The Caning Trestle: History, Design, and Enduring Legacy in Discipline and BDSM
The caning trestle is a purpose-built frame for administering judicial or disciplinary corporal punishment with a cane. Unlike the domestic spanking bench, which prioritizes erotic comfort, the trestle emphasizes immobility, exposure, and controlled severity. Historically rooted in British public schools, colonial justice, and naval discipline, it has evolved into a symbol of formal punishment—both in institutional memory and modern BDSM role-play.