London: Tyburn Procession Prisoners Guided Walking Tour – London, United Kingdom

EXPERIENCE:

A costumed guide conducts the walk, dressed as an 18th Century prisoner.
We start at St.Paul’s ad meet outside the tube. We proceed along Newgate St where Newgate, the infamous prison stood and we learn the history of London prison life. The journey of the condemned is explained in full detail. As we go along we discover what would happen en route and the part different people would play. We learn about how prisoners and their fortunes were used to shape morality, an how their deaths were used as entertainment and an excuse for debauchery and revellry.
We go through the history of publishing, ballad singing and the popular culture associated with highwaymen, pirates, infamous madams and prison escapes.
We discuss the crowd behaviours, the exploitation of an by the public during punishments, executions and mutilations with examples from history. We cover a time period from 1192 – 1998. This takes us from the first Hanging, Drawing and Quartering, to the End of the Death Penalty in the UK.
We talk about the linear criminal history of London, the development of the city and mark the pubs and churches of note along the route. We stop at a lovely old English pub for refreshment at St. Giles, which is the half way point and take in a church over 400 years old.
We proceed towards Tyburn through the West End and Oxford St, discussing the progession of the thoroughfare from Tyburn Lane to one of the busiest retail districts in the world.
We land in Tyburn – at the trees where the hanging place stood and go through the hanging and atomising process. We discuss Catholic Martyrdom, Protestant Martyrdom and the morbity of relics. The folklore and beliefs of the hanging condemned is discussed before making our way to the final spot where an infamous lodging charged a small fortune for a birds eye view of the hanging procedures.
There is the option of taking in a pint in one of the many lovely spots off Oxford St.
All participants receive a Souvenir Certificate

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

Learn the criminal history of London. 1192 -1998
Take in London: East to West
Visit pubs & churches of note

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