Tyburn's 'tree,' mentioned in dialogue, was in fact a wooden gallows where criminals were hanged to death near Hyde Park. The site, operational for over 650 years, became renowned as the principal location for public executions in London. It was the principal place for execution for London and Middlesex criminals and convicted traitors, including many religious martyrs. The last execution upon the tree was that of robber John Austin in 1783. The new place of execution became Newgate Prison.