Lewes in East Sussex, England, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)

Stocks

Photographed By Michael Herrick, September 12, 2018

1. Stocks Marker

Inscription. Stocks Minor criminals used to be punished by being put in the stocks. They sat on the bench with their legs held straight in front of them by the wooden beam, which was locked in place. Sitting in this position soon became very uncomfortable.

Even worse, people were allowed to throw rotten food and rubbish at them. In 1405 a law was passed that said that every town and village in England must have a set of stocks. The last recorded use of them was around 200 years ago.

These are a copy of the stocks from Little Horsted in East Sussex.

Tomatoes!
People often say that rotten tomatoes were thrown at people in the stocks. This can’t have been true in medieval times as tomatoes not brought to England until the late 16th century.

( photo caption )
This woodcut takes a rather light-hearted view of someone having to sit in the stocks. Perhaps the man with the beer is teasing the fiddler and is not going to let him drink it.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Law Enforcement. A significant historical year for this entry is 1405.

Location. 50° 52.369′ N, 0° 0.497′ E. Marker is in Lewes, England, in East Sussex. Marker can be reached from the intersection of High Street and

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Castle Gate, on the left when traveling east. Located in Lewes Castle. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lewes, England BN7 1XH, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Anchor (here, next to this marker); Barbican Gate (here, next to this marker); The Curtain Wall and Castle Moat (a few steps from this marker); Russian Cannon (a few steps from this marker); The Shell Keep and Angled Towers (a few steps from this marker); The Norman Gatehouse and the Barbican (a few steps from this marker); Brack Mount (within shouting distance of this marker); What Happened Where? (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lewes.

Also see . . .
1. Sussex Archaeological Society Lewes Castle & Museum. (Submitted on February 7, 2019, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
2. Lewes Castle on Wikipedia. (Submitted on February 7, 2019, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)

Photographed By Michael Herrick

2. Stocks Marker

Photographed By Michael Herrick, September 12, 2018

3. Stocks Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on January 27, 2022. It was originally submitted on February 7, 2019, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 125 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 7, 2019, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.