SE1 North Lambeth, South Bank, Waterloo, Borough, The, Bankside, Bermondsey, Newington, Southwark
Gaol Parkby Julian Ingle |
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When I moved to the Rockingham Estate over 10 years ago I used to walk through Gaol Park, as it was known locally, on my way to the tube. Overlooked by red brick blocks of flats and the back of the courthouse, the tall trees and wild bushes gave it a menacing and sombre mood. The bright red and green toy horses on springs in the token playground grinned and nodded in the wind. |
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In the corner was a sign that spelt out its history: Gaol Park was the site of the last public hangings in Britain. The condemned would be taken from the jail at the back of the courthouse to the gallows, where large crowds gathered for the spectacle. Dickens had watched and written about hangings here. It somehow made sense that this park had such a morbid history. |
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I wondered why people would want to watch someone being hanged, and what it would be like. |
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