Holborn in Camden in Greater London, England, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)

William Lord Russell Beheading Site

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, April 24, 2026

1. William Lord Russell Beheading Site Marker

Inscription.
Near this spot was beheaded
William Lord Russell
a lover of constitutional liberty
21 July AD 1683

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Events. A significant historical date for this entry is July 21, 1683.

Location. 51° 30.975′ N, 0° 6.993′ W. Marker is in Camden, England, in Greater London. It is in Holborn. It is on Lincoln's Inn Fields. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Camden, England WC2A 3BP, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Greater South East.

Globally, it is in the Atlantic Ocean,

in the North Atlantic Region,

in Europe,

in Atlantic Europe,

on one of the British Isles,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Spencer Perceval (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); William Marsden (about 150 meters away); W.H. Smith & Son - Bomb Damage (about 150 meters away); The Ship Tavern (about 210 meters away); Oliver Cromwell’s Body (about 210 meters away); Chancery Building (about 240 meters away); WWI Bomb Damage (about 240 meters away); Zeppelin Bomb Damage (about 240 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Camden.

Also see . . . William Russell, Lord Russell (Wikipedia). Excerpt:

William Russell, Lord Russell (29 September 1639 – 21 July 1683) was an English Country Party politician. He was a leading member of the Country Party, forerunners of the Whigs, who during the reign of Charles II of England laid the groundwork for opposition
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in the English House of Commons to the accession of an openly Catholic monarch in Charles's brother James. This ultimately resulted in Russell's execution for treason, almost two years before Charles died and James acceded to the throne.

Execution: Russell spent his last day peacefully in the Tower, spending the morning in devotions with the Scottish archbishop Alexander Burnet. He was beheaded by Jack Ketch on 21 July 1683 at Lincoln's Inn Fields. Russell was said to have paid Ketch a generous sum of money beforehand for a quick and painless end. At the time, those sentenced to death by beheading (a method "reserved for [...] aristocrats") were customarily "advised to tip the public executioner in advance. It was hoped this would encourage him to do a swift and efficient job, hopefully despatching the victim in one clean blow." However, in spite of this, the execution was reported to have been notoriously botched…

Ketch allegedly "did such a bad job that, after the axe hit the side of Russell's head, Russell looked up at him and said, 'You dog, did I give you ten guineas to use me so inhumanely?'" However, Ketch "repudiated the charge" that Russell had paid him twenty guineas the night before the execution (although he stated it was "true I receav'd 10. Guenies" from him on the scaffold), that Russell had insulted him, or that he had struck Russell's shoulder
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, April 24, 2026

2. William Lord Russell Beheading Site Marker - wide view
The marker is visible here set into the pavement in the middle of the bandstand-like structure in the center of Lincoln’s Inn Fields.
rather than his head.…

(Submitted on May 17, 2026.)

Credits. This page was last revised on May 17, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 5, 2026, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 5, 2026, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.