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WHIPPING POSTS, STOCKS, CROSSES & BARRELS

Many villages in England still have ancient whipping posts and stocks. They were originally installed in C14 and were once used for public punishment and humiliation. The stocks were used for petty crimes like blasphemy and swearing, while more serious crimes, like not attending church or theft, were more often punished with a public whipping at the pillory post. 

With the stocks, the accused would have their hands and head trapped between two boards for a set period of time, while the public was encouraged to abuse the prisoner further by beating them, throwing stones or fruit, or humiliating them by emptying chamber pots over their heads. This cruel tradition is thought to be the origin of the term ”laughing stock.”

A Paula Russell illustration from the Februs Magazine series ‘Moments in CP History’. It is the story of Jeanne de la Motte as the last woman ever to be publicly flogged in France:

‘Struggling and crying the beautiful, dark haired young Comtesse found herself dragged forcibly from the prison and onto the huge concourse on which the scaffold was erected. She made desperate pleas for mercy before being dragged up the steps, tied to the whipping post and completely stripped before being soundly whipped on her back and buttocks.’

A rather atmospheric modern-day version of whipping posts with the lady strung between two pillars both by the arms and legs in a rather grand high-ceiling room awaiting the whip: 

Tall stocks can of course be used to spank a person’s bottom with their head and arms firmly held so that movement would be very restricted:

A collage from an ‘Elite Spanking’ video of a woman being strapped, held in a set of stocks, similar to those above:

Below is an illustration by Paula Russell , again from the Februs Magazine series ‘Moments in CP History’. It concerns a Hungarian princess, Princess Irene Batthyany in the mid-C19, being severely thrashed by some Russian soldiers who had invaded the country:

‘Despite her shrieks of protest, Princess Irene Batthyany was carried out of her palace by the officers and taken, kicking and screaming to the Pest market square where an enthusiastic mob soon gathered to witness Irene’s humiliation. The terrified Irene was put up onto a platform and her head and hands secured in a pillory reserved usually for the vagrants and prostitutes who were regularly punished in public. 

If her shame at such treatment was not enough, Irene was further mortified to see the Croat leader Jellacic, who she had oft derided, seated on the platform with a group of Croat officers all thirsting to witness her degradation. Cheered on by the mob, the Russian officers lifted Irene’s dress and petticoats, securing them to her shoulders, then pulled down her lace drawers exposing her naked bottom to the jeering mob. One of the Russians then removed his thick leather belt and proceeded to spank the bare bottom of the shrieking Princess before handing over to another soldier who continued the punishment. The punishment continued until all the officers had administered the belt to Irene’s by now scarlet and roasting bottom for some considerable time.

When Princess Irene Batthyany was shrieking in anguish, her bottom crimson and swollen with pain, the Russians relented and she was released.’

An ‘Elite Spanking’ film showing a woman being whipped secured to a wooden frame primarily for a back whipping:

More to come…