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Punishment by pillory was abolished by an Act of Parliament on 30 June 1837. Perhaps one of the pillory most famous ‘visitors’ was the English priest Titus Oates. In 1678 Oates, along with Israel Tonge, wrote about a plot by members of the English Catholic Church to assassinate Charles II. And so began a string of fabrications and accusations made by Oates against numerous Catholic nobles, M. P.s and even the Queen. A number of men were executed on the word of Oates over a three year period before his lies were discovered and he was sentenced for perjury. Part of his punishment included having to stand at the pillory at Westminster Hall where he was pelted with eggs.

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