On the Day of the Execution
A glum looking Manchester City Police officer stares at the camera while on duty outside the gates of the city’s Strangeways Prison sometime in the early years of the 20th century.
In the years between 1900 and the outbreak of the Second World War more than 50 people were executed within the prison’s walls.
Albert Pierrepoint, perhaps Britain’s best known hangman, executed 14 people in the gaol.
The final person executed at Strangeways was Gwynne Owen Evans, who was hanged on the 13th of August 1964.
It was the custom of the prison governor to put up a notice in the prison gates once an execution had taken place. Police officers would be posted to ensure there were no disturbances by or between members of the public, the family of the executed person, or the family of the victim.
View here for an earlier image of officers performing this duty.
For more information please follow Greater Manchester Police Museum and Archives.
To find out more about Greater Manchester Police please visit our website.
You should call 101, the new national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.
Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.
You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.
On the Day of the Execution
A glum looking Manchester City Police officer stares at the camera while on duty outside the gates of the city’s Strangeways Prison sometime in the early years of the 20th century.
In the years between 1900 and the outbreak of the Second World War more than 50 people were executed within the prison’s walls.
Albert Pierrepoint, perhaps Britain’s best known hangman, executed 14 people in the gaol.
The final person executed at Strangeways was Gwynne Owen Evans, who was hanged on the 13th of August 1964.
It was the custom of the prison governor to put up a notice in the prison gates once an execution had taken place. Police officers would be posted to ensure there were no disturbances by or between members of the public, the family of the executed person, or the family of the victim.
View here for an earlier image of officers performing this duty.
For more information please follow Greater Manchester Police Museum and Archives.
To find out more about Greater Manchester Police please visit our website.
You should call 101, the new national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.
Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.
You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.