The oak Gibbert post in Bilstone, Leicestershire, that the hanged body of John Massey was chained to after his execution.
The oak Gibbert post erected in March 1801 a quarter of a mile from the scene of a murder committed by John Massey in February 1800. The incident which led to Massey's downfall took place when he became involved in a violent argument with his second wife Lydia while the pair were out walking near Bilstone Mill with his wife's 10 year old daughter. He brutally battered his wife and kicked her and his step-daughter into the Mill Stream. His wife died of her injuries several weeks later. However, unfortunately for Massey the girls survived and went on to give evidence against him. He was sentenced at Leicester Assizes to be hanged and Gibberted. The hanging was carried out at Red Hill, Birstall, on the 23rd March 1801 and as was the custom of the day after execution the body was transported to the parish where the crime had been committed. The body would be wrapped in chains and hung from a metal ring on the gibbert post and left as a public and lasting spectacle. Even as late as 1818 it was reported that the skeleton of John Massey still existed as a grim to other would be homicides. Born around 1750 Massey ah been a local celebrity renowned wrestler often defeating his opponents by throwing them over his head giving rise to the nickname topsy turvey. He worked in the fields at Bilstone as an agricultural worker and was reputed to be punctual and industrious. However he acquired a reputation for heavy drinking and was given to violent outbursts of temper and cruelty to his wives, Sarah who died in 1797 and Lydia whom he murdered.
Size: 3663px × 5495px
Location: Gibbert Lane, Bilstone, Leicestershire, England, UK
Photo credit: © David Warren / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 1800, bilstone, birstall, chained, cruelty, deaths, gibbert, gory, hanged, hanging, hangings, hill, john, killer, lane, leicester, massey, men, murderers, names, outbursts, post, red, road, temper, topsy, turvey, unusual, vilent, wife
