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Worcestershire and Worcester City HER

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Name:Red Hill 'gallows mound'
HER Reference:WCM91098
Type of record:Monument
Grid Reference:SO 868 536
Map Sheet:SO85SE
Parish:Worcester (Non Civil Parish), Worcester City, Worcestershire
Worcester, Worcestershire

Monument Types

  • GALLOWS MOUND (POST MEDIEVAL - 1540 AD to 1900 AD (between))

Associated Events

  • 4 Whittington Road, former execution site (Ref: WCM101409)
  • Reinstatement of Red Hill Gallows mound, Whittington Road (Ref: WCM101878)
  • Red Hill Gibbet Site, 4 Whittington Road (Ref: WCM101858)

Full description

'Where the London and Alcester roads join at Red Hill in the north-eastern corner of the parish was the spot at which all the county criminals were executed until the early half of the 18th century. The gibbet on which such of them as were hung in chains were suspended also stood here'{1}.

The site is believed to be located in the garden of 4 Whittington Road, where there is a small mound which is thought to be the gallows mound. A plaque commemorates the memory of Blessed John Wall, the Catholic priest who was executed at the site. It is possible that there are burials in the vicinity as it was common practice to bury criminals in the area that they were executed, rather than on consecrated ground.

Note that there is no evidence for the mound being the gallows mound as opposed to a later addition

Sources and further reading

<1>Monograph: 1913. History of the County of Worcestershire III.
<2>Monograph: Craze, M. 1977. Whittington.

Related records

WCM91097Part of: Red Hill execution site (Monument)