Stocks Display

Three wooden posts stand in a field like ancient sentinels, though these particular specimens served a rather different purpose than Stonehenge. This is what remains of the old village stocks, where miscreants once found themselves locked up for public ridicule and the odd rotten vegetable.

The wooden framework looks surprisingly intact for something that's been weathering Gower Peninsula storms for decades. You can still make out the holes where ankles would have been secured, though thankfully there's no queue of wrongdoers waiting their turn these days. It's a proper slice of social history that takes all of two minutes to examine, but the location near Three Cliffs Bay makes it worth the brief detour.

History buffs will appreciate this tangible link to medieval justice, though kids might need some explaining about why people thought public humiliation was appropriate punishment. The stocks sit in open countryside between the holiday parks around Three Cliffs Bay and the busier coastal spots, so you're likely to have them to yourself.

Perfectly positioned for a quick stop if you're exploring the Gower from any of the nearby campsites. Pair it with a walk down to Three Cliffs Bay or Oxwich Bay for a proper day out. Free to visit, though there's precious little to spend money on anyway.