Execution Dock, Maritime execution site on River Thames in Wapping, London, England.
Execution Dock was a riverside execution site on the Thames used at low tide to carry out death sentences by hanging. The exact location remains disputed, though several buildings along Wapping High Street claim the spot.
From the 14th through the 19th centuries, the British Admiralty executed pirates, smugglers, and mutineers at this location. The riverside spot served as an official execution site for maritime crimes until 1830.
The name of this place points to the public execution of sailors who broke maritime law. A replica of the gallows in a nearby pub recalls the former role of this area in maritime justice.
The historic spot lies along Wapping High Street near the Thames. Several buildings, including a pub, display reminders of the past, though none of the sites is officially confirmed.
Bodies of those executed remained hanging until three tides washed over them before being placed in metal cages along the river as warnings. This practice aimed to deter sailors who might consider similar crimes.
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