Elizabethan Era Pillory

Referenced in Shakespeare's King Lear (1606), the pillory was used for punishment by public humiliation, which often leads to further physical abuse. The pillory consisted of wooden boards with holes through which the head and hands were placed. The boards were then locked together to restrain the captive. They were then placed on a platform to increase public visibility.

Those gathering to witness the captive's punishment often actively participated in making the punishment as unpleasant as possible; often taunting, teasing, throwing rotten food, dead animals, and even excrements.

In protestant countries like England, the pillory was a major part of church punishment; the delinquent first served the ecclesiastical punishment on the pillory bench in the church and were then handed over to the authorities for further public humiliation.

• 4x 2x4'' piece of lumber cut to 4 1/2' length.
• 2x 3 ply plywood cut to 10"x37" dimensions.
• 1x 3 ply plywood cut to 41 3/4"x20" dimensions.
• 12x 4" nails.(may vary)
• 10x short tacking nails. (may vary)
• 2x small hasp with hook.

Note: This project is great for repurposing any wood you may have lying around!

TOOLS

• Handsaw
• Hacksaw (optional)
• Claw hammer
• High grit sandpaper (5000+ grit)
• Right angle tool.
• 2 iron C-clamps
• Measuring tape
• Pencil
• A circular object with a circumference resembling that of your wrist.
• A circular with a circumference resembling that of your neck.

Mark all dimensions indicated in the materials list, making sure to use the right angle tool to ensure you have proper 90° angles and straight lines. You can then cut all materials using the handsaw and/or hacksaw.

Place both long edges of the 10"x37" plywood pieces together. In these pieces, you will be cutting the holes where the delinquent will place their hands and head.

First, mark the long edges you've placed together at 9 1/4", 18 1/2", and 27 3/4" from either the right or left edge. Then, use these marks as references when placing the circular objects and tracing their circumference. Place the centre of the object directly on your mark. Use the 9 1/4" and 27 3/4" for the hands and the 18 1/2" mark for the neck.

Using the handsaw and/or hacksaw, cut out the hole for the head following the lines traced in step 2, and cut only the bottom half of the outline for the wrists. When all the cutting is finished, sand all the sharp edges.

Starting from the same end on each 2"x4" piece of lumber, measure 35" and mark all the way across the piece. The bottom of the pillory will be the end from which you measure these lines.

Using the lines as a reference, place the bottom piece of the headpiece (the one with all three half-circles) on two of the 2"x4" pieces (one at each end). The bottom edge should be level to the 35" line you've just marked. Then, place a second 2"x4" piece over the headpiece once again making sure that the 35" line is level with its bottom edge. Secure these three pieces with an iron C-clamp to ensure that they do not move while being nailed together.

Use 4 4" nails to secure the three pieces together, placing two at each end. You will need to hammer the nails in at an angle so that they do not protrude from the other side of the pieces.

In the end, the headpiece should be "sandwiched" between the two 2"x4" pieces.

Once this is finished, you can remove the clamps.

Slide the second headpiece into position between the two 2"x4" pieces so that the hole for the neck is properly aligned. Then, at 2" from the outside secure the hasp and hook using small tacking nails. The hook should be on the lower headpiece with the hinge sitting right at the edge where it meets the upper headpiece.

Note: When securing the staple (the loop in which the hook slides to secure the mechanism), make sure that it is perfectly positioned where the hook can slide in with ease.

On a flat surface, flip the headpiece-post ensemble upside down so that the bottom of the posts are facing upwards. Ensuring it is well centred, place the base (41 3/4"x20" plywood) over the posts, then secure it with nails. Hammer the nails through the plywood, directly down into the posts. Use two nails for every 2"x4" post.

Flip the now fully assembled pillory upright. Should any edges still feel rough, sand them down until smooth with high grit sandpaper.