Execution Dock

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 During the Golden Age, pirates attacked and plundered other vessels in an effort to better their situations and obtain riches well beyond what they could earn by honest means. Some pirates accepted pardons offered by Britain to cease their attacks on merchant ships; others were able to retire quite comfortably with their ill-gotten gains. The less-fortunate ones met their ends caught by authorities and hanged at Execution Dock.

A hanging at Execution Dock
source: Wikipedia
                                                            
Execution Dock was located along the River Thames in Wapping, London and was a designated area where pirates among other criminals were hanged for their misdeeds on the high seas. These included murder, violations against the Articles of War, sodomy, and mutiny that resulted in death.

After a pirate was condemned to death, he was paraded from the prison across London Bridge led by the High Court Marshal. Before traveling on to Execution Dock, the pirate was brought to a nearby pub for one last quart of beer. The condemned pirate was then provided with an opportunity to confess his sins to a chaplain. Some pirates did own up to their crimes, others denied any wrongdoing, and still others took responsibility for their actions but saw them as retaliatory against a country that mistreated them. Crowds often lined the riverbanks and boats anchored in attempts to get a perfect view of the hanging.

Pirate hangings at Execution Dock were especially cruel as they were done by a shorter rope. This often lead to a death by strangulation rather than a broken neck. As the rope dropped, the condemned pirate’s limbs would spasm as if he was performing a jig. Once the hanging was complete, it was customary for three tides to wash over the heads of the deceased before they were cut down. In special occasions, for example if an especially cruel, notorious pirate was hanged, it would not be uncommon for the deceased to be tarred and hung in chains at the mouth of the River Thames as a warning to others of the dangers of piracy. This is what happened to Captain Kidd’s body after he was put to death at Execution Dock in 1701, put on display for the next three years.

Captain Kidd's body tarred and chained after his execution in 1701
source: Wikipedia

Execution Dock is long gone now and its exact location is disputed. While three pubs in the area claim that their establishment sits on the site, it is widely accepted that it was located down a flight of steps called Wapping Old Stairs that lead down to the River Thames.

Wapping Old Stairs today
source: Edward Bellinger


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