161 – Scold's Bridle

Physical description:

Iron Scold's Bridle with mouthpiece and leather neck strap.

Museum classification:

Persecution

Size:

300 x 220 x 220 mm

Information:

Scold's or Witch's Bridle: These brutal devices were really used to extract confessions from women. In 1591 Agnes Sampson of Berwick, Scotland 'was pinned to the wall of her cell by an iron witch's bridle, which had four sharp prongs that were forced into her mouth, against her tongue and cheeks'' Agnes eventually confessed to witchcraft and was strangled and burned. Original text by Cecil Williamson: 'Scolds' bridles such as this were used on witches when they were paraded, stripped naked to the waist and whipped through the town. The purpose of the bridle was to prevent the witch shouting and cursing the town or persons in authority.'

Resource:

Object

Materials:

Iron

Copyright ownership:

Copyright to TREETRUNK Ltd.

Scold's or Witch's Bridle: These brutal devices were really used to extract confessions from women. In 1591 Agnes Sampson of Berwick, Scotland 'was pinned to the wall of her cell by an iron witch's bridle, which had four sharp prongs that were forced into her mouth, against her tongue and cheeks'' Agnes eventually confessed to witchcraft and was strangled and burned. Original text by Cecil Williamson: 'Scolds' bridles such as this were used on witches when they were paraded, stripped naked to the waist and whipped through the town. The purpose of the bridle was to prevent the witch shouting and cursing the town or persons in authority.'