Wapping Old Stairs

Stairs with a gruesome history - What a whopper!
Location: Nr Wapping high Street
Description: If the tide is out you can descend the steps on to the riverbed, but be careful, as it is slippery.
These stairs have a gruesome history. Pirates were hanged nearby in Execution Dock and their corpses brought here so that they were washed over by the tide three times.
This caused them to be swollen and people said 'What a whopper!' - hence the name Wapping. It was also here that the notorious Judge Jeffreys was apprehended in 1689 when trying to escape to France disguised as a sailor. He was taken to the Tower, but died before he could be executed.
Tours: The Doctor Whoish tour of London
Tours: m
Tours: Dark London
Tours: Pirates and penthouses at the old London Docks
Themes: Subterranean


Stairs with a gruesome history - What a whopper! |
Ranking This Month: 614/3075
Pages Hit This Month: 32
Your Comments:
Other places nearby:
Chislehurst Caves», 8.4km
Hornsey Wood Reservoir», 4.8km
Islington Tunnel», 2.7km
St Katherine's Dock Marina», 0.5km
Little Compton Street», 2.9km
Jack Cade's Cavern», 2.9km
Thames Ironworks», 3.1km
Dick Turpin's Cave», 12.km
Soho Square Gardener's Hut», 3.1km
Bull & Bush Station», 6.9km
Location Pinpointed:
Open Street Maps», Google Maps»