A Typical 17/18th Century Hanging

Dover 13th March 1813

William Turmaine was born in 1781, in 1813 he was tried at Dover Town Hall for Burglarious, Felonious, Breaking and Entering the Dwelling House at Margate of William Abbott.

He was held in the Dover Town Gaol to await his execution, which was on the high ground on the corner of Tower Hamlets Road and London Road, behind the Black Horse public house facing Bridge Street. The Black Horse was rebuilt in 1839 and renamed the Eagle Hotel, this was Dover's place of execution for condemned felons.

He was taken by cart from the town goal in the market square at just after 11:00 am on the 13th March 1813. On the cart was the Reverent Maule who tried to attend to the condemned man who was seated alongside his coffin, the executioner was seated on the side of the cart two constables on horse back and four on foot. The cart was followed by the Town Mayor, The Town Clerk and magistrates and the customary excited mob of men women and children.

Upon arrival at the fatal tree the Chaplin had a few minutes of prayer with the unfortunate Turmaine, the executioner then placed the noose around his neck and launched him into eternity. It took William Turmaine five minutes to die, he was then transported to Canterbury for burial.

EAGLE HOTEL

The last landlord of the Black Horse was David Curling, the Eagle was built on the site of the old Black Horse in 1839 Mr Brockman was the first landlord, the pub had a large tea garden which was abandoned after the Eagle was rebuilt in 1863.

It is said the owners of the original Black Horse pub sold tickets to view the Executions from the pub that took place on the high ground behind the pub.