The thirteenth century gatehouse contains collections of historic swords and armour, as well as instruments of execution, torture and discipline. There are several beheading swords dating from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. An early eighteenth century torture collar with deep spikes is particularly gruesome.
The collection of scolds’ bridles were designed for outspoken women who defied authority and were public nuisances. They prevented them from speaking. Some bridles had a tongue plate that could be as gentle as a flat piece of iron that passively discouraged tongue movement or as painful as a spiked iron bit.