History and Interesting Facts

Originally located in front of Buckingham Palace, John Nash's Marble Arch was intended to be the building's main entrance (and solely for royal use). However, as enlargement to the Palace in 1851 effectively made it redundant, the arch was moved to Hyde Park where today, it continues to serve as a gateway between Bayswater and Marylebone.

Only senior members of the Royal Family, the Royal Horse Artillery and King's Troop are allowed to pass underneath the arch. With three archways of Corinthian columns, it still makes for an impressive sight, the arch's sculpted relief’s represent England, Scotland and Ireland.

More intriguing however, is the history of the area that surrounds the triumphal arch. For it was here that London's old Tyburn Gallows stood. With a history dating back to the 12th century, Tyburn was the hanging gallery of choice for the city's notorious criminals, petty thieves and political prisoners. The name, which is derived from a local brook which flowed into the Thames, became synonymous with large-scale public executions right up until 1783.

The permanent gallows - called the Tyburn Tree - provided a most gruesome form of popular entertainment, attracting all manner of spectators, as well as stall-holders (who no doubt shifted early forms of London souvenirs). Indeed, when Tyburn first came into existence hanging was just one of the "roster options" available for executions. Victims could either be hung, drawn and quartered (meaning they were disembowelled while still alive) or be noosed with fires lit beneath them. Once executed, cadavers were de-clothed and often used for anatomical studies by local surgeons.

Interestingly, the proceedings at Tyburn gave rise to the popular phrase "one for the road" which refers to the practice of allowing a condemned man to have one last drink at any ale house en-route. Transported to the gallows by wagon, it was policy for one of the guards minding the prisoner to remain in charge of the cart. So as they were not allowed to drink, the saying "on the wagon" also came into being!