On 9th Dec 2011 12:31pm, K said:
I've been looking at British History Online, at the OS map for the Gibbet Hill area of 1887. It doesn't show the gibbet. However, it shows Tocil Farm (I think - it's not named) between Tocil Wood and the crossroads, but some way from the crossroads, and about 15 - 20 feet below the elevation of the actual crossroads, which is at 330 feet above sea level. There is no evidence of the gibbet at all. The crossroads, however, are shown as having concave corners, so as to form a ring. (Almost as if there were a traffic island without the island, if you see what I mean) I might be wrong, but that suggests to me that the gibbet was in the centre of the crossroads....
I think this is an interesting idea. As earlier someone stated that the Lord said it/they should be placed ON the spot of the murder, which would be the road, it gives it more credence, and in the centre of the road would make it visible and therefore a deterrent for quite a distance. The placing of trees around it could well be set slightly back so as not to cover the road (or its grisly deterrent) too much and therefore be on the outside edges of this 'island'