Restraints, ankle cuffs

Iron restraints like these were used to shackle prisoners' ankles during transport. Heavy and extremely painful to wear, they were used to bind prisoners' legs together so that they could not run away easily.

From 1776 until the middle of the 19th century convicts were held on hulks, floating prison ships moored on the Thames. Hulks were introduced as a temporary solution to prison overcrowding when transportation was suspended during the American War of Independence. After transportation was re-introduced in 1783 convicts continued to be held on hulks before being transported to the colonies. Prisoners were transferred from Newgate Prison to the hulks in restraints like these and were often forced to remain in them whilst on board.