Gallows Corner
Encyclopedia
Gallows Corner is an area and major road junction
in the London Borough of Havering
near Romford
.
The junction is a large roundabout
with five exits and a flyover
. The exits are:
The flyover links Eastern Avenue East with the Southend Arterial Road. It was erected in 1971, and takes the form of a system of prefabricated
units (called the Braithwaite FliWay) that was cheaper and quicker to erect than a conventional underpass or cast in-situ flyover. It is notorious for being angular, with sudden changes of slope rather than a smooth arch. The flyover was closed for several months in early 2008 for remedial work carried out to the road deck, with several sections replaced. It was found upon final inspection that the bridge parapets had suffered severe corrosion. The bridge was fitted with emergency barriers which meant that traffic was restricted to one lane in the London-bound direction only. It has since re-opened for two-way traffic.
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 what is now Eastern Avenue East, on a 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. Ravensbourne School, for children with special needs, stands on the site of the gaol where the condemned were held.
The road junction is referred to in the film Layer Cake
.
Junction (road)
A road junction is a location where vehicular traffic going in different directions can proceed in a controlled manner designed to minimize accidents. In some cases, vehicles can change between different routes or directions of travel.-Origins:...
in the London Borough of Havering
London Borough of Havering
The London Borough of Havering is a London borough in North East London, England and forms part of Outer London. The principal town in Havering is Romford and the other main communities are Hornchurch, Upminster and Rainham. The borough is mainly characterised by suburban development with large...
near Romford
Romford
Romford is a large suburban town in north east London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Havering. It is located northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan...
.
The junction is a large roundabout
Roundabout
A roundabout is the name for a road junction in which traffic moves in one direction around a central island. The word dates from the early 20th century. Roundabouts are common in many countries around the world...
with five exits and a flyover
Overpass
An overpass is a bridge, road, railway or similar structure that crosses over another road or railway...
. The exits are:
- West: A12 (Eastern Avenue East), towards central LondonCentral LondonCentral London is the innermost part of London, England. There is no official or commonly accepted definition of its area, but its characteristics are understood to include a high density built environment, high land values, an elevated daytime population and a concentration of regionally,...
. - Southwest: A118A118 roadThe A118 is a road in east London, England which links Bow with Gallows Corner, east of Romford. The section from Stratford to Gallows Corner formed the original route of the A12 until the designation was transferred to the Eastern Avenue soon after the latter opened in 1925...
(Main Road), towards Romford. - Southeast: A127A127 roadThe A127, also known as the Southend Arterial Road, is one of the trunk roads in England linking London with Southend-on-Sea, the other being the A13. It is a dual carriageway for its entire length, rare on a trunk road since the only others are the A14 and the A282, and is known as the Southend...
(Southend Arterial Road), towards Southend-on-SeaSouthend-on-SeaSouthend-on-Sea is a unitary authority area, town, and seaside resort in Essex, England. The district has Borough status, and comprises the towns of Chalkwell, Eastwood, Leigh-on-Sea, North Shoebury, Prittlewell, Shoeburyness, Southchurch, Thorpe Bay, and Westcliff-on-Sea. The district is situated...
. - Northeast: A12 (Colchester Road), towards East AngliaEast AngliaEast Anglia is a traditional name for a region of eastern England, named after an ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom, the Kingdom of the East Angles. The Angles took their name from their homeland Angeln, in northern Germany. East Anglia initially consisted of Norfolk and Suffolk, but upon the marriage of...
. - North: Straight Road, a minor road towards Harold HillHarold HillHarold Hill is a place in the London Borough of Havering, east London, England. It is a suburban development situated 16.6 miles east-northeeast of Charing Cross....
.
The flyover links Eastern Avenue East with the Southend Arterial Road. It was erected in 1971, and takes the form of a system of prefabricated
Prefabrication
Prefabrication is the practice of assembling components of a structure in a factory or other manufacturing site, and transporting complete assemblies or sub-assemblies to the construction site where the structure is to be located...
units (called the Braithwaite FliWay) that was cheaper and quicker to erect than a conventional underpass or cast in-situ flyover. It is notorious for being angular, with sudden changes of slope rather than a smooth arch. The flyover was closed for several months in early 2008 for remedial work carried out to the road deck, with several sections replaced. It was found upon final inspection that the bridge parapets had suffered severe corrosion. The bridge was fitted with emergency barriers which meant that traffic was restricted to one lane in the London-bound direction only. It has since re-opened for two-way traffic.
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 what is now Eastern Avenue East, on a grassy stretch below Masefield Crescent. Under the charter of the Royal Liberty of Havering
Royal Liberty of Havering
Havering, also known as Havering-atte-Bower, was a royal manor and ancient liberty whose former area now forms part of, and gives its name to, the London Borough of Havering in Greater London...
, 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. Ravensbourne School, for children with special needs, stands on the site of the gaol where the condemned were held.
The road junction is referred to in the film Layer Cake
Layer Cake (film)
Layer Cake is a 2004 British crime thriller produced and directed by Matthew Vaughn, in his directorial debut. It is based on the novel Layer Cake by J. J...
.