History of the paddle

Once upon a time, the paddle was no toy at all.

It was born in the dusty halls of ancient courts, carved from sturdy wood to keep unruly soldiers, students, and servants in line. Wide and flat, it was a tool of discipline — made to sting, to shock, to command respect.

By the 18th century, however, something delicious began to happen. Behind the heavy curtains of London and Paris brothels, “discipline rooms” appeared — furnished not just with beds, but with stocks, canes… and paddles. Governesses and madams discovered the paddle’s secret: its broad surface kissed the flesh in a way that made the body blush with more than shame.

In Victorian erotica, the paddle was a symbol of strict authority... often in the gloved hands of a lady who knew exactly how much force was just enough. One could say it was the perfect marriage of pain and ceremony, a tool for those who desired not just punishment, but performance.

The mid-20th century leather scene gave the paddle its modern makeover. Leather, rubber, polished hardwood... each a different kind of kiss, from sharp sting to deep, resonant thud. In smoky backrooms and candlelit dungeons, the paddle became an icon of consensual power exchange, raised high like a sceptre before descending with an echoing crack.

Today, in the hands of a skilled Dominant, the paddle is more than an object... it’s a promise.

A promise of control, of sensation, of that exquisite moment when the mind trembles as much as the skin.

From the schoolroom to the dungeon, the paddle has crossed centuries and cultures…

And if you’re lucky, it might just cross your backside next.

Those of you that have been lucky enough to attend a session with me for correction know how much I love my leather paddle.