Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Originally part of Winchester Palace, it housed troublemakers who upset the smooth
running of the bishop's 22 licensed brothels (called “the stews”), gambling dens, and tav-
erns. Bouncers delivered drunks who were out of control, johns who couldn't pay, and
prostitutes (“women living by their bodies”) who tried to go freelance or cheated loyal
customers. Offending prostitutes had their heads shaved and breasts bared, and were car-
ted through the streets and whipped while people jeered. They might share cells side by
side with “heretics”—namely, priests who'd crossed their bishops.
In 1352, debtors (who'd maxed out their Visa cards) became criminals, housed here
among harder criminals in harsh conditions. Prisoners were not fed. They had to bribe
guards to get food, to avoid torture, or even to gain their release. (The idea was that you'd
brought this on yourself.) Prisoners relied on their families for money, prostituted them-
selves to guards and other inmates, or reached through the bars at street level, begging
from passersby. Murderers, debtors, Protestants, priests, and many innocent people exper-
ienced this strange brand of justice...all part of the rough crowd that gave Bankside such a
seedy reputation.
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