December 9th 1783: The first public hangings outside Newgate Prison.

December 9th 1783: The first public hangings outside Newgate Prison. 

Prior to this, executions were carried out at Tyburn gallows, which involved carting the prisoners from the prison or sometimes the Tower of London through crowded streets - jamming traffic and preventing trade. 

In the next sixteen years, 542 men and 19 women would be put to death at Newgate - including 3 women who were burned at the stake for 'Coining'. Edward Dennis was the last Tyburn Executioner and the first at Newgate.

Post script.

The Newgate Calendar gives details of these first public executions in Newgate / Old Bailey yard:

'On the 9th December 1783, Mister Dennis and William Brunskill, his normal assistant, hanged 9 men and 1 woman side by side on the New Drop at Newgate's first execution. 

Those hanged together on this day were - John Burke and George Morley for highway robbery, Simon Wilson for coining, John Wallis, Richard Martin and Frances Warren for burglary, John Lawler also for burglary, William Munro for uttering, William Busby and Francis Burke for being at large, having returned from a sentence of exile in transportation before they were eligible to do so.