164 – Neck Shackle

Physical description:

An iron neck shackle, constructed simply from metal rods. Two rods have been bent in a forge to form loops which join them together in a kind of hinge, and wider loops at the other end which would have been joined to a chain once the shackle was around the prisoner's neck.

Museum classification:

Persecution

Size:

60 x 150 x 190

Information:

Neck Shackle: Would be attached by a length of chain to a wall so that the prisoner had to remain standing. Original text by Cecil Williamson: "In the past there was no question of locking one up in a clean centrally heated cell, with a bed upon which one can recline as and when one pleases. Oh no, in the past you came to a cold stone walled and floored cell - a neck shackle such as this was clapped around your neck attached to a length of chain strongly fixed to the wall and you could count yourself lucky if you could manage to squat or sit upon the damp stone floor. More often than not one had to sleep standing up."

Resource:

Object

Materials:

Iron

Copyright ownership:

Copyright to The Museum of Witchcraft Ltd.

Neck Shackle: Would be attached by a length of chain to a wall so that the prisoner had to remain standing. Original text by Cecil Williamson: "In the past there was no question of locking one up in a clean centrally heated cell, with a bed upon which one can recline as and when one pleases. Oh no, in the past you came to a cold stone walled and floored cell - a neck shackle such as this was clapped around your neck attached to a length of chain strongly fixed to the wall and you could count yourself lucky if you could manage to squat or sit upon the damp stone floor. More often than not one had to sleep standing up."