You put your left hand in… oh… and then your head… But not after today, 30th June back in 1837 as that was the day that an Act of Parliament was passed that ended the use of the Pillory in the UK.
Used since before the Norman Conquest, it was at first just used for petty thieves but then extended to Political offenders. But, not only were offenders pelted with rotten fruit and vegetables, some were even stoned to death in them.
The best known occupier of the pillory was Daniel Defoe, who was sentenced to 3 days for writing what was considered to be a “seditious pamphlet”. However, the sympathetic crowds pelted him with garlands of flowers instead of rotten fruit and vegetables – much to the annoyance of the authorities!
Used since before the Norman Conquest, it was at first just used for petty thieves but then extended to Political offenders. But, not only were offenders pelted with rotten fruit and vegetables, some were even stoned to death in them.
The best known occupier of the pillory was Daniel Defoe, who was sentenced to 3 days for writing what was considered to be a “seditious pamphlet”. However, the sympathetic crowds pelted him with garlands of flowers instead of rotten fruit and vegetables – much to the annoyance of the authorities!
