Ball and chain

A ball and chain

A ball and chain was a physical restraint device historically applied to prisoners, primarily in the British Empire and its former colonies, from the 17th century until as late as the mid-20th century.

A ball and chain believed to date to the 17th century was found in the United Kingdom in 2009. It consists of a sphere of high-grade iron approximately 15 centimetres (5.9 in) across and weighing around 8 kilograms (18 lb). The chain is of some 90 centimetres (35 in) in length and terminates in a leg iron or shackle.^[1] The weight of the ball makes it difficult for the restrained person to walk.

See also

• Ankle monitor

References

1. "Found: The ball and chain that may have condemned a 17th-century prisoner to a watery grave in the Thames". Daily Mail (London). 27 August 2009. Retrieved 3 January 2013.