Friday 11th January, 2008

In medieval times, minor misdemeanours were punished by placing offenders in the stocks. This was a humiliating experience for the people concerned. They were subject to the vagaries of the weather as well as verbal and physical abuse. It was common to throw rotten vegetables and fruit at the unfortunate wrongdoers and even physically assault them.

In some instances, (not necessarily in Wigan) miscreants were forced to sit with the naked soles of their feet facing their tormentors. These were easy and tender targets for abuse of various kinds, including roasting.

Stocks were usually erected in a public place. In Wigan they were outside the Moot Hall, just off Market Square. Standish stocks were outside the church, between the market cross and the well. Other stocks that I know of in the Wigan area were on the Pole Hillock at Lamberhead Green, and at Dover, Abram. There were probably several more.

Abram Township papers contain the cost of making a pair of stocks in 1766:

"October 6th 1766
To making a peror of stocks to stand at Dover and setting stubs? and a seat to sitt on, 50 pounds 7 shillings and 6 pence."

50 pounds 7 shillings and sixpence seems to be a lot of money for the manufacture of a pair of stocks. Perhaps they were quite elaborate.

Petty crimes in Wigan were tried in the Court Leet which was situated in the Moot Hall. In Standish the Manor Court stood a short distance from the market square where the stocks were situated.

Fortunately, the Calendar of Wigan Borough Court Leet Rolls are still in existence. They give a fascinating insight into how the stocks were used in 17th century Wigan.

On Roll 5 of the Court Leet Records (1841, 1842), there are eight instances where men were sentenced to a spell in the stocks. Three were convicted of assault. Two of them received two hours of punishment, the other four. He was punished more, presumably, because he assaulted an alderman.

Assault seems to have been a lesser crime than abusing an alderman or slandering the mayor. These "crimes" warranted four hours and six hours respectively.

Thomas Laithwaite Taylor was sentenced to two hours for "his abuse and filthie fowle words". Poor William Wood decided to "beat a drum twixt twelve and one a clock in the night tyme" and was forced to sit in the stocks for six hours.

William Never received four hours punishment for "taking thornes (probably hawthorn bushes) from the hedge between the lands of Ralph Foster and William Marsh". Whether this was a theft or simply a mischievous act is not indicated.

The use of stocks for punishment died out in the middle of the 19th century. The last recorded use was at Adpar, west Wales, in 1872.

The following are quotes from Roll 5 of the Calendar of Wigan Borough Court Leet Rolls.

"Gilbert Hoghton and Ralph Baron assault. Ralph Baron to sit 2 hours in the stocks."

"Henry Mason and Robert Molyneux, assault. Robert Molyneux to sit 2 hours in the stocks."

"Wee present William Wood of Wigan Naylor for beatinge a drum twixt twelve and one a Clock in the night tyme to the disturbance and terror of his majesties Leige people He was to sit 6 hours in the stocks in the Market place."

"Wee doe present Thomas Laithwaite Taylor for his abuse in filthie fowle words" against Geoffrey Moulding. He was to sit 2 hours in the stocks in the Hale."

"Thurban Crosse labourer assaulted and abused William Forth alderman. He was to sit 4 hours in the stocks in the Market place."

"Thomas Shawe slandered John Bullocke, mayor of the town. He was to sit for 6 hours in the stocks."

"James Deane labourer presented for abusing James Molyneux Alderman - 4 hours in the stocks at the Market Cross."

"William Never presented for taking thornes from the hedge between the lands of Ralph Foster and William Marsh. 4 hours in the stocks in the Moot hall."