Lockup, South Street, Gillingham, Dorset
This small lockup dates from the early 19th century. These were common features of small towns and were used for locking up petty criminals and drunks. They could also be used to hold people waiting to be tried by a travelling judge. They were often built as part of a complex including the village pound, stocks and pillory. They date back to around the 1560s. Generally the lockup was used by the parish constable who had the unpaid job of keeping law and order in his own parish. Read official list description.
