The Story of Baildon - JLP

Extracts from The Story of Baildon by John La Page used as a source for the Wiki

THE STOCKS, CROSS AND FOUNTAIN

Page 49

We do not know when the first stocks were erected in England or who invented them. We know that they were used by the Anglo-Saxons and remained during succeeding centuries. In the 14th century stocks came into prominence because of the introduction into Parliament of the "Statute of Labourers", following the labour troubles brought about by the Black Death. Amongst the provisions of this Act was one which enjoined that stocks should be erected in every town between the passing of the Act and the following Pentecost. This does not seem to have been carried out to the letter, as in 1376 the Commons asked Edward III to see that these stocks were duly erected. They were frequently placed close to the churchyard and often faced the principal inn. If there was a market cross, the bottom step was generally utilised as a seat for the offender. The stocks themselves often belonged to the Lord of the Manor.

Sometimes to the stocks was added a contrivance for securing the hands. This was often a chain fastened to the top bar. Many villages and towns provided other means of detention and correction such as the pillory, ducking stool, scolds bridle and pillory. So far as we know none of these appeared in Baildon.

Stocks as a means of punishment spread in later centuries to the United States and they were used extensively there in the 18th century. In the Southern States they were utilised for punishing slaves.

In England the punishment of the stocks began to die out during the 18th century and the last recorded occasion of their use is in Rugby during 1865. Since, however, the Baildon stocks had been utilised within the memory of an exceptionally old lady who died in recent years, they must have been in use only a few years previous to this date. The last remembered Baildon case was that of a man who for some offence was condemned to sit in the stocks during the month of November from IO a.m. to 6 pm. So that the school children might profit by such a demonstration of justice, they were allowed out of school for the afternoon. As the offender had to sit on the cold base of the stone pillar in the Towngate, sympathetic Baildoners tried very hard to push something under him. Raphael Ambler slipped his cap under the culprit, but the village constable was vigilant and made him take it back again. Ultimately Margaret Raistrick came along with her hands under her apron and stood near the stocks. She had a cup with a little whisky in it and when the constable turned his head for a few moments she passed it to the man who quickly gulped it down. The constable never saw the action.

Writing in 1904 the late Wm. Scruton said that the name of the last man to be placed in the stocks was then in dispute. Some thought it was a coal hawker from Wibsey, but others stated that it was a Shipley carter named Throup Lilley who lived in Piccadilly and was reported to have ill-treated a horse. Dr. Steel was said to have been ultimately responsible for having him released.

In 1862 Baildon had the choice of a gift of a carillon of bells for the church, or a drinking fountain for the Towngate, which Mr. Richard Paul Amphlett and his wife desired to give in memory of Mrs. Amphlett’s mother who was one of the Holdens of Baildon. A drinking fountain was chosen but in order that it might be erected, the Local Board pulled up the stocks and sent them as scrap stone to build the reservoir on the moor. The side pillars were not broken up, and when in 1904 a decision was made to restore them to the Towngate, Mr. John Wilks was able to remember his father telling him just where they had been buried. Mr. William Scruton and others proceeded to the south—west corner of the lower reservoir with Mr. Wilks and soon the old stocks were rediscovered and returned to the Towngate. Since 1904, however, much damage has been done to the stocks by heavy traffic, and although frequently repaired, it is to be feared that little of the original stone remains.

A stone pillar which may possibly have been a medieval cross before the Reformation, stands in the Towngate, but there is no reliable history connected with it. During last century it was utilised for holding various types of illumination including a gas lamp of heavy scroll work. Later it bore a sign with an indication of the way to Baildon station. The square stone head is modern.

There was an attempt to remove Richard Paul Amphlett’s drinking fountain in 1925 when the Council decided that it stood in the way of the buses which were making the Towngate their terminus and turning base. Having heard it maligned and described as potted meat for several years, Baildoners now rose in defence of their fountain and by force majeure prevented the contractor's workmen from carrying out their demolition orders. In view of the hostile attitude of residents, the Council ultimately rescinded their orders which were that the fountain was to be removed to the left-hand side of the moor road almost opposite the Golf House.

The base of the fountain used to be larger than it is at present. At the corners there were dressed stone pillars which were extensively utilised for leap—frog by the children. Some of these stone pillars may yet be seen in a garden off Manor Fold. Between the pillars iron chains were suspended, but these proved a source of danger to the children, so chains and pillars were removed.