I always thought the counting started from when the executioner entered the condemned cell, and could never imagine how he could perform so fast as to carry out an execution in seven and a half seconds, but it seems like the count starts from when they enter the execution chamber.
shareHi In Syd Dernleys book the hanging of Inglis took 7 seconds in the introduction to his book he and Pierepoint were the hangmen on another occasion at the hanging of Farrell Dernley was only there to watch and Pierpoint and Kirk from the moment they entered the condemmed cell to him been hung took 8 seconds Dernley clearly states it was from the moment they entered the condemmed cell
shareI have also read that they entered the cell at the first stroke of 09.00am as the very first chime rang, with the emphasis on the condemned person on the trap doors, hooded and pinioned as the last chime rang.
shareOn the dvd, in the seven and a half seconds scene, I could only get that time from when they entered the execution chamber. The count from when he entered the condemned cell was a lot more.
I know it is only a film but I would have thought they would have tried to get it right if only for the dramatic effect.
On May 8, Albert Pierrepoint and Syd Dernley escorted Inglis from his cell to the gallows immediately outside and hanged him without delay – the fastest hanging on record, taking only seven seconds from the time he was removed from his cell until the trapdoor opened to send him on his fatal drop. Dernley later related that he practically ran to his execution, following the prison guard's earnest advice to go quickly and "without fuss".
So here in this extract they are saying it was seven seconds from when he was removed from his cell.