Village Stocks, Market Place, Chapel en le Frith, Derbyshire

These village stocks date from the 18th century. The posts are made from gritstone and have deep grooves for the wooden parts to slot into. There are two sets of holes for arms and legs and a small wooden bench. Stocks were used to punish people who were guilty of petty (less serious) crimes. They had to sit on the bench with their arms and legs in the holes for a set amount of time. Often other villagers made fun of them or threw things like rotten fruit at them.

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