Maggie Dickson was, in many ways, the victim of a harsh and unforgiving society. When her husband abandoned her she was forced to leave Edinburgh for the Borders, and it was there her troubles began.
Working at an inn, she fell pregnant by the innkeeper’s son. She concealed the pregnancy and gave the baby up – but the child was discovered, and Maggie was brought back to Edinburgh to stand trial under the Concealment of Pregnancy Act.
The Hanging of 1724
Convicted under a law that punished women for hiding a pregnancy, Maggie was sentenced to death. She was hanged in the Grassmarket, the city’s main place of public execution, where a memorial cross in the cobbles still marks where the gallows once stood.
After hanging the prescribed time she was cut down, declared dead, and her body loaded onto a cart for burial back in the Borders.
How She Survived
Somewhere on the road out of Edinburgh, the mourners heard knocking from inside the coffin. Maggie had revived – the drop had failed to kill her. By the custom of the day she had already served her sentence, and under the principle that she could not be executed twice for the same crime, she was allowed to live.
She reportedly went on to live for decades more, forever known as “Half-Hangit Maggie”.
The Grassmarket Today
The Grassmarket remains one of the Old Town’s most atmospheric squares, hemmed in below the Castle and lined with pubs. The execution memorial sits near the eastern end, an easy landmark to find as you explore.
Maggie Dickson’s Pub
A pub in the Grassmarket carries her name and story, its sign a nod to the woman who cheated the hangman. It is a natural stop on any spooky walk through the square.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Maggie Dickson really survive being hanged?
By tradition, yes. She revived in her coffin on the road out of Edinburgh, and having served her sentence she could not be hanged again for the same crime.
Why was Maggie Dickson hanged?
She was convicted under the Concealment of Pregnancy Act after hiding a pregnancy and the death of the newborn – a harsh law aimed at women of the time.
Where is Maggie Dickson’s memorial?
A memorial cross set in the cobbles of the Grassmarket marks the site of the old gallows where public executions took place.
Is there a pub named after Maggie Dickson?
Yes – Maggie Dickson’s pub in the Grassmarket takes its name and its sign from her story.
