Canterbury’s First Hanging – 16th April 1868
On 16th April 1868, a date kept secret from the public, convicted murderer and arsonist, John Densley Swales became the first man to be hung in Canterbury. This took place at 8.15am at the Lyttelton Gaol (the remaining prison cells pictured here). On the evening on 7th February 1868, a fire at the general store …
