Today's article features another of the 1920's-era Kimberley British School history posters that have recently been re-discovered. The Headmaster at the long-gone British School on Newdigate Lane (currently the site of Kimberley's parish hall) was Mr John Hobbs. He did a series of hand-written posters about Kimberley's history for his school children to learn from. They offer today's generation a fascinating lost look into the village's past life. This poster tells us about Kimberley's ancient village stocks...
Recalcitrant schoolboys
The poster tells us that badly behaved schoolboys were locked up in the stocks but whether than is Mr Hobbs little joke is left for you to decide... "Many cases of imprisonment in stocks are mentioned in our local records. Incredible though it may seem there are persons living in Kimberley to-day who have been in the stocks. As an aid to discipline in the early sixties recalcitrant schoolboys were punished by being placed in stocks which stood in a corner of the old British School which before the coming of the railway occupied a site on Barnes' Hill."
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| 1835 Sanderson map of Kimberley before the railways |
Where were the stocks located?
It's not entirely clear where the village stocks were located. The poster says in the 1860's they "stood in a corner of the old British School." The very first British School in Kimberley was built around 1840 opposite Orchard Street on Main Street not far from the bottom of James Street. It was demolished c.1875 to make way for the new approach road up to the Great Northern Railway station (today's Station Road) and rebuilt around the corner on Newdigate Lane. Kimberley historian Roy Plumb tells us that he was always lead to believe they were on James Street... "between no.4 and no.6 (Plumbs shop)."
The poster also confusingly says they.. "stood in the old part of Kimberley facing James Lane and were in use at the beginning of the last century..." The old part of Kimberley is actually the top of James Street going along towards Manor Farm.
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| Bulwell's stocks (or pillory) have been reinstated. Should Kimberley do the same? |
Drunkards and foul-mouthed abusers
The poster goes on to explain who was punished and who was in charge of the stocks...
"Imprisonment in the stocks was a frequent form of punishment for drunkards, foul-mouthed abusers and persons guilty of petty crimes. The punishment was often administered on Sunday; the term of imprisonment was usually for a few hours only and was a less expensive method than imprisonment. The culprit sat on a wooden bench with his ankles and sometimes his wrists or even his neck thrust through holes in movable boards. The Parish Constable, who kept guard, was selected by the Easter Vestry meeting, and his appointment was confirmed by the justices. In case of an attempt being made to rescue the prisoner, the constable could summon the help of the petty constables, who were required to act when called upon. As a symbol of their authority they possessed a staff painted and engraved with a crown."
Watnall Hall and the Justice's Room
One of the local justices was Colonel Rolleston from Watnall Hall. Indeed the hall contained a room called the Justice's Room where petty local crimes were tried...
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| The Justice's Room at Watnall Hall Source - Historic England survey 1955 |
Origin of the village stocks
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| Stocks with whipping post |
According to Encyclopædia Britannica, village stocks date from Anglo-Saxon times, roughly the 5th century to 1066 AD...
"That stocks were used by the Anglo-Saxons is proved by their often figuring in drawings of the time (see Harleian MSS. No. 65). The second Statute of Labourers (1350) ordered the punishment for unruly artisans. It further enjoined that stocks (ceppes) should be made in every town between the passing of the act and the following Pentecost. The act appears to have been ill observed, for in 1376 the Commons prayed Edward III. that stocks should be set up in every village."
Headmaster Hobbs's poster tells us about the origin of our local stocks...
"In the 17th century many parishes in Nottinghamshire had neglected this duty. In the Notts County Records of the 11th of January 1656, we note that owing to the increase of crime it was enacted that "the raising of a stocke in every parish be putt into execution"
The Encyclopædia Britannica also tells us when use of the stocks in general came to an end...
"Though never expressly abolished, the punishment of the stocks began to die out in England during the early part of the 19th century, though there is a recorded case of its use so late as 1865 at Rugby. In many of the villages in the country may still be seen well-preserved examples of stocks, in some cases with whipping posts attached."
Sources and Notes
Headmaster Hobb's poster; Historic England survey of Watnall Hall 1955; Encyclopedia Britannica.
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