Let’s Have a Chat About the Scold's Bridle

History has a way of revealing some of the most bizarre and fascinating relics from the past. One such artifact is the Scold's Bridle, a device that seems like it came straight out of a twisted medieval comedy. But it was very real, and it sheds light on a time when women’s voices were brutally silenced – both literally and metaphorically.

 Now, I’d never kink shame someone, but this contraption is not what you think. Get your mind out of the gutter. Let’s set the record straight. Imagine a time when women were silenced, quite literally, by a peculiar form of punishment known as the Scold's Bridle. This contraption, also known as the "gossip's bridle" or "brank's bridle," was designed to humiliate and restrict those deemed too talkative or troublesome in the eyes of society. Oh, those Chatty Cathys!

Women who disrupted their neighbours' peace by loud argumentation, gossip, offensive speech, or physical altercation were referred to as "scolds" under the law. I think we call them Karens now?

Bridles were in fact illegal and could not be used to chastise people deemed to be scolds. Yet, during the 16th and 17th centuries, local magistrates in Scotland and England, used these devices. Methinks, the men used their positions of power to pout and act out? 

The scold's bridle was a component of a larger culture of fear of witches, prostitutes, "shrews," and other unorthodox women who didn't want to play the role of quiet, subservient wives.

The Scold's Bridle consisted of a metal mask that enclosed the wearer's head. It's said that some Scold's Bridles had added features: some, a small bell attached to the front. Not only did it silence the wearer, but it also called for more looks and shame. Others featured a cruel assortment of spikes and a protruding metal plate that rested on the tongue, making speech impossible and would cause the wearer’s tongue to be cut if they tried to speak. Wow, the sheer number of men I’d love to strap this to. I know, I know…it’s cruel…still though.

Wearing a Scold's Bridle was not only uncomfortable but also incredibly embarrassing. Picture the poor individual paraded through town squares, often attached to a post, with the bridle in place. It was the medieval equivalent of a public social media shaming.

At the dawn of the Victorian Era, however, this form of punishment started to fall out of fashion. A judge ordered an iron brank destroyed in 1821 as he, like other Victorians, increasingly saw them as old-fashioned and absurd. That said, the last recorded use of a Scold’s Bride took place 30 years later in 1856. Incredibly, the crime of being a 'scold' was not dropped from the statute books in Britain until 1967.

The Scold's Bridle is a peculiar piece of history that serves as a stark reminder of how society has evolved. While it may have been used as a means of control and humiliation in the past, we can't help but chuckle at the sheer absurdity of this invention. Thankfully, modern times have given us more humane methods of dealing with chatterboxes and troublemakers, proving that laughter is indeed the best way to overcome the strangest and most disturbing relics of the past.

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Hi, my name is Abby Wallingford. I’m currently in my second year in Professional Writing at Algonquin College. I have always been interested in reading and writing. Ever since I was young I have been coming up with ideas and writing them down, even making edits to books I would read in attempts to “make them better”. If I’m not dreaming up a new plot or world for a book, I’m dreaming of traveling to the historic places where my inspiration stems from. I’m fascinated with all things history and mythology and can’t wait to share these grim and grotesque stories of the past with you.

Killing Time with Medieval Torture

We love creative minds, and there are no minds as creative as medieval men looking to punish those they loathe; the innovative and intricate ideas they put into action are both horrifying and awe-inspiring. However, if there is one type of torture/execution that I find particularly fascinating, I’d say it is the artful practice of Scaphism. This technique dates to 550 to 330 BCE in the Achaemenid Persian Empire, and you can bet that whoever created this ritual was just as sweet as honey.

Scaphism is a type of execution made to maximize the pain and suffering of its victims and is said to have only been used on the most horrendous offenders. The practice uses what is described as two boats placed on top of each other, with areas for feet, hands, and head to dangle out. While those parts are exposed and the rest of the body is enclosed inside the boats, the real fun begins. Offenders are smeared in milk and honey and then force-fed obscene amounts until their bodies physically cannot handle it. What happens, you may ask, when you consume too much of these usually tasty and refreshing treats? Excretion! Lots and lots of it. But before anything can happen, they are pushed out onto a stale body of water and, for the most part, are left to their fate. The honey and milk will soon attract animals, birds, and fish to feast and pick at their vulnerable bodies.

You’d think the external pain would be enough, but there’s more in store for these poor souls. As previously mentioned, those receiving the punishment would be fed large amounts of honey and milk, giving them a rather aggressive case of diarrhea. So not only would they be afloat getting pecked to death, but they’d be lying in their feces, unable to move or shield themselves from the smell. As they lie in their own fecal matter, maggots, insects, and bacteria start to breed. Now, they will begin to be eaten from the inside out.

The physical pain of slowly being eaten alive, unable to move, with constant diarrhea, and the spread of infection caused by the critters gnawing at them was not the only damage done. The victims also had to deal with the psychological impact of the putrid smell surrounding them and the constant feeling of pain. Since it could also last multiple days, it's said that on occasion, the criminal would be reeled back in only to be fed more. This was to keep them in a constant state of what can only be described as extreme discomfort.

It's a horrible way to go if you ask me. However, it is important to mention that there is some doubt about whether this was an actual form of punishment due to a lack of hard evidence and the chance of over-exaggerations from Greek storytellers. It is highly probable that this method was never actually used, But whether it’s a lie or real is perhaps something we will never know.

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Hi, my name is Breanne Gormley. I’m currently in my second year of Professional Writing at Algonquin College. I am passionate about the color blue, tiny skulls, folklore, and petting random cats I find on the street. I have a deep love of writing, and I can’t wait to take a trip with you through time and explore the finer things in life, specifically tragic events and brutal murders. I hope you will enjoy this blog as much as I do.

The creepiest reality family ever

The creepiest reality family ever

We all know reality television can sometimes feel like a cult, but little did we know that the Duggars of 19 kids and counting were part of a true cult.

We all thought the Duggars were a little odd, given that they, you know, have 19 kids. Do you know the reason behind the fact that they have 19 kids?  Did you know it has something to do with the family being apart of a cult? Well, it does.

The show 19 kids and counting, portrayed Father Jim Bob, Mother Michelle and their 19 kids as happy and wholesome family, which ended up being far from the truth. The Duggars were part of a cult run by Bill Gothard called, ‘The Institute in Basic Life Principles’ also know as IBLP.

Michelle Duggar, the matriarch of the Duggar family, the crazy religious lady, is fiercely against the LGBTQ community. No surprise there, huh? In 2010 she preached many times to try and make sure no right was passed for people within the community.

Blanket training, which is when you put the baby on a blanket with a toy just out of reach, as the baby moves closer to the toy, they move the toy away, is one of the many bizarre ways that the Duggars chose to raise their children. This is apparently teaching them not to give into bad temptations. 

The buddy system was another strange practise that the Duggars were fully invested in. The buddy system was assigning one of the older children to raise the baby after he/she has weaned off their mother. This is a form of invisible childhood trauma and abuse referred to as Parentification. Parentification involves a role reversal between a parent and a child. This

The Duggars followed strict rules within their faith on how to raise children, how to behave in public, what they considered acceptable clothing, and many more bizarre controlling factors.

The Duggars believed that women should never show their shoulders and knees, they should be saving their first kiss and any sexual intimacy for marriage. It was also believed women were only good for bearing children and taking care of the house and family.

Even while his children were engaged to be married Jim Bob would chaperone their outings with their significant other. Awkward, right?

The Duggar children were home-schooled by Bill Gothard, the IBLP leader, who was accused of molestation by more than 30children. Speaking of molestation, it was not uncommon within the family. Josh Duggar, one of the children in the Duggar family, admitted to molesting his sisters growing up. This came to light after he was found guilty of possessing child pornography.

Two of the oldest sisters within the family, were forced to keep to themselves that their brother was molesting them. Jim Bob and Michelle, both knew it was going on. Instead of supporting their daughters, they denied repeatedly that it had happened. Instead, they sent Josh away to a cult camp to clean him of his sins and pretend he was off on a mission, building houses for the less fortunate.

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Hi, I’m Amy Claire Lawford. I am a Professional Writing student at Algonquin College. I am the resident disabled history buff. History in high school was rather boring, all they talked about was WW1 and WW2. Let’s be honest though, the interesting side of history is the dark side. I can’t wait to show you all the dark and twisted things, that I have in store for you. Brace yourselves. Let’s hope that you don’t get nightmares.

Man Melted From The Inside

Safety is always the number one priority at any job. However, sometimes companies do not have their workers' wellbeing as their main concern. This is the story about the worst-case scenario.  

Working with nuclear materials is already a dangerous job. Hisashi Ouchi, husband and father, took a job at a power plant in Tokaimura, Japan to support his family. His job was to purify uranium oxide to make fuel rods for a research reactor. Point is, he was a smart man. However, he was untrained for the job. And his company knew it. Two other untrained men were also hired to do the job. Despite his intelligence, mistakes were made. On the morning of September 30th, 1999, seven times the amount of uranium was hand poured into the wrong tank. What followed was the beginning of the end for Ouchi.  

Hisashi Ouhi

A blue flash. An explosion.

Ouchi was the closest to the blast, and he was immediately taken to the hospital. His symptoms were not alarming at first; a swollen, red face, bloodshot eyes. But after tests were run, it was found that he was exposed to over 17 sieverts of radiation. If you know nothing about radiation- like most of us- sieverts are a unit dose equal to a joule of energy per kilogram of recipient mass. In simpler terms, it’s not good. Over 7 is deadly to humans. Ouchi’s fate was already confirmed the next day when he had trouble breathing and a swollen abdomen.  

Doctors found that his body wasn’t able to generate new cells and his bone marrow was broken into pieces. This is when he was transferred to the University of Tokyo.  

Ouchi began to receive blood cell transfers and stem cell procedures. His sister, in an effort to save his life, donated stem cells and bone marrow. It seemed to work at first. Then it got even worse. Two weeks after the blast, Ouchi was unable to eat or breathe on his own. His skin started to fall off after removing the bandages. Blisters covered his entire body. This is because the radiation killed the chromosomes that enable his skin to generate. He also began to cry blood. His DNA was obliterated, and he had brain damage. Ouchi was frequently heard calling for his mother. He even begged to be killed; “I can’t take it anymore. I am not a guinea pig.”  

Many to this day still believe in a conspiracy that Ouchi was kept alive for research purposes. Doctors wanted to keep him alive to study what radiation does to the body. This is believed because of the length he was kept alive. Even after he suffered heart attacks, he was brought back to life.  

This theory is simply not true. 

While yes, Ouchi was kept alive for too long, this was not because of the doctors. In reality, his family wanted him to survive. Any doctor would not let his patient suffer under Ouchi’s conditions.

Towards the end of his life, Ouchi’s organs started to collapse. He was hooked up to machines. His heart attacks started to increase to three every hour. He was brought back to life each time. On December 11th at 11:21pm, Ouchi’s pain finally ended when he had his final cardiac arrest. The disturbing photos of Ouchi’s body continue to remind us of his continued agony.   

The only person to survive the blast was Ouchi’s supervisor. The other worker was exposed to 10 sieverts of radiation and died quickly after attempts to save his life. Ouchi was kept in agony for 83 days simply because his family did not want to say goodbye. Obviously, saying goodbye to a family member is an impossibly hard task. But it is heartbreaking that this man had to endure this pain for that long- even when he begged to be let go.  

After the blast, 310,00 villagers within six miles stayed indoors for 24 hours. 10,00 people were checked for radiation. Over 600 villagers had low levels of radiation. Of course, none of this compares to what Ouchi went through. Despite the dangerous malpractice that killed two people, the nuclear plant continued to operate after a different company for more than a decade.  

Ouchi’s tragic story is a disturbing reminder of what can happen when a company takes shortcuts to a job. If Ouchi had been given the proper training, he may not have had one of the most agonizing deaths in history. If there is anything to take away from this story, it is to always trust your gut. If something seems off, you have no obligation to do it. Obviously, not everyone works with nuclear matter, but any workplace injury can be easily avoided before it turns into a tragedy.  

TRIGGER WARNING: EXTREME PHOTO OF HISASHI’S BODY WHILE ALIVE IN THE HOSPITAL (GORE, BLOOD)

HISASHI OUCHI BEFORE DEATH

My name is Mykie Hartley and I am currently taking Professional Writing. I am a barista at Starbucks and am becoming a tattoo artist. If you can’t find me, I’m usually reading, watching gory horror movies, listening to gross metal music or getting a new tattoo. I’m a lover of the weird and disturbing, and I hope you are too!

Lizzie Borden: Innocent Sunday School Teacher or Cold-Blooded Murderer?

image courtesy of unsplash

“Lizzie Borden took an axe. She gave her mother 40 whacks. When she saw what she had done, she gave her father 41.” Does this sound familiar? The popular yet disturbing children’s rhyme stems from the 1892 murders of Andrew and Abby Borden. Lizzie Borden, the prime suspect in the murder, and daughter of the victims, went down in history as a bitter, jealous spinster who took out her rage on her parents. But did she really do it? After all, she was a godly, charitable woman who taught Sunday school and partook in local women’s charities. Though there is no way of knowing for sure what took place on that fateful August morning, many believe Lizzie was the culprit.

The Borden household consisted of Andrew Borden, a wealthy businessman, his wife, Abby Borden, his daughters Lizzie and Emma Borden, and the family’s maid, Bridget Sullivan.

Andrew married his first wife, and the mother of his children, Sarah, in 1845. The Borden family was struck by tragedy several times beginning with the death of their middle daughter, Alice, and then by Sarah’s death. Two years after Sarah’s death, Andrew married his new wife, Abby. Abby came from a working-class background, making the marriage unusual. Many believed that Abby was interested solely in Andrew’s wealth.

It’s alleged that Lizzie and Emma were jealous of the wealth that Andrew would share with Abby and her family but would hold back from them. Many believe that Lizzie’s resentment towards her parents is a significant enough motive for her to commit murder. But could a sweet Sunday school teacher pull off such an act?

IMage courtesy of Unsplash

The morning of the murder, the family was ill from what was believed to be food poisoning. Despite this, Bridget woke up early as usual and prepared breakfast for the family. Lizzie, however, was too ill to eat and stayed in bed. After breakfast, Bridget started her chores outside and Andrew went to work. At 11 a.m., Andrew returned home as he was feeling unwell, and took a nap on the couch. During this time, Lizzie claimed she was in the barn. When she came back inside, she said she was met with her father’s mutilated body. He suffered 11 axe wounds to the skull. Abby’s body was found next lying face down in the bedroom. She was struck by an axe 18 times. Her blood was dried, meaning her murder took place about two hours prior to Andrew’s.

Why do people think Lizzie did it? There is significant circumstantial evidence. She had the motive of money and jealousy. She was the only other one in the home at the time (Bridget was outside, and Emma was out of town). She was seen burning a dress a few days after the murder, which many believe could be the dress she wore when she committed the crime. There were no signs of forced entry. It didn’t look good for Lizzie.

However, the jury acquitted her because there was no physical evidence against her. With no other significant suspects, many believe to this day that Lizzie got away with murder. Her home, which is now a museum, was once the sight of children throwing eggs at her windows and reciting the eerie playground rhyme many still know today. Whether or not Lizzie was an innocent Sunday school teacher or a cold-blooded murderer is something we can never know for sure.

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Hi! My name is Kayleigh Vantour. I am a Professional Writing Student at Algonquin College. I love cats, the colour pink, fashion, and writing. When I am not in school or at work, I enjoy hanging out with friends and thrifting. I am excited to be a part of this blog, as I have always had an interest in history, particularly its darker side. I am looking forward to exploring some of history’s creepiest, most disturbing events with you!

The Canadian Origins of the Satanic Panic

Part One: Michelle Remembers

Satan is coming for your children. It’s too late. He’s already in your home, your child’s daycare, their schools. It sounds ridiculous, I know. In the 1980s, all you had to do was turn on the TV, or pick up a newspaper—you’d hear someone saying it. Except it wasn’t coming from a mad preacher or your crazy uncle. Police officers, FBI agents, trusted reporters, clinical psychologists, even Oprah warned parents to watch out for the devil at the door. At the time, experts scrambled to name and blame the phenomenon. Eventually, they settled on what we call it today: the Satanic Panic.

Image courtesy of pocket books

Law enforcement, media and other experts referred to it as ‘satanic ritual abuse.’ It was happening en masse, in secret, done by people you trusted with your children: teachers, day care providers, even police officers. A network of underground cults were abusing and killing children in the secret service of Satan. The accounts of the abuse were horrific. Across America, children were being sexually abused, forced to drink blood, and killed in ritual sacrifices, amongst other things. One particular rumour alleged the use of “baby wax made from murdered infants.”

All those horrors were being reported by real children. You would think so many accusations would lead to strong investigations with legitimate evidence. You’d be wrong. There was little to no evidence that these crimes occurred. Hundreds were accused and charged anyways. Many were convicted based on accusations alone. Some cases fell apart during trial or were overturned on appeal. By the early 1990s, it was found that nearly 12,000 claims of satanic ritual abuse could not be substantiated.

While the Satanic Panic is remembered largely as an American phenomenon, its roots started in Canada. Perhaps the most publicized case of supposed satanic ritual abuse is that of Michelle Smith, and the book that details her abuse— “Michelle Remembers.” The book was written by Canadian psychiatrist Dr. Lawrence Pazder and his patient, Michelle Smith. It tells, in vivid detail, shocking therapy sessions where Smith recovered repressed memories of satanic ritual abuse she suffered as a child.

The book was published in 1980. It sold millions of copies and quickly became a best-seller. Together, Pazder and Smith went on a relentless media tour. They appeared on endless talk shows, news channels, and radio shows across North America. They gave speeches to petrified parents and lectured law enforcement. Smith told the horror stories of the abuse she allegedly suffered at the hands of a satanic cult in her hometown of Victoria, British Columbia. She claimed that as a five-year-old, she was forced to take part in satanic rituals. Accusations included physical and sexual abuse of all kinds, animal sacrifices, even the sacrifice of human fetuses.

Michelle smith & lawrence pazder. Image courtesy of game theory films

The term ‘satanic ritual abuse’ came from Pazder’s work. His definition became the official explanation used by law enforcement agencies like the FBI. Pazder defined it as "repeated physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual assaults combined with a systematic use of symbols and secret ceremonies designed to turn a child against itself, family, society, and God.”

Due to the legitimacy the pair earned from their success, they became the go-to experts of the Satanic Panic. They travelled to the Vatican to warn the Catholic Church of the dangers of satanic ritual abuse. Their book was considered a textbook for law enforcement. In 1986, Pazder and Smith acted as consultants to the prosecution for the infamous McMartin Preschool case. In Manhattan Beach, California, seven McMartin Preschool employees were accused of satanic ritual abuse. Despite no physical evidence, prosecutors spent $15 million dollars on the case before they dropped all charges in 1990.

The pair became such media darlings that no one questioned anything they said or did. Not even when Pazder and Smith eventually divorced their spouses and married each other. Nobody questioned the ethics or credibility of a man who married his former psychiatric patient—not until the panic that ensued caused so much damage that it’s still hard to understand, even thirty years later. Many of the accused and their families are traumatized to this day. In part two of this series, we’ll take a deeper look at the relationship between Pazder and Smith, and what happened to them in the years following the Satanic Panic.

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My name is Angie Mosher (she/her) and I'm a Professional Writing student at Algonquin College. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing from UBC, and when I’m not writing, I’m playing video games, hanging out with my cats, or getting a new tattoo. I’m originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, but have been living in Ottawa since 2017. I like shining a light on things otherwise left to rot in the corner. Let’s kick up some dust.

Introduction

Do you have an affinity for the darker things in life? Do you spend your free time searching for disturbing stories on the internet?

Don’t worry, this is not a psychological evaluation. This is the Tales of Twisted History! This blog isn’t for your average history buff, this is for the dark academic. Here we’ll talk about anything from serial killers to mysterious disappearances and thrilling historical phenomena. 

Come explore dark and disturbing events that stain the pages of our history books. From the gruesome death of the Black Dahlia, to the infamous Jack the Ripper murders. Be warned… we will be covering the depths of disturbing history in excruciating detail.