Village Stocks

You'll find these wooden stocks standing in the village centre - the kind of thing you walk past a dozen times before actually stopping to look. They're genuinely old, a proper relic of medieval justice, and they sit there quietly reminding you how different things were. The stocks themselves are fairly simple: two wooden frames with holes for ankles and wrists, designed to hold miscreants in place for public humiliation. It's the sort of thing that makes you slightly uncomfortable to think about, which is exactly why it's worth a proper look.

History buffs will get the most from this, especially if you're the type who enjoys piecing together everyday life in Tudor and Stuart England. The stocks tell you more about how communities actually policed themselves than any museum plaque can manage. You don't need long - ten minutes is plenty - but it's the kind of stop that breaks up a longer walk nicely.

If you're camping at Rockingham Forest Park or staying at one of the other nearby sites - Castle Farm Campsite is only three miles away - the stocks are an easy detour when you're exploring the village on foot. Peterborough is close enough that you could easily combine this with other local attractions. Fair warning though: it's not a destination in itself. Go because you're in the area and curious, not because you've planned a trip specifically for it.