Calls to remove a famous ducking stool have been branded ridiculous amid claims it is an "object of hate".

The wooden chair, which juts over the River Stour, Canterbury, is one of the city's most photographed sights but opponents suggest it needs to be taken down - or even destroyed with a chainsaw.

They question why the stool, which is a replica of the instrument used to trial suspected witches, should continue to sit "as a vague symbol of abuse and torture" and "of intolerance toward women".

Rambler Will Parsons, who hikes across the country as a musical pilgrim, believes Canterbury should rid itself of the chair or have a plaque installed informing tourists of its dark past.

His comments - posted on Facebook - have sparked a debate - receiving both backlash and some support, with others suggesting it should be moved to a museum or unceremoniously chopped up.

But the overarching belief is that the city's history should remain intact and be kept on show for all to see.

Mr Parsons said: "This was a crime punished by public humiliation, often accompanied by injury and potentially death.

"It is not so far from waterboarding, a form of torture. And husbands could apply to have this torture imposed simply by paying a fee.

"The practice of using these stools ended in Britain in 1809. That’s not long ago.

"My question is, should these relics of Medieval torture remain on public display? And if so, how should we properly interpret them?

"There is no historical evidence of who suffered at this ducking stool... it simply stands as an unexplained item in the middle of a sacred city.

"The stool itself is an object of hate, designed to torture and murder women publicly.

"Of course, the council no longer accepts domestic violence, public or private, to be legitimate.

"So why is there still a ducking stool, without any interpretative plaque to explain its history and to tell its story that we can learn from, in the centre of modern Canterbury?"

The ducking stool was replaced three years ago by Canterbury River Tours operator Carey Miles after the previous structure rotted away.

It is a key feature in the river tours - providing a fascinating talking point for tourists.

In response to Mr Parsons suggestion, Sab Wiffen said: "I've always loved seeing it throughout my life, as it is a reminder of some if the different history of Canterbury.

'The stool itself is an object of hate, designed to torture and murder women publicly...'

"My mum taught me how and why it was used as a child. It should stay in place to pique children's interest as it did mine."

Speaking to KentOnline, Michael Steed, a former city councillor and honorary lecturer in politics and international relations at the University of Kent, said he wants the stool to remain in its place.

He said: "I personally had a sense of thrill when I saw Edward Colston's statue thrown into the water. He wasn't just a slave owner, he was a merchant who got the whole slave trade under way.

"But the idea of removing the ducking stool is ridiculous.

"We should not erase our past - we need to be more aware of it. I don't think we're aware enough of the horrifying elements of our past.

"The stool is a visible reminder of just how cruel punishment was in this country. We carried on hanging people until 1964.

"We should not remove evidence, we should acknowledge it. I would definitely welcome having a plaque there."

Originally called the cucking stool, or stool of repentance, the device has a long history and was used by the Saxons, who called it the scealding or scolding stool.

It is mentioned in Domesday Book as being in use at Chester. Victims were often ‘nagging wives’ who were paraded though the streets amid jeering crowds before being tied to the stool and dunked.

The stool may also have been used as a penalty and public embarrassment for cheating businessmen and as a more severe punishment for suspected witches. If they drowned, they were deemed innocent, if they survived they were a witch.

The last recorded case was that of Sarah Leeke in 1817, in Leominster, Hertfordshire.

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