The Scold's Bridle

I've just read the astonishing fact that the use of a Scold's Bridle was not outlawed in Britain until 1967.

The Scold's Bridle was a punishment device, an iron mask made to be worn, usually, by women accused of being gossips, or of having committed some other transgressive behaviour - its intention was to both humilate and punish at the same time.

There's a fascinating short article about the Scold's Bridle in Dundee’s Albert Museum at https://www.scottishlegal.com/article/our-legal-heritage-the-branks-or-scold-s-bridle.

For more on the Scold's Bridle, see the following YouTube video from the Wellcome Collection:

Also available at https://youtu.be/T7lGsWO5R10

Chris

My next Scottish Research Online course starts March 11th 2019 - see www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Details of my genealogical research service are available at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. For my Scottish and Irish themed books, visit https://britishgenes.blogspot.com/p/my-books.html. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.