Oak Whipping Post

A standing post in solid oak, 2000mm tall, with a chevron yoke at the top carrying three apertures: the neck in the centre and a wrist either side. Waist and ankle points run down the timber below it. It restrains a person upright and facing the post, which no cross and no bench does.

Also called a pole of shame

The two names describe the same piece. "Whipping post" is the older term and the one we use; "pole of shame" is what it is usually listed as by makers, and you will see both for the same thing. If you have been searching one and not finding much, try the other.

The yoke is the piece

A post with rings screwed to it is a post. The yoke is what makes this a whipping post: it fixes the head and both wrists at the top of the timber, so the body is held against the post rather than hanging off it. It hinges one side and closes on a padlockable hasp the other.

Free-standing or fixed

Quoted free-standing, on a cross base heavy enough that it does not walk under load. If you have a floor you are willing to fix into, a floor-fixed version loses the base entirely and takes up almost no room, and we will quote that instead.

Specification as quoted

• Timber: solid oak, hard-wax oiled
• Height: 2000mm as quoted; made to your ceiling
• Post: 120mm square
• Yoke: chevron, three apertures, hinged and padlockable
• Restraint points: seven, the yoke plus waist and ankle pairs
• Base: braced floor beam; floor-fixed version available

Commonly added

Leather-lined apertures, padded facing on the post, additional points at a second height where the piece will be used by people of different heights, and a demountable base.

Timber and finish

Quoted in solid English oak, hard-wax oiled, which is the house specification. Oak sits at roughly 1,120 lbf on the Janka hardness scale against about 540 lbf for the Scots pine most sub-£400 "wooden" bondage furniture is built from, which is the difference between a piece that marks and one that dents under a fingernail. European ash (~1,320 lbf) is harder still and cheaper; black walnut (~1,010 lbf) is softer and dearer, and you choose it for the colour. Each changes the price, so say which you want and the quote comes back with the figure on it.

Made to order

Nothing here is held in stock. Every oak whipping post is built to your measurements by our UK partner workshop, to BondageBox's drawings. Reply within 1 working day, a dimensioned sketch within 5 working days, then 6–9 weeks from the point you approve it. You get 2 rounds of amends before anything is cut.

Delivery

Discreet crated delivery across UK mainland is included. The piece arrives in a plain wooden crate, addressed to you, and nobody comes into the property. Two-person in-room delivery and assembly is available instead if you would rather.

How to order

Use Request this piece above. Tell us the room, the height of the person using it, and anything you want changed. You get a written quote with a fixed price and a payment link. Deposit on the agreed sketch, balance on completion before it ships.

References

• Janka hardness figures for English oak, European ash and black walnut, as published in our guide to wooden bondage furniture.
• Woodland Trust, English oak (Quercus robur): species characteristics and working properties. woodlandtrust.org.uk
• BS 8539:2012, Code of practice for the selection and installation of post-installed anchors in concrete and masonry. Applies to any piece fixed to a wall or floor.
• The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013: goods made to a consumer's specification are exempt from the 14-day cancellation right. legislation.gov.uk