The Clink

Wherever English is spoken, the word “clink” indicates a place of imprisonment or punishment, but few people know that it was a real prison.

The prison that gave its name to all others was owned by the Bishop of Winchester within his palace on the Bankside in London. From the 12th century, his prison was used for, amongst others, the prostitutes and customers who broke his rules of 1161 in his 22 licensed brothels lining the Bankside.

Later, during the 16th century, the Clink was used almost exclusively for so-called heretics who disagreed with the Bishop’s views, and during the 17th century it was used exclusively for debtors.

The word “clink” originates from the Middle English words clinc and clenchen: confining or making fast with nails or rivets.

Now this place is the The Clink Prison Museum (1 Clink St., London), and visitors can view devices used for the plethora of gruesome punishments inflicted on unfortunate occupants: whipping bench, torture chair, stocks, pillory, ball and chain, chastity belt, thumb screws (for thieves), scourging with rods and an iron boot that caused swelling until the foot fell off.

On our visit in November ’07, we decided we were very glad we were not around in those days. To say the atmosphere was eerie and depressing is an understatement. It was not difficult to imagine rats and insects running rampant in the damp, dank, miserable milieu existing there. The imaginative torture devices made our skin crawl.

It’s open 10-6 Monday-Friday and 10-9 Saturday and Sunday and charges £5 adult or £3.50 senior. The nearest tube station is London Bridge.

We happened on this museum quite by accident as we went to the area to see Drake’s Golden Hind, a splendid reconstruction of the original vessel. The Clink Museum is within steps of that attraction.

A.J. GOODHEAD

La Jolla, CA