BUILDING THE GIBBET

The term gibbet was often used to describe gallows structures as well. In Halifax, as early as the sixteenth century, they used a structure that was something of a predecessor to the French Guillotine. It was known as the Halifax Gibbet and a replica of it still stands to this very day. However, in the c18th the term gibbet was far more commonly associated with the post mortem cage in which criminals sentenced to be Hung in Chains were placed, following their execution. Many counties had fewer than five gibbetings between 1752-1832 and some had none at all, so knowledge of their construction would have been very limited. Local blacksmiths, often with no prior knowledge of gibbet cages, were employed to make these structures. As such, there was no uniform design. This project has found that their construction and style differed from region to region and period to period. Also, they were expensive items to make, in some cases upwards of £50. Unlike dissection, the costs could not be recovered via ticketed entry. Records of the costs of gibbets were often recorded in the Sheriffs' Cravings alongside details of expenses incurred.