In 1819 the market cross at Deeping St James was pulled down and the carved stonework was used in the construction of this lockup. Before a national system of policing was set up many villages had their own lockup. Criminals were held for a short time before being released or sent to a larger town for trial. They were often built as part of a complex including the village pound, stocks and pillory. They date back to around the 1560s. Generally the lockup was used by the parish constable who had the unpaid job of keeping law and order in his own parish. This one would accommodate three people who were chained up while inside.