Ducking Stool Collection

The Ducking Stool, Fordwich Fair. Fordwich, Kent. 15th August 1929

Kirkleatham agricultural Show. Kerry Jones of Loftus Young Farmers on the ducking stool. 4th August 1991

Ducking-Stool, Leominster (engraving)
1609442 Ducking-Stool, Leominster (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Ducking-Stool, Leominster)

Ducking Stool, Leominster (colour photo)
3094728 Ducking Stool, Leominster (colour photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Ducking Stool, Leominster)

Ducking Stool. Preserved at Ipswich (engraving)
663416 Ducking Stool. Preserved at Ipswich (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Ducking Stool. Preserved at Ipswich)

The Ducking-Stool for Scolds, 17th Century (engraving)
670916 The Ducking-Stool for Scolds, 17th Century (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Ducking-Stool for Scolds, 17th Century)

Ducking Stool, as practised at Broadwater, near Leominster (engraving)
3629747 Ducking Stool, as practised at Broadwater, near Leominster (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Ducking Stool, as practised at Broadwater)

Ducking a Scold, [April 12, 1803], reissued April 12, 1812

Ducking a Scold, April 12, 1803. April 12, 1803. Creator: Thomas Rowlandson
Ducking a Scold, April 12, 1803

Ducking stool punishment for a Jamestown woman
Jamestown woman led to the ducking stool for public humiliation, 1600s. Hand-colored halftone reproduction of a 19th-century illustration

COLONIAL DUCKING STOOL. Punishment by the ducking stool in colonial America inflicted on a woman guilty of offence with the tongue. Engraving, 19th century

DUCKING STOOL CAGE. Medieval ducking stool cage. 19th century wood engraving

DUCKING STOOL. Medieval English ducking stool. 19th century line engraving

DUCKING STOOL, 17th C. The village gossip in a colonial American town punished for her sins by the ducking stool. American engraving, 19th century

DUCKING STOOL. Wood engraving, English, 19th century

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"The Ducking Stool: A Historical Glimpse into Public Shaming and Punishment" Step back in time to the Fordwich Fair in Kent on August 15th, 1929, where the infamous Ducking Stool took center stage. This peculiar contraption was not limited to one location or era; it made appearances at various events like the Kirkleatham Agricultural Show, as Kerry Jones of Loftus Young Farmers experienced firsthand. Engravings and photographs from Leominster showcase different versions of this punishment device. One engraving depicts a black-and-white scene while another presents a vivid color photo, both capturing the essence of this archaic practice. The Ipswich engraving showcases a preserved Ducking Stool that stands as a testament to its historical significance. Dating back to the 17th century, this tool was specifically designed for scolds - women who were deemed unruly or argumentative. Broadwater near Leominster implemented their own version of the ducking stool as depicted in yet another engraving. On April 12th, 1803, Thomas Rowlandson's illustrations shed light on an event where a Jamestown woman faced the consequences of her actions through ducking stool punishment. These images provide us with valuable insights into how society dealt with perceived misbehavior during that time period. The medieval ducking stool cage is captured in a wood engraving from the 19th century—a reminder of just how far we have come since then when it comes to justice and human rights. The Ducking Stool serves as more than just an artifact; it symbolizes our evolving understanding of punishment and public shaming throughout history. As we reflect upon these practices today, let us be grateful for progress made towards fairer systems that prioritize rehabilitation over humiliation.