Crime and Punishment

Most punishments in the Leet court involved the imposition of a fine. It was only the implements of corporal punishments that were ever specifically mentioned in the records. Some rulings passed the punishment through to the Mayor so, perhaps, it was he who was responsible for corporal punishment.


October 1662

12. That there is neither Pillory nor Tumbrell within this Towne and that the now Bailifes shall erect and make the same according to the statute in that case made & pvided.

According to Hewitson [1] the pillory was originally situated at the East end of Town but then moved to the North side of the Market place. It was last used on the 11th January, 1816 when a man accused of keeping a disreputable house in Back lane was punished in this way. Prior to this the pillory hadn't been used in 40 years. After this the pillory was abandoned for all crimes other than perjury. In 1837, after an act of Parliament, it was completely done away with.

October 1665

9. That there ought to be a pillory and tumbrell wthin this towne, and, there being neither, wee prsent therefore the prsent Balives doe cause both errected and set upp over the watring poole at the east end of this towne, or in some other convenient place, before ye xth of March next, otherways the fine of xxs. to be imposed upon them if in case they doe neglect ye doeing thereof.

April 1666

76. By the ninth prsentmt of ye last Jury of ye Leete yt A pillory & tumbrell should have been Erected & made by ye now Balives before ye 10th March last and find ye said Balives to have forfeited xxs.

October 1726

1. The Bayliffs of this Corporacon for not repairing the Gibbet and Fryergate Barrs

April 1727

1. The Bayliffes of the Corporacon for neglecting to repair the Gibbet and Fryergate Barrs

April 1656

35. Those persons hereunder named are Comon and ordinary hedge Breakers, and therefore for this offence to bee punished at Mr. Major's pleasure, either by stokes or ye Rouges Poste, and, if that will not serve turne, that Mr. Major will be pleased [to order] some more seveare Course for punishment as hee may conceive meete, vidz. :- George Morrys Children, George Werdens wife and Children, ould Myres wife, ould Sheppards wife, James Wasle, George Woods servants and prentices, Thomas Patricke sonne and daughter, John Weengreene Children, Roger Moss Children.

Hewitson - The rogues whipping post was not far from the north-west corner of the Market Place, and near the old fish stones which were removed in 1853. Long before that date, however, the post was done away with; but flogging was continued at the same spot — on the triangle plan — 'till about 1830. Part of the punishment of numerous male prisoners consisted of flogging. They were brought to the place referred to from the House of Correction or the lock-up (which appears to have been primarily in the Town Hall, and afterwards for several years in Turk's Head yard, Church street), then fastened to the triangle, whipped with a cat-o'-nine-tails, and immediately afterwards taken to one of the adjacent public-houses in New-street, on the north side of the Market Place, where their lacerated backs were washed with rum or salt and water. [The buildings in New-street, along with other property on the same side of the Market Place, were pulled down in 1894.] The last woman publicly flogged in Preston was Christina Fellowes. She was fastened to a cart's-tail and flogged, on her bare back, at oertain street corners. This was in 1786.

May 1690

6. Ye Baliffes for Want of a pair of Stocks and not repareing the ffishstones and amerce them in 10s if not done at or before the 12th of August next.

Hewitson says - The stocks were in the Parish Churchyard, at the upper south-west corner, and they were kept in use, or remained there until about 1825. The severest sue of the stocks seems to have been in the case of persons disobeying or abusing any public officer in the execution of their duties, or reviling of rebuking the same for or in respect thereto.
Every person so offending had, according to an order made at the Guild of 1562 and "stablisshed forever" by the Mayor, Stewards and Alderman, to be "punished in the stockes" for three days, kept on bread and water only, and fined 6s 8d.

October 1695

Wee present the Bayliffs of this Town that they forthwith repair the stocks pillary and Cucking stoole, As alsoe that they cause the Cauls att the Marsh to bee sufficiently repaired before Midsomer next on pain of five pounds.

According to a lecture given by T. Harrison Myres the cucking stoole was also called a or trebucket. He stated that there were two stools in Preston; one close to East View, the other (probably) close to the Public Hall (Corn exchange).

October 1730

6. The Bayliffes for not Erecting a Sufficient pair of Stocks in Market place in Preston if not done in then days we amerce them ten shillings.