Strangeways Prison in Manchester, England was used as a place of execution for many, many years. The death chamber is still situated at the end of 'B' wing in the central area, next to what was the condemned man's cell. At the time appointed for the prisoner to be hung by the neck until dead the hangman would attend with his assistant. The prisoner's hands were then securely fastened behind his back and he was led to the gallows. There the hangman, with gloved hands, placed a black cloth hood over the doomed man's head, quickly followed by the noose.
Then, as Strangeway's prison chaplain prayed for the prisoner's soul, the hangman threw the strong lever operating the trap door and the condemned man fell through. Death came to all the hangman's victims instantly. Using the terrible tricks of his trade he knew how to snap the necks of those sentenced to die. As the rope gripped their throat there was no long lingering choke, just a spine breaking wrench as the hangman's knot twisted their necks violently to the left. It was a matter of pride to the Strangeways' hangman that his customers never complained.
Then, as Strangeway's prison chaplain prayed for the prisoner's soul, the hangman threw the strong lever operating the trap door and the condemned man fell through. Death came to all the hangman's victims instantly. Using the terrible tricks of his trade he knew how to snap the necks of those sentenced to die. As the rope gripped their throat there was no long lingering choke, just a spine breaking wrench as the hangman's knot twisted their necks violently to the left. It was a matter of pride to the Strangeways' hangman that his customers never complained.Staff on night duty have reported seeing a mysterious man in a dark suit carrying a small briefcase. He is always seen walking along 'B' wing from just outside the condemned cell towards the central control area. When they try to follow this dark suited man he vanishes just before the old iron staircase leading up to the main office.
Long serving officers at Strangeways prison say he looks exactly like the old hangman. He too always wore a dark suit and carried a small briefcase. Inside that case was his hangman's gloves and the black cloth hood he used to mask his victims with before dropping them to their death, at the end of a noose.