ONE of Lancaster's most unsavoury characters from the past has been widely featured in a new book.

Edward Barlow, commonly known as 'Old Ned,' was the hangman of at Lancaster Castle for 31 years, putting 131 offenders to an untimely death.

Born in 1736, Welshman 'Old Ned,' often bragged about the 'neatness' with which he did his job but eventually ended up in prison himself after stealing a horse.

Described as "one of the greatest terrors to vice ever known in this part of the kingdom" he was a repulsive fellow much despised by the ordinary Lancaster folk.

They were said to throw missiles at him "of the foulest description" and not infrequently he was "rolled in the mud."

But he was in no way ashamed of his work and his obituary in the Manchester Gazette reveals that "his profession was to him a subject of pride and boasting and he would talk of the neatness in which he would execute it."

As Lancashire's professional hangman, much of his work was done in Lancaster , where up to 1799 hangings were carried out on the common and later at the Castle at a 'new drop' on the site now called 'Hanging Corner.'

In 1806 'Old Ned' got on the wrong side of the law himself and was tried for stealing a horse. After being found guilty he is said to have proclaimed "All this comes of a man getting out of his line!" and although he was sentenced to death it was reduced to 10 years inside Lancaster Castle.

Despite being a 69-year-old inmate, he was allowed to continue his hangman duties and went on to put many others to their deaths.

He eventually died inside in 1812 and was buried at St Mary's Church, just a stone's throw away from where he did most of the fiendish work he so enjoyed.

The life and times of 'Old Ned' are featured in 'The Common Hangman,' by James Bland and published by Zeon Books.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.