The Armour Archive

Hi, I'm trying to find some info on the construction of pillories and stocks. Im interested in making a transportable head and hands pillarie, yoke pillaries and shrews fiddles. I am especially interested in the locking mechanisms for keeping them shut and also the hinges. It looks like the shrews fiddle has an entirely different locking system to other stocks - but I havent worked out how it works. Has anyone made them? I'm interested in making a pillorie that breaks down somehow for transportation purposes. I know I can make something either way but building suggestions are most welcome.

A visit to the Medieval Criminal Justice Museum in Rothenburg ODT seems to be in your future to see some originals

Baring that the museum does have a book "Criminal Justice Through the Ages" with pictures of some of their displays.

abebooks.com lists about 20 copies at $10 or less!

A good local smith should be able to make the hasps and hinges for you if you show them a picture.

Thomas