Village stocks and whipping pole

Village stocks and whipping pole


Forthampton, United Kingdom (GB)
Stocks are devices used in the medieval and colonial American times as a form of physical punishment involving public humiliation. The stocks partially immobilized its victims and they were often exposed in a public place such as the site of a market to the scorn of those who passed by.

Since the purpose of putting offenders in the stocks was to expose them to ridicule and mockery, passers-by were encouraged to throw at those being punished mud, rotten eggs, moldy fruit and vegetables, smelly fish, offal, and excrement (both animal and human). Consequently, many of those who sat in the stocks were very dirty and smelly by the time that they were let out.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stocks
Stocks are devices used in the medieval and colonial American times as a form of physical punishment involving public humiliation. The stocks partially immobilized its victims and they were often exposed in a public place such as the site of a market to the scorn of those who passed by.

Since the purpose of putting offenders in the stocks was to expose them to ridicule and mockery, passers-by were encouraged to throw at those being punished mud, rotten eggs, moldy fruit and vegetables, smelly fish, offal, and excrement (both animal and human). Consequently, many of those who sat in the stocks were very dirty and smelly by the time that they were let out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stocks
View in Google Earth Objects - Roadside Attractions
Links: upload.wikimedia.org
By: Dania

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kjfitz picture
@ 2011-12-03 11:43:34
Great series. I never though there'd be enough of these to search out.
Dania picture
@ 2011-12-03 13:00:12
Many minor cities and villages in the UK and Ireland have them.

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