Tower Hill

City (EC3) Stow says: "Tower Hill, sometime a large plot of ground, now greatly straightened by encroachments (unlawfully made and suffered) for gardens and houses. Upon this hill is always readily prepared, at the charges of the City, a large scaffold and gallows of timber, for the execution of such traitors or transgressors as are delivered out of the Tower, or otherwise, to the Sheriffs of London, by writ, there to be executed." At the last execution which took place here, that of Lord Lovat, April 9, 1747, a scaffolding built near Barking Alley fell with nearly 1,000 persons on it, and twelve of them were killed. William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, was born here. (Reference: Thornbury's Old and New London, vol. II, p. 95)