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The
Western Circuit 1735 - 1799. |
This Circuit covered the counties of
and Wiltshire, together with the County of the Cities of
850 confirmed executions have been traced in the period 1735 - 1799, with a
further 75 possible/probable ones.
Although
At least 196 people received death sentences, of which 57 were carried
out.
Executions took place at Gallows Acre, at the top of St. Michael's Hill.
Cornwall.
Both Lent and Summer Assizes were held at Bodmin in 1735, 1736, 1737 and
1752. In all other years the Lent
Assizes were held at
Launceston and the Summer ones at Bodmin.
Cornish executions took place on Bodmin Moor and at Launceston.
221 death sentences and 38 confirmed executions have been traced, plus a
further 8, where no reprieve has been found.
Devon.
The
although criminal trials were rare. 837
people received death sentences at the
with a further 13 possible ones. Unless otherwise stated, executions were
carried out at Heavitree near
afterwards at the
The Assizes were always held at
Only 3 death sentences were passed at these.
The normal place of execution was the Amphitheatre at
executions have been traced, together with 2 possible ones.
Southamptonshire, as Hampshire was known at
this time, always held its Assizes at
There were 708 death sentences and 159 confirmed executions recorded together
with 17 possible ones.
Hampshire executions were normally carried out at Gallows Hill,
On 19 occasions one of the Circuit Judges would move on to Salisbury while the
other would
proceed to Southampton to open Assizes for the County of that Town where a
total of 14 death sentences were passed,
resulting in a further 3 hangings.
The Lent Assizes were always held at
held at Bridgwater or Wells. 675 death
sentences resulted in 179 confirmed executions plus 28 probable ones
Executions took place at Gallows Field, Ilchester. .
Wiltshire Assizes were always held at
probable ones where no reprieve can be found. Executions took place on an area
of open land at Fisherton.
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