Ducking Stool - Ducking Stool Lane, Christchurch, Hampshire, UK - Punishment and Disciplinary Devices on Waymarking.com

The Ducking Stool was used from the 15th century up to the 19th century to duck people in the water whilst they were restrained in the stool. These were namely scolds and troublemakers sentenced by the Court Leet. The 'offender' was lowered and raised into and out of the water often resulting in fatal drowning. The stool is a symbol of ridicule, humiliation, torture and even death.

Located in a small lane named after the device this part of Christchurch takes you back to the days of old. The stool is positioned above the Mill Stream which is part of the River Avon and it has a plaque and inscription.

The inscription is hard to read but includes the following words:
'Of members ye longe is worst or .....an.....longe oft doeth ..... darest' There is also a date inscription '1886 - 1986'.

The plaque reads:
'This Ducking Stool was made and erected near its original position for the re-establishment of the ancient Court Leet at the time of the Christchurch Centennial Festival in June 1986.'

The long arm of the stool shows the effort involved to lever a person in and out of the water.

The last person punished on a Ducking Stool in England was Jenny Pipes in 1809. She came from Leominster and her crime was 'common scold'. She was taken through the town and jeered at before being ducked.

Commonly it was the people on the edge of society and who challenged the Christian Church who were considered punishable. These included "workers in magick, sorcerie, herbes and paganistic rites".

Type of Device: Ducking Stool What is the approximate age?: 01/01/1886 How do you rate this item?: Associated Website: [Web Link]

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Date Logged Log   05/14/2014 t.a.folk visited it 07/16/2006 run26.2 visited it

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