Gallows Corner
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gallows Corner is an area and road junction in the London Borough of Havering situated west of Harold Wood, south of Harold Hill, north of Gidea Park and east of Collier Row.
The road junction is a roundabout with five exits and a flyover. All but the last road is visible on the map adjacent. The exits are:
- A12 (west), Eastern Avenue East, towards central London
- A118 (south west), called Main Road, towards Romford and Ilford
- A127 (south east), Southend Arterial Road, towards Southend-on-Sea
- A12 (north east), Colchester Road towards Brentwood and Ipswich
- Straight Road (north), a minor road towards Havering-atte-Bower
The flyover links the first and third exits. It is notorious for being angular, with several sudden changes of slope rather than a smooth arch, causing a very bumpy ride.
During the 18th century, Gallows Corner was a lonely country crossroads and a favourite spot for waylaying coaches. It was close to the site for the gallows, thought to have been located north of the Southend Arterial Road on the grassy stretch below Masefield Crescent. Under the charter of the Royal Liberty of Havering, the Court of Quarter Sessions could try capital offences on payment to the Crown. The place of execution was then the gallows at Gallows Corner. There are several entries in the Romford Registers of burials of felons who were executed there in the 16th and 17th centuries. The site gaol where the condenmned were held is now Ravensbourne School for children with special needs.
