Pillory of Rossão

Category: Civil Architecture > Pillory

District: Viseu > Castro Daire > Gosende > Rossão

Location

The Pillory of Rossão is located in the place of Rossão, a small area belonging to the locality of Gosende, in the municipality of Castro Daire. Its location is within the urban fabric of the village, on a flat surface.

Although isolated and prominent, the pillory is currently situated in what appears to be the garden of a private residence, separated from the public road by a wall. This setting allows for its observation from the street, integrated into an environment of traditional characteristics, surrounded by typical regional houses and primitive streets.

A Historical Legacy

This granite monument is a testament to the region's history, although its exact age is a matter of some debate. Some suggest that its construction dates back to the 15th or 16th centuries, periods of great importance for the assertion of municipal power in Portugal, while other researchers point to a later date, perhaps in the 17th or 18th centuries. Regardless of its precise dating, the Pillory of Rossão is a landmark of considerable value, having been classified as a Property of Public Interest in 1933, a recognition of its patrimonial and cultural significance.

Design and Materials

The Pillory of Rossão features a sober yet expressive construction, made of granite ashlar, a material characteristic of traditional Portuguese architecture. Its structure comprises a circular plinth with rounded edges, approximately one meter in diameter, which rests directly on a natural rock outcrop. From this plinth, a quadrangular column rises. The edges of this column are chamfered, softening its shape, and at the bottom of the chamfers, the column widens, creating a base with four distinct faces. At the top, the shaft ends in a square-section finial, similar in height to the base, where a hemispherical cavity is observed in the center of the stone. The simplicity of its lines and the robustness of the material give it a notable presence.

Memory of an Era

Historically, pillories were symbols of a municipality's jurisdiction and autonomy, representing local power and the privileges granted by charter. It was next to these structures that decrees were read, laws were announced, and sentences were applied. In the case of the Pillory of Rossão, although there are no records of old charters, its presence keeps alive the memory of the judicial function it once performed.

It is possible that the pillory is in its original position, near a building believed to have been the old prison and town hall, underscoring its central role in the community's civic life. Currently, its purpose transcends its judicial function, serving as a historical-cultural landmark, inviting reflection on the social and administrative evolution of Gosende and Castro Daire throughout the centuries.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt