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The Stocks at Havering-atte-Bower, Romford, London, England
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The Stocks at Havering-atte-Bower, Romford, London, England
The Stocks at Havering-atte-Bower, Romford, London, England Date: circa 1904
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 11589081
© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection
Bower Havering Humiliation Minor Offence Offenders Punished Punishment Romford Stocks
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This photograph depicts The Stocks at Havering-atte-Bower, a historic site located in Romford, London, England. The image, estimated to be taken around 1904, showcases a large, wooden structure with several stocks arranged in a semi-circle around a towering tree. The Stocks at Havering-atte-Bower served as a public space for the punishment and humiliation of minor offenders in the community. The stocks were a common form of correctional punishment during the medieval and early modern periods, used to discipline individuals who had committed relatively minor offenses such as petty theft, vagrancy, or disorderly conduct. The offender would be secured in the stocks, often with their hands and feet locked in place, for a set period of time, during which they would be subjected to public scorn and ridicule. The use of the stocks as a form of punishment declined in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as more humane and rehabilitative approaches to criminal justice emerged. Today, The Stocks at Havering-atte-Bower stand as a reminder of the historical significance of community-based punishment and the evolution of the criminal justice system. The tree in the background of the photograph adds an element of natural beauty and contrast to the otherwise stark and imposing image of the stocks. The scene is a poignant reminder of the complexities of human history, where punishment and public shaming were once accepted practices, but are now viewed with a more nuanced and compassionate perspective.
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