London Trivia: Apprentice hangman

On 11 October 1870, Margaret Waters was hanged at Horsemonger Lane Gaol, close to present-day Newington Causeway, for the crime of what became known as baby farming. She had taken at least 19 children into her care for money, then she would murder or starve to death her charges. As might befit a person of her character, the hangman, William Calcroft, was just learning his craft on the job, but he managed his task. On 11 October 1919 on a flight from London to Paris passengers enjoyed the first in-flight meals – lunch boxes a three shillings (15p) each HMP Pentonville built in 1842 at a cost £84,186 12s 2d was intended to be a holding prison for convicts awaiting transportation Cowcross Street is so named after the cows crossing on their journey to the slaughterhouses and butchers at Smithfield Market Idol Lane, off Great Tower Street was formerly Idle Lane denoting an area of the city where loiterers would congregate Christ Church Lambeth’s spire is decorated with stars and stripes…