Scold's bridle

21 May 2025

Used in English towns and cities as early as 1574, scold’s bridles were employed to discourage individuals, usually women, who were judged to have spoken rebelliously, inappropriately or out of turn. Also known as a brank’s, or witch’s bridle, the grisly object has gone on show in the museum’s Leeds Story gallery as a sad reminder of a less enlightened age, having been originally collected by Morley historian Norrison Scatcherd.

Scold's bridle: Used in English towns and cities as early as 1574, scold’s bridles were employed to discourage individuals, usually women, who were judged to have spoken rebelliously, inappropriately or out of turn.

Also known as a brank’s, or witch’s bridle, the grisly object has gone on show in the museum’s Leeds Story gallery as a sad reminder of a less enlightened age, having been originally collected by Morley historian Norrison Scatcherd.

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