The Steam Crane, North Street

Image: © Eirian Evans Taken: 22 Feb 2018

The Steam Crane is named after the Bristol historic landmark Fairbairn Steam Crane which is the world’s only surviving example. The pub has a colourful history - it was here that John Horton, an 18 year old miner from Hanham, was tried and convicted of murdering his former girlfriend Eliza Balsom. Two days later on 13th April 1821, he became the first person to be executed by hanging at the New Bristol Gaol. When their relationship had ended in 1820, he had allegedly sworn that he would ‘mash her bones to pieces’ if he ever saw her with another man. Early in 1821, spotting Eliza with her new boyfriend, he threw a stone at her, striking her on the head causing a minor injury, but she was treated at the Bristol Royal Infirmary for a depressed fracture and Dr. Richard Smith decided to operate, causing a fatal abscess. She died on 17 February 1821. After the public hanging, John Horton’s body was handed over to Dr Smith for dissection. Although that wasn’t unusual in itself, events took a macabre turn when Dr Smith also had the body skinned, tanned and used to bind the Book of Skin, which is today kept at the M Shed museum in Bristol and is embossed with a gallows motif.

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