Scold's bridle

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Date:1600 - 1650 (c.)

Description:An iron scold's bridle or brank from Stafford. Its date is uncertain, possibly early 17th century.

The scold's bridle was generally employed as a punishment for slander and similar minor misdemeanors. The flat bit of the bridle covered the tongue and effectively prevented the victim from talking. Some bridles had bits that ended in a spike that lacerated the tongue if one tried to talk. Only very occasionally was it used upon men and as a punishment for crimes such as assault. They are also known to have been employed in the Workhouses. The Stafford 'scold's bridle' is inscribed GARRULA LINGUA NOCET - The Garrulous tongue causes harm. It was last used in 1838 when the Mayor used or threatened to use it upon Mary Careless and the incident was reported at the time in the Staffordshire Advertiser.


Timeline

The timeline shows resources around this location over a number of years.

1770s
Chinese tea-taster, Stafford
Chinese tea-taster, Stafford

One of four late 18th century oriental figures which sat on the parapet of a former ...

1840s
Broadsheet  - Staffordshire Lent Assizes, 1845
Broadsheet - Staffordshire Lent Assizes, 1845

A broadsheet detailing the sentences for prisoners at the Staffordshire Lent Assizes, ...

1880s
Sir Thomas Noon Talfourd
Sir Thomas Noon Talfourd

Thomas Noon Talfourd (1795-1854), was a writer, judge, and politician. He was called ...

1910s
Turner & Co., late Brookfields, Greengate Street, Stafford
Turner & Co., late Brookfields, Greengate Street, Stafford

When Brookfields department store closed in 1909 James Turner, one of the store's ...

1940s
Horticultural Show, Shire Hall, Stafford
Horticultural Show, Shire Hall, Stafford

Displays at a horticultural show held in the Great Hall at the Shire Hall, Market ...

1960s
Charity run, Market Square, Stafford
Charity run, Market Square, Stafford

Venture Scouts pictured in front of the Shire Hall, Stafford at the start of a long ...

1990s
Greengate Street, Stafford
Greengate Street, Stafford

This view was taken looking south from Market Square to Greengate Street in Stafford. ...

2010s
Market Square, Stafford
Market Square, Stafford

A 360 degree view of the Market Square, Stafford, painted by Rob Pointon (1982-). ...

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Image courtesy of: Staffordshire Museum Service

Donor ref:86.024.1259 (37/17735)

Source: Staffordshire Museum Service

Copyright information: Copyrights to all resources are retained by the individual rights holders. They have kindly made their collections available for non-commercial private study & educational use. Re-distribution of resources in any form is only permitted subject to strict adherence to the usage guidelines.