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sirguym -> RE: Punishment in history (4/9/2008 1:23:54 PM)
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Bedlam was formally called The Bethlehem Hospital for the Insane, then later became the site of The Northampton Institute, then the City Polytechnic, then The City University, London, where I did my degree, back a few decades ago .. the coincidence used to amuse me.
I like to incorporate all these customes into life at the Tawsingham adult historical role-play community that I create from time to time; though in a gender-neutral way, naturally in these times!
I have a puillory, set of stocks and whipping post to set up on the village green there, and authentic copy (aside from the C16 Posidrive screws used by the makers so I did not sell it as an antique) set of fingestocks, and friends have made a scolds bridle too.
The next outing for these will probably be the World Human-pony-play Championships I am organising June 20-23 in the central midlands UK ..
Many of the punishments were closely involved with religion; e.g. the jougs (wristcuffs) outside the church door for any caught not going to church, so everyone could jeer at them as they left, the repentance stool in the church where, eg an unwed mum-to-be had to sit in front of the congregation whilst the vicar would speak his sermon on the results of vice .. when sermons lasted hours, to the extent some took chamber-pots, churches were freezing and the girl would only be wearing a shift (long shirt-like undergarment) that could be pretty nasty ..
quote:
ORIGINAL: colouredin
Also for headaches, Insane people were also often chained up and in Bedlam 'middle class sane folks' paid to laugh at them, then it began to change when more understanding was developed about the nature of the mind, around the same time that punishment changed. Obviously now we see it as an illness not something to laugh at, but it does go hand in hand with the public nature of humilation.
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