Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations Â»

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places Â»
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
BozdaÄŸ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
The truth is out there—somewhere.
The Truth Is Out There at the Dreamland Resort (or Should We Say ‘Area 51?’)
Edward Payson Weston
How the 6-Day Race Became an American Spectator Obsession
Alresford Spy Toilet
This Public Bathroom in a Sleepy English Village Was an Epicenter for Cold War Espionage
Manhattan Well
The Manhattan Well: How Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton United to Solve a Murder Mystery

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom Scotland Edinburgh The Edinburgh Maiden

The Edinburgh Maiden

This early version of the guillotine was used to execute the man responsible for its construction.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Added By
Alan Newman
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
The Maiden.   kim traynor
The Maiden.   kim traynor
  jyackabonis / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  rbenn250 / Atlas Obscura User
The Maiden.   kim traynor
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Until the late 16th century, the traditional method of execution in Edinburgh was beheading by means of a sword. When the official sword had essentially worn out, authorities were even reduced to renting a suitable blade when needed.

This prompted the construction of a beheading device that became known as the Maiden (rumor has it the name came from the long period between its construction and its first use). Ironically, the man who is believed responsible for its introduction, James Douglas, fourth Earl of Morton, was executed by the Maiden in 1581. The device was designed so that it could be disassembled and transported to where it might be used—a sort of flat-pack for an implement of execution. It has been documented that it was used on the  Edinburgh Castle Esplanade, the Grassmarket, and south of St. Giles, on the Royal Mile near the Mercat Cross.

It's said that Douglas based the concept for his design on another decapitation device: the Halifax Gibbet. However there are some important differences between the two. First off, the Maiden’s blade was driven downward by a massive lead weight, rather than a large wooden block. Secondly, the Maiden required the victim to stand and bend over, with the block for the neck about four feet from the floor, rather than laying prone. Arriving in this position was commonly referred to as "Kissing the Maiden."

Between 1564 and 1710 more than 150 people were executed on the Maiden, after which it was withdrawn from use. The beheadings usually took place at the Mercat Cross in Edinburgh. It was a horribly brutal performance. In a cruel twist of irony, if a person was condemned for stealing an animal—say, a horse—that very animal became the executioner. A cord would be attached to the horse, which was whipped and ran away, removing the peg that held up the blade.

After the last execution in 1716, the Maiden was put into storage for years. When it was rediscovered, it was put on display at the Edinburgh Museum of Antiquities, which is now the National Museum of Scotland. Unlike the Halifax Gibbet, which is only available as a replica, this exhibit is the real thing.

Related Tags

Execution Machines History Museums Death Crime And Punishment

Know Before You Go

The National Museum is free to enter. The Maiden is located in the Kindom of Scots exhibit, found on level one. There you will also find other instruments of capital punishment such as thumbscrews, stocks, and a Scold's bridle.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Flavors of Scotland: Beyond the Haggis

Smoked seafood, single malt whisky, and warm hospitality.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

Dr Alan P Newman

Edited By

SEANETTA, Meg, Collector of Experiences, rbenn250...

  • SEANETTA
  • Meg
  • Collector of Experiences
  • rbenn250
  • jyackabonis

Published

April 16, 2018

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
The Edinburgh Maiden
25 Chambers St
Edinburgh, Scotland
United Kingdom
55.947502, -3.189809
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Remains of Dolly the Sheep

Edinburgh, Scotland

miles away

Phrenology Institute

Edinburgh, Scotland

miles away

Rooftop Terrace at the National Museum of Scotland

Edinburgh, Scotland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Scotland

Places 184
Stories 7

Nearby Places

Remains of Dolly the Sheep

Edinburgh, Scotland

miles away

Phrenology Institute

Edinburgh, Scotland

miles away

Rooftop Terrace at the National Museum of Scotland

Edinburgh, Scotland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Scotland

Places 184
Stories 7

Related Places

  • Wapping Old Stairs at low tide.

    London, England

    Site of Execution Dock

    Where condemned pirates met their grisly end at the gallows on the River Thames.

  • The marker.

    London, England

    Tyburn Tree Marker

    Never actually a tree at all, this spot was the site of London's public hangings for nearly 600 years.

  • The Halifax gibbet

    Halifax, England

    The Halifax Gibbet

    A copy of the brutal decapitation device that predated the French Guillotine by about 200 years.

  • Stockholm, Sweden

    Galgbacken (Gallow Hill)

    The site of Stockholm's last public execution.

  • Globe, Arizona

    The 1910 Gila County Sheriff's Office and Jail

    A historic jail preserves etchings from over a century of incarcerated people in a town with a rough and tumble past.

  • Hacienda Buena Vista seen from above.

    Ponce, Puerto Rico

    Hacienda Buena Vista

    This museum preserves the heyday of Puerto Rican coffee.

  • Paris, France

    Execution Site of Jacques de Molay

    The approximate spot where the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar was put to death.

  • Royal Malaysian Police Museum

    Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Royal Malaysian Police Museum

    This surprising museum tells the story of modern Malaysia through the history of its law enforcement.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.