoner who had been pardoned on condition that he would act as hangman. Probably the most famous female execution at York was that of the 'Yorkshire Witch', Mary Bateman, who was convicted of poisoning Rebecca Pergio in 1808 and hanged in 1809. Up to 1856, York Castle was the principal place of execution for persons convicted in all three Ridings of Yorkshire. There was also another gallows in York, at the City Gaol, and it was here that David Anderson was hanged for 'uttering' forged banknotes in 1809. Stephen Wade's highly readable new book is fully illustrated with photographs, news cuttings and engravings. It is bound to appeal to anyone interested in the darker side of York's history.