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Hangman's notebook sold at auction for £20,000 Hangman's notebook sold at auction for £20,000
(32 minutes later)
A notebook and other items belonging to Britain's most famous hangman has sold at auction for £20,000.A notebook and other items belonging to Britain's most famous hangman has sold at auction for £20,000.
Albert Pierrepoint, from Clayton, near Bradford, executed about 600 people during a 25-year career that ended in 1956.Albert Pierrepoint, from Clayton, near Bradford, executed about 600 people during a 25-year career that ended in 1956.
The sale at Boldon Auction Galleries in South Tyneside also included a plaster cast of his face and hands, and a silver watch chain he wore at work.The sale at Boldon Auction Galleries in South Tyneside also included a plaster cast of his face and hands, and a silver watch chain he wore at work.
The notebook and items were sold to an "eclectic" private collector.The notebook and items were sold to an "eclectic" private collector.
Mr Pierrepoint, who followed his father's footsteps as a hangman, executed high-profile murderers including Ruth Ellis, John Christie and William Joyce, known as Lord Haw-Haw.Mr Pierrepoint, who followed his father's footsteps as a hangman, executed high-profile murderers including Ruth Ellis, John Christie and William Joyce, known as Lord Haw-Haw.
He travelled to Germany after the war, where in one day he executed 13 men and women for crimes committed at Bergen-Belsen and Auschwitz.He travelled to Germany after the war, where in one day he executed 13 men and women for crimes committed at Bergen-Belsen and Auschwitz.
'Niche market'
His leather-bound execution ledger includes personal details of those hanged including the prisoner's name, age, height, weight and drop, and site of execution.His leather-bound execution ledger includes personal details of those hanged including the prisoner's name, age, height, weight and drop, and site of execution.
He once said of his profession: "The person has to die.He once said of his profession: "The person has to die.
"You've got to treat them with as much respect and dignity as you can.""You've got to treat them with as much respect and dignity as you can."
Auctioneer and valuer Giles Hodges described it as an "unusual sale, of quite extraordinary items, but that's what history is all about".Auctioneer and valuer Giles Hodges described it as an "unusual sale, of quite extraordinary items, but that's what history is all about".
He said it was part of a "niche market" and sold to "a collector of very interesting things across the board, an eclectic collector, as it were".He said it was part of a "niche market" and sold to "a collector of very interesting things across the board, an eclectic collector, as it were".