Execution Dock

Execution Dock served as the grim final stop for pirates, smugglers, and mutineers convicted by the High Court of the Admiralty. Located on the shoreline of the River Thames, this site was positioned precisely between the low and high tide marks. This placement functioned as a powerful legal symbol, demonstrating that the Admiralty held jurisdiction over all crimes committed on the high seas, regardless of where on land the criminal was captured. For over four hundred years, this stretch of riverfront acted as the stage where nautical justice was displayed to the public.