Coline
A horrible tradition
Nestled in the heart of Canterbury High Street, the ducking stool is one of the town's major landmarks, often seen on postcards. Overlooking the river and the canals, full of tourist boats, the ducking stool is a wooden seat attached to the end of a handle, also made of wood. It was traditionally used to determine whether or not women were witches. They were dunked underwater and, if they drowned, they were declared innocent. If they resisted, they were declared guilty and executed on the spot. A horrible tradition!
