House of
Tanos
Study
- Bio, Weblog
Bookcase
- Books, quotations
Gallery
- Prisons, slave markets, coffles, photostreams
Cellars
- Cell, cage, stocks, handcuffs, suppliers
Letterbox
- Email, Tanos on IC, Tanos on TSR, etc
IC Wall
- 19 Aug, Hot salty boobies every night ... since mia's nipple piercings were done ;)
- 2 Aug, QOTD: "It would save so much time if predictive text could be made 100% accurate!"

Projects
(more projects in my Bio)

O&P
- A new view of D/s & M/s
Bridgewood
- 19 acres of woodland, weblog posts, pictures
Ownership Flag
- Flag and icons for owners and possessions
BDSM Book News
- Weekly Top 100 bestseller list and news
Enslavement
- Writing on IE, TPE & M/s

Scold's Bridles

The Scold's Bridle or Branks was a relatively common feature of town and village justice in the 17th and 18th centuries, especially in the English midlands, the north and Scotland. Its judicial use was not aimed at nagging wives, as the name would suggest, but at gossips and spreaders of slander. It was also used when women broke the law with their mouths in other ways, such as preaching illegal religious ideas or disturbing the peace with drunken singing and shouting.

In April 2008, I made a day trip taking in four scold's bridles in Cheshire. All this was partly inspired by buying a KUB Head Cage.

Scold's Bridle sketchScold's Bridle sketch
This sketch of a bridle shows the way they were used. The nose arch permits a tight fit across the mouth to insert the tongue depressor, and the attached chain means the woman can be led along or fastened to a wall for public ridicule.

Scold's Bridle from The Tower of LondonScold's Bridle from The Tower of London
Many scold's bridles have survived in museums around the country. The all share the same components, as shown by this example from The Tower of London: metal straps around and over the head, a tongue depressor, and some way of locking the device on. Due to variation in women's head size and the inflexibility of iron restraints, they normally include some way of adjusting the fit.

Farnworth Scold's BridleFarnworth Scold's Bridle
In the Warrington Museum, a Scold's Bridle from the village of Farnworth to the west of the town. [more...]

Stockport scold's bridleStockport scold's bridle
With a spiked tongue depressor and the remnants of a leather leash attached to the chain. [more...]

Macclesfield scold's bridleMacclesfield scold's bridle
In the Macclesfield Museum in West Park, which also has an iron girdle with a Darby handcuff on each side. [more...]

Congleton Scold's BridleCongleton Scold's Bridle
One of two Scold's Bridles on display in the Congleton Museum (the other is a modern replica?) [more...]

Lancaster Castle scold's bridleLancaster Castle scold's bridle
In the Hadrian Tower of Lancaster Castle and described in a weblog post.

Museums displaying bridles

(Please check with the museum before making a journey!)

Nottingham Galleries of Justice: verified April 2007

Warrington Museum and Art Gallery: verified April 2008

Congleton Museum: verified April 2008

West Park Museum, Macclesfield: verified April 2008

Staircase House museum, Stockport: verified April 2008

Lancaster Castle contains a scold's bridle which can be viewed as part of the guided tour (it's still a working court house and prison, so access is by only by the tour): verified July 2008

Walton-on-Thames parish church contains a reproduction of what was the oldest surviving bridle, from 1633 (but stolen in 1965.)

Worcester Guild Hall

 
 
©1997-2010 House of Tanos