Description:Miss J. Greensill, a member of staff at Stafford Library and Museum wearing the scold's bridle for a press photograph. The scold's bridle had been part of Stafford Museum's collections since the museum first opened in the Borough Hall in 1881, having previously been kept in the Guildhall. It is now part of the Staffordshire County Museum collections.
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.