09/06/2022
Some history of the 'Treadmill'.
Credit, Steven Gardener
"1895 Prisoners on a treadmill at Pentonville Prison
One of the first mass produced Treadmills was introduced by Sir William Cubitt in 1818, who used it to torture inmates in jails of England. It consisted of 24 inmates side by side, with partitions. This pointless labor was meant to deter poor people from committing crimes to just get in jail for shelter. The treadmills were also used in the Workhouses of the times. Workhouses were places that the destitute could go for shelter and food. They were hideously dirty and dangerous and those seeking shelter were compelled to do often mindless tasks - such as this shown. Colloquially treadmills were known as cockchafers - because, well, they chafed..."