Ruins of the brick gallows near Wojcieszów are an extremely interesting example of a monument from the past – one of the few of this kind preserved in the Sudetes, and in this case, in almost perfect condition. Hidden in the forest thicket, the structure rests in a small saddle between the peaks of Trzciniec (484 m above sea level) and Polanka (546 m above sea level), to the northeast of the town centre.
The exact date of the construction of the structure is not known, but it is believed to date back to the 17th century. This is supported by documented executions that took place in 1682 – at least three people were executed here, including one woman and two men. What transgressions led them to this dark fate? The murder of a child, homicide, and… sodomy with an animal! However, the documents do not reveal more salacious details of these incidents.
While two of the convicts, those responsible for the murder of a person, earned a relatively smooth and swift death through beheading (for the child murderer) and hanging (for the murderer), the third miscreant, who engaged in aberrant acts with an animal, experienced a more painful fate. From the preserved information, it appears that he was burned. As the burial place for the criminals, the gallows was indicated, which is consistent with the practice of burying criminals in the so-called “unconsecrated ground” at the foot of the masonry structure that marked the end of their lives.
The name of the would-be hanged man is known, Gottfried Zöllner, a burglar whose death sentence was replaced at the last moment by a punishment of permanent exile from the city – this occurred on December 1, 1681. The Wojcieszów chronicle also contains a brief mention of a “reprimand” at the gallows for a certain lady from a noble family.
Time for a handful of technical data. The crown of the cylindrical well walls is topped with four stone pillars, in which preserved mortises for execution beams are located. The interior of the cylinder is accessed through a spacious entrance, and once you crossed it centuries ago, you could reach the platform that used to crown the top of the gallows walls.
Near the gallows, there is a nature and educational trail called “Gruszka“. Cyclists following the singletrack “Dłużek” may come across the ruins as well.
In the search for information about the execution site in Wojcieszów, one may come across a mention of the legendary “school of executioners,” which is said to be located in Wojcieszów. The likelihood that such an educational institution actually existed is minimal – the profession was passed down from father to son, and the executioner’s community was highly closed…
Prepared by: Miłosz Lassota
