The opening of the new Hayling Stocks on 21^st June 2008

The legendary William Padwick was Lord of the Manor of Hayling in the ealy nineteenth century. He was constantly quarrelling with his neighbours and taking his tenants to law, and would have been dismayed at the trend during his times to discontinue the use of the stocks as a method of naming and shaming wrong doers.

We are pretending that Padwick has proposed a return to the punishment methods of the middle ages with the reintroduction of the island stocks to counter vandalism and petty crime - and with the enthusiastic support of the local population the proposal will soon become a reality!

This event has won the support of Tory MP and shadow cabinet minister, David Willetts, who will open this new attraction on Saturday 21^st June on the green at Eastoke Corner on the Hayling Seafront at 11.30 am.

The new Hayling Stocks are just one in a series of events and publications devised by the MTI heritage group Discover Hayling, to raise the historic profile of the island for visitors and locals alike. Chairman Robin Walton has commissioned construction of a replica set of stocks from local joiner/craftsman James Light and Southwick blacksmith Dave Cox. These are based upon the original Hayling stocks which are now in Havant Museum. When Hayling Councillor Andy Lenaghan  “test drove” a mock-up of this new tourist attraction in late May, he commented that he certainly wouldn’t want to be held in them for too long!

The event will be ably supported by the HIADS Players with Laurie and June Noble as Mr and Mrs William Padwick, who will arrive in their horsedrawn carriage. Proceedings will be announced by the Town Crier and the boys and girls of the Island Dance Fusion Group will entertain.

HISTORY NOTE
A law was passed in 1405 which required every town and village in the country to display a set of stocks prominently in a public place on the highway or village green. Stocks were commonly used for minor offences such as drunkeness, resisting arrest, drinking in church or for breaking the Sabbath day, and went out of general use by the middle of the 19^th century.

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