Village Lockup, Stamfordham, Northumberland
This village lockup was built in the early 19th century. Inside there are still chains attached to the walls. Before a national system of policing was set up many villages had their own lockup. They were used for locking up petty criminals, people who were drunk or people waiting to go to court. 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.
