William Calcraft: England's Longest-Serving Hangman

Colin Penny


Region:
North West
Notice Period:
Regular (more than one month's notice)
Type:
Professional
Fee:
Paid: 65.00
Category:
History
Updated:
17th January 2019
Tagged:
Crime | Victorian | 1800S | Murder

Born in 1800, William Calcraft became notorious in Victorian England and was almost universally despised. He served as hangman between 1829 and 1874, and is known to have hanged well over 500 people. Dickens reviled him in the newspapers, and he was even taken to court for failing to look after his mother in her old age. He was depicted as cruel and despicable, and even said to have used 'the shortest rope in the business'. So who was William Calcraft, and was he really as monstrous as his contemporaries would have us believe? During this talk we will try to get at Calcraft as a person and discover something about his life both on and off the scaffold. Please note: this talk is not suitable for anyone under the age of 15 years.

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About Colin Penny

Hello. I am a very engaging speaker, with excellent presentation skills honed over twenty years working as a professional historian, tour guide, heritage management professional, and public speaker - yes, I'm also in a rock n roll band. My historical interests are wide-ranging, my delivery is sharp, humorous, and second-to-none, and I guarantee that you will not be disappointed. I have given hundreds of talks over the years to a diverse range of groups, including women's institutes, mothers' unions, U3A groups, Probus and Rotary groups, historical and family history societies, men's fellowships, the National Trust, etc., etc. I am always asked back, and have returned to many groups many times. You can book me as Colin Penny, or if you want something a little bit different you can book me as the High-Heeled Historian. Thank you for reading this, and I hope to hear from you.


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