Gallows Corner

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gallows Corner
Gallows Corner shown within Greater London
OS grid reference	TQ535905
London borough	Havering
Ceremonial county	Greater London
Region	London
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ROMFORD
Postcode district	RM2, RM3
Dialling code	01708
Police	Metropolitan
Fire	London
Ambulance	London
European Parliament	London
UK Parliament	Romford
London Assembly	Havering and Redbridge
List of places: UK • England • London

Coordinates: 51°35′32″N 0°13′01″E / 51.5923, 0.2169

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. 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 condemned were held is now Ravensbourne School for children with special needs.