🕯️🔒 The Branks (Scold’s Bridle) was a cruel punishment used in England and Scotland (16th–18th century) to silence outspoken women. A metal cage locked over the head, it forced an iron plate onto the tongue, making speech painful or impossible 😶‍🌫️⚙️. Women were paraded publicly to shame and control them, often accused of gossiping or defying authority 👥⚖️. A dark reminder of how misogyny and public humiliation were enforced by law in medieval society 📜💔. #Cruel #history #misogyny #women

wych elm: Scold’s Bridle – video of the day

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A scold’s bridle, sometimes called a witch’s bridle, a gossip’s bridle, a brank’s bridle, or simply branks, was an instrument of punishment, as a form of public humiliation. It was an iron muzzle in an iron framework that enclosed the head Come see and learn more about our authentic scold’s bridle on display in the museum. Open today from 10-6 #scoldsbridle #punishment #darkhistory #truecrime #medieval #torture | Salem Museum of Torture

Scold's Bridle Mask which partially covers face | Science Museum Group Collection