DOVER'S PLACE OF EXECUTION.
Extracts from: 'Dover' by J. Bavington Jones, published by the Dover Express, 1907.
The buildings on the upper part of the west side of the High Street are comparatively modern. In the 18th. And the early part of the 19th. Centuries, on the rising ground at the upper corner, facing Bridge Street, was the place of execution of the condemned felons of Dover and its Liberties.
Those executions were frequent occurrences and were very sad and revolting scenes. The central object was a poor unfortunate person conveyed in a cart, with a coffin beside him ready to receive his body, and the Chaplain of the Corporation imparted last words of counsel and comfort to his soul. The cart so laden was surrounded and followed by an excited mob, on whom the object-lesson was supposed to have a moral effect, although it was quite the contrary.
The hanging took place on the high ground on the left entrance to Tower Hamlets Road, and the windows of the Black Horse Tavern, at the opposite corner of Tower Hamlets Road, offered a point of vantage to sightseers who did not care to jostle with the crowd.
Amongst the executions which took place there in the early part of the 19th. Century, before the Municipal Reform put an end to them, were William Turmain on the 8th. March 1813; two men for forgery on the Margate Bank, 27th. November 1817; Alexander Spence, for shooting an officer of the Coastguards, Friday 9th. August 1822, and a young man for robbery at Margate in 1823 was the last person executed there.
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Information on William Turmaine:
Wm. Turmain, the convict, now in Dover Goal, under sentence of death for burglary at Margate, we understand is to be executed on Wednesday next. His accomplice, Edward Herod, condemned at the same time, has been reprieved, and the punishment of death commuted for transportation for life. It is upwards of 28 years since an execution took place at Dover, when two men, named Husband and Dickson, suffered for burglaries at that place. Kentish Gazette, Friday 26th. February 1813, bk. Page column 4.
... the two men, William Turmayne and Edward Herod, .... both remain under sentence of death in Dover Goal. The latter however has been respited for some days, which leads to hope that his punishment may be mitigated to transportation for life; but as for the former, having been convicted and sentenced to transportation, no hopes of mercy can be expected, although he had the advantage of a favourable report from the Recorder, and a respectable petition to the Throne in his favour. We understand the day of execution is fixed for Monday next; every direction that humanity could dictate has been given by the Mayor, and by the kind attention of the Clergyman, they are awakened to a just sense of religion, and are both truly penitent and resigned to their fate. Kentish Gazette, Tuesday 2nd. March 1813, back page
Wm TURMAINE, Execution --- Yesterday morning, about half past eleven o'clock the awful sentence of the law was carried into execution at Dover on the person of William Turmaine convicted on 17 ultimo of a burglary at Margate, the gallows being erected near the first turnpike at the end of the town on the same spot where the last execution took place about 28 years since. About eleven o'clock the culprit was taken from the goal and placed in a cart fitted for the occasion accompanied by the Revd. Mr. Maule (who has been particularly attentive to the unfortunate man since his condemnation) the executioner being seated on the side; two constables on horseback with others two on two on foot preceded it. The cart was followed by a post coach and three post chaises, in which were the Mayor, the Town Clerk, and the rest of the Justices. On arriving at the fatal tree, after spending a few minutes in prayer, the Executioner then proceeded to do his duty, and the unfortunate man having taken his leave of the Mayor and those spectators who were contiguous to him, was launched into eternity. About five minutes appeared to have terminated the sufferings of the unhappy culprit, and after hanging the usual time his body was cut down, put into a coffin and carried to the Bone House of St. Mary's Church and from thence was removed for internment in Canterbury. He met his fate with a considerable degree of fortitude, but by no means bordering on indifference. He died in the 36th. Year of his age. An immense concourse of spectators were assembled to witness this melancholy catastrophe on whom the shocking spectacle appeared to make a suitable impression. Kentish Gazette 9th. March 1813 back page columns 3 and 4.
William Turmaine's body was taken on Thursday 11th. March 1813 from Dover and buried at Canterbury, Kent. (Possibly at Holy Cross, Westgate, Canterbury, Kent.) Sarah Turmaine never recovered from the ordeal of her husband's Trial and Execution and died in 1813 in Margate. The remaining children were looked after by one of William's sisters.
"There seems to have been, as a direct consequence of the above events, a desire by those members of the Turmaine family living in Thanet to disassociate themselves as much as possible with William Turmaine. The name Turmaine becomes Tremaine in Official Records of some branches of the family from the 1820s in Thanet." (Roger Turmaine, researcher)
K.H.
