Liverpool’s convict past remembered with replica items

Liverpool’s convict past has been remembered with a new addition to the city’s historical collection — a replica whipping triangle and stocks.

Members of the Liverpool Men's Shed John Jewell and Ralph Gardner re-enact a flogging in Bigge Park. Picture: Robert Pozo

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Liverpool’s convict past has been remembered with a new addition to the city’s historical collection — a replica whipping triangle and stocks.

Between 1810 and 1830, the city was built and populated by convicts and punishments for misdemeanours included lashings and time spent in the stocks.

Crimes ranged from petty theft and drunkenness to playing cards on a Sunday and walking too quickly.

In 1824 Liverpool magistrates issued 1298 lashes to be administered over a period of three months. Sentences were often carried out in Bigge Park.

Members of the Liverpool Men's Shed and members of the Liverpool Historical Society Pam Valentine, John Jewell, Germaine Bishop, Ralph Gardner and Glen op den Brouw. Picture: Robert Pozo

City of Liverpool and District Historical society president Glen op den Brouw said the city’s convict past formed a significant part of its history with convicts making up half of the population in Liverpool’s early days.

So when he recently encountered a convict display at Port Macquarie Museum, he was inspired to commission something similar for Liverpool’s own collection.

“I walked into their convict display and there was this convict mannequin over a whipping triangle and his back was covered in blood and I thought, ‘I want one of those’,” he said.

With the help of the Liverpool District Men’s Shed, the society now has a replica whipping triangle and stocks that they hope to one day display in a museum setting.

Liverpool District Men’s Shed president Alvan Freeman said the pieces were made out of pine and burnt with a gas torch to accentuate the grain of the wood.

At the helm of the project was one man, Jose Cuenca, who had no carpentry experience at all.

Mr Freeman said his attention to detail ensured the work had period integrity; no screws can be seen in any of the pieces.

Mr op den Brouw said the results exceeded his expectations.

“I’d just love to have it on display somewhere. I don’t want it stored away,” he said.