Stocks

Stocks: A Dark Chapter in History

Imagine a time when public humiliation and corporal punishment were common forms of discipline—how strange it seems now! Stocks, those wooden contraptions that once restrained the ankles and wrists, served as a form of public shaming.

The Origins of Stocks

Have you ever wondered how such an archaic practice came to be? In Ancient Greece, Solon’s law code described the use of stocks, where victims were placed in wooden boards around their ankles and wrists. This was a form of corporal punishment that served as both a deterrent and a spectacle for the public.

Evolution Through Time

The pillory, a similar device but with boards fixed to a pole, added an extra layer of humiliation by placing victims around their arms and neck. This was not just a physical restraint; it was a social one, as the victim’s face was often visible to passersby.

Public Punishment in Stocks

From 1500 until at least 1748, public punishment in stocks was a common occurrence. In Colonial America, especially among the early American Puritans, stocks were frequently used to punish those deemed part of the ‘lower class.’ These individuals might be insulted, kicked, tickled, or subjected to other inhumane acts.

Legal and Social Context

In England, the Statute of Labourers 1351 prescribed the use of stocks for ‘unruly artisans,’ requiring every town and village to erect a set of stocks. This act was repealed in 1863, but its legacy lived on in various forms across different regions.

Modern Controversies

Fast forward to modern times, the use of stocks is rare, yet it has been proposed as a form of public entertainment or charity event. In 2016, the British town of Thame made international headlines when they proposed building stocks for such purposes. As noted by Bretherton, ‘Perhaps for charity we could do something like that, get people in the stocks and have others donate money for the time they last while having their feet tickled and syrup poured between their toes for laughs.’

Current Usage

In Colombia, married woman Alfreda Blanco Basilio was placed in stocks by a tribe due to her adultery. She spent 72 hours barefoot. In 2020, police in Chinu, Colombia, placed residents who broke quarantine in stocks for a few hours during the COVID-19 pandemic. These instances highlight how, despite being outlawed, stocks can still be used under certain circumstances.

Preservation and Legacy

Stocks are occasionally preserved in churches or museums and protected as listed buildings. Examples include those found in Broughton-in-Furness, Caverswall, Evesham, and many other locations across the UK and beyond.

Related Practices

Dromore, County Down in Northern Ireland also has stocks in the Market Square. See also: Bilboes, Shackling, Shrew’s fiddle, Stock (cage), Wheel clamp. These practices, while different, share a common theme of public humiliation and corporal punishment.

As we look back at the history of stocks, it’s hard not to be struck by how far society has come. While these practices once served as a means of public shaming and punishment, today they are preserved in museums and historical sites, serving as reminders of our past. The evolution from such harsh measures to more humane forms of discipline is a testament to the progress we’ve made.