Hadrians tower

« Shire Hall | The Old Cells »

Please click on either of the links below to view the Tours in a new window:

To reach Hadrian's Tower, it is necessary to pass through the width of the Norman curtain wall which was rediscovered in 1890 during excavations when an old plan came to light indicating that there may be old cells beneath the more recent Georgian court rooms.

Objects within the room

The following objects are located in this room:

Scolds Bridle An unofficial form of social control, used exclusively on women at a time when the law did not recognise the individual rights of women. Made of metal and with a vicious bit that held down the tongue, women who had spead malicious gossip or nagged their husbands too much in public were often subjected to a few hours in the bridle. Later in the 17thc Quaker women were also forced to wear these in an attempt to prevent them voicing their beliefs in the public arena.
Roman Altar A Centurian's altar, discovered when the foundations for the Shire Hall were started in the late 18thc The altar is inscribed with the Centurian's name- Lucius Vibinius, and is dedicated to both the Roman god of war, Mars and a British god with the same attributes, Cocidius.
Lunatic Chair One of two such chairs presently housed in Hadrian's Tower. The chairs were used to restrain people incarcerated in the County Lunatic Asylum when it was housed in the castle. The patient could be secured by means of five straps which were designed to tighten when the occupant struggled against them.