The Stocks Kent is a historic landmark located in the village of St. Mary's Platt in Kent, England. The stocks were used as a form of punishment in medieval times, where offenders would be locked in the stocks and left to endure public humiliation and ridicule. The Stocks Kent is a well-preserved example of this form of punishment and serves as a reminder of the harsh justice system of the past.
The Stocks Kent consists of two wooden posts with a horizontal beam in between, which has holes for the offender's legs to be locked in. The stocks were typically used for minor offenses such as drunkenness, disorderly conduct, and petty theft. The offender would be placed in the stocks for a set amount of time, usually a few hours, and would be subjected to public ridicule and abuse from passersby.
Today, the Stocks Kent is a popular tourist attraction and is often used as a backdrop for photos. The village of St. Mary's Platt has preserved the stocks as a reminder of the village's history and as a symbol of the harsh justice system of the past. The Stocks Kent serves as a reminder of how far society has come in terms of justice and punishment, and how important it is to continue to strive for fairness and equality in the justice system.