Cobbler and Hangman.A cobbler by trade who had over the years,taken a great interest in the 'art' of hanging and felt it could be improved.He had never hanged anyone before or even assisted at an execution but at the age of 54 persuaded the authories at Lincoln Prison to let him carry out the hanging of William Frederick Horry on 1st April 1872.The execution went off without a hitch and impressed the governor of that prison.He introduced the 'long drop' method of hanging.He realised that if the prisoner was to be given a drop of 6 to 10 feet depending on his weight and with the noose correctly positioned death would be 'nearly instantaneous'due to the neck being broken.He was duly appointed an official hangman by the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex.There was a famous rhyme about Marwood at the time which went 'if Pa killed Ma who'd kill Pa-Marwood' He was something of a celebrity and had business cards printed 'William Marwood Public Executioner' and the words 'Marwood Crown Office' over the door of his shop.In his nine years of service,he hanged 176 people,including 8 women,before dying of 'inflammation of the lungs'

Cobbler and Hangman.A cobbler by trade who had over the years,taken a great interest in the 'art' of hanging and felt it could be improved.He had never hanged anyone before or even assisted at an execution but at the age of 54 persuaded the authories at Lincoln Prison to let him carry out the hanging of William Frederick Horry on 1st April 1872.The execution went off without a hitch and impressed the governor of that prison.He introduced the 'long drop' method of hanging.He realised that if the prisoner was to be given a drop of 6 to 10 feet depending on his weight and with the noose correctly positioned death would be 'nearly instantaneous'due to the neck being broken.He was duly appointed an official hangman by the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex.There was a famous rhyme about Marwood at the time which went 'if Pa killed Ma who'd kill Pa-Marwood' He was something of a celebrity and had business cards printed 'William Marwood Public Executioner' and the words 'Marwood Crown Office' over the door of his shop.In his nine years of service,he hanged 176 people,including 8 women,before dying of 'inflammation of the lungs'