Two English towns have old stocks surviving which have FIVE holes placed in a horizontal line. Normally a victim would be placed in a sitting position and their feet would be locked in to two holes, so they could be shamed and taunted for their crime. How would these stocks with five holes have been used?

Question

Two English towns have old stocks surviving which have FIVE holes placed in a horizontal line. Normally a victim would be placed in a sitting position and their feet would be locked in to two holes, so they could be shamed and taunted for their crime. How would these stocks with five holes have been used?

Question #141521. Asked by davejacobs.
Last updated Feb 17 2017.
Originally posted Sep 17 2015 5:20 AM.

markswood

Answer has 2 votes

markswood

17 year member
578 replies avatar

Answer has 2 votes.

You are referring to Woodstock in Oxfordshire and Oakham in Rutland.
See image here:

http://www.visitwoodstock.co.uk/interest/local/stocks

The purpose of five holes seems to be a mystery, usually they are in pairs (2, 4, 6) for bipedal persons. I cannot locate any historical reason or even hypothesis for it.

discover-rutland.co.uk/xsdbimgs/PDF's/OakhamHeritageTrail.pdf no longer exists

Response last updated by gtho4 on Feb 17 2017.
Sep 17 2015, 8:57 AM

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