Category: Civil Architecture > Pillory
District: Vila Real > Chaves > Torre de Ervededo
The Pillory of Ervededo is located in the village of Torre de Ervededo, which is part of the municipality of Chaves. Situated in the heart of Trás-os-Montes, this historical landmark is integrated into the urban fabric of the village, revealing itself in a peculiar way. Part of its shaft is currently incorporated into a private patio, directly supported by an exposed rock, a location that allows for a unique observation of its integration into local life.
This 16th-century pillory is a structure of robust granite masonry, of which primarily its shaft remains. This element is distinguished by its quadrangular section which, through carefully executed chamfers, acquires a hexagonal profile. The presence of a decorative relief element on one of the chamfer tops can be noted, and, nearby, a small circular hole. The absence of the original finial prevents a more precise typological classification, but does not diminish its value as a historical piece.
The Pillory of Ervededo is an eloquent vestige of the region's judicial and administrative past. It was built at a time when Ervededo functioned as a municipality with its own jurisdiction, under the ecclesiastical authority of the Archdiocese of Braga. This locality in Trás-os-Montes stood out, in fact, as one of the oldest with an ecclesiastical charter, giving its pillory a particular significance as a symbol of the authority once exercised here. Its presence harks back to the times when the administration of justice was publicly displayed at this central point of the community.
Although the municipality of Ervededo was abolished and integrated into Chaves in 1853, the pillory remained as a link to that history. In the late 19th century, in 1876, there was a record of a complaint about its demolition, which demonstrates the importance the community attributed to it. After being partially dismantled and incorporated into neighboring constructions (its shaft was even used as a post), the pillory is now recognized as a Property of Public Interest, a classification awarded in 1933 that safeguards its cultural and historical importance for future generations. It thus remains a discreet, yet significant, landmark in the evolution of Ervededo.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.814493,-7.494427
Coordinates DMS: 41°48'52.2"N 07°29'39.9"W
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