Altavista in Campbell County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Stocks & Pillories

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, May 9, 2026

1. Stocks & Pillories Marker

Inscription. Villages and small towns would rarely have a jail. Someone arrested for a serious crime would be held in the stocks or pillory for secure confinement. They would remain there until they could be brought to trial, either to a court in a large town or by a visiting judge.

The Stocks
The stocks confined the victim's ankles forcing them to sit in that position. More elaborate variations included additional holes to confine the victim's hands.

The Pillories
The pillory is a set of stocks with three holes, one in the center for the neck and smaller holes on each side for the wrists. These stocks forced the occupant to stand with their head and hands thus confined. Stocks and pillories were usually either for one or two people, although some were built to accommodate more.

Erected by Avoca Museum.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Law Enforcement.

Location. 37° 7.831′ N, 79° 16.224′ W. Marker is in Altavista, Virginia, in Campbell County. It can be reached from Main Street. The Marker is located on the grounds of the Avoca Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1514 Main Street, Altavista VA 24517, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Piedmont

and in Central Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Fauntleroy Home Destroyed and Rebuilt (here, next to this marker); These millstones (here, next to this marker); Privy (Latin for private) (a few steps from this marker); Victorian Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); Milk House (within shouting distance of this marker); The John E. Sue M. Jackson Visitor's Center (within shouting distance of this marker); Hogsheads, Ward's Road, and Batteaux (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Smoke House (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Altavista.

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, May 9, 2026

2. Stocks & Pillories Marker

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, May 9, 2026

3. Stocks & Pillories Marker

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, May 9, 2026

4. Stocks & Pillories Marker

Stocks & Pillories image. Click for full size.

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, May 9, 2026

5. Stocks & Pillories

Adjacent to the Marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 11, 2026, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia. This page has been viewed 9 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 11, 2026, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.