Sotonopedia

The town ducking or cucking stool was situated alongside the town ditch on the east side of the Bargate. It was used for ducking “scolding women” or “evil livinge women” in the ditch. Before the 17th century it was a fixture there, but in 1604 the Court Leet recommended that a portable ducking stool be made to be carried “from dore to dore as the scoldes shall inhabit so that they may receave punishment by them for the daylie misdemeanours and scoldings as is fitting for them”. Passers-by would then throw mud and refuse at the women.

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