Gloucestershire's First Chief Constable
Anthony Thomas Lefroy, son of Limerick born
Captain Anthony Thomas Lefroy who served as a Captain at
Gibraltar and the
Cape of Good Hope, was born in the year 1802
and baptised at Warkworth Parish Church, Morpeth,
Northumberland, on the 26th April, 1802.
Lefroy joined the Irish
Police in 1823 at the age of 21. From 1822 Ireland had an
organised system of county constabularies and a single police
force, the Irish Constabulary, from 1836.By the year 1839
Anthony Lefroy had achieved the position of Chief Constable for
County Wicklow. The Constabulary of Ireland was a trained and
disciplined force under the central control of the government
administration at Dublin Castle. It represented a fresh start
in policing and its members served under a strict code, which
governed all aspects of their lives, on and off duty. Elaborate
precautions were taken to ensure that they displayed strict
impartiality at all times. Policemen who lived in barracks,
were prohibited from serving in their (or their wives’) native
areas, and were unable to vote or to belong to any political or
religious groups (the exception being the Society of
Freemasons). This constabulary was to become a model for a
number of police forces throughout the world.Following the
successful establishment of the Metropolitan Police in
London, the County Police Act 1839 (also known as The Rural
Police Act) was
passed.
The act enabled Justices of the Peace in England and Wales to
establish police forces in their counties. It was not
compulsory, and constabularies were only established in 25 out
of 55 counties by 1856, when the County and Borough Police Act
1856 made their provision mandatory.
The Act allowed Justices
of the Peace of any county, in general or quarter sessions, to
appoint constables "for the preservation of the peace and
protection of the inhabitants" where they felt the existing
system of parish constables was insufficient. At a General
Quarter Sessions for the County, held at Gloucester on Monday,
4th of November 1839, a discussion took place regarding the
formation of a County Constabulary and the appointment of Chief
Constable. It is recorded that Lord Ellenborough said that the
Magistrates should apply to Colonel MacGregor at the
Inspectorate of Constabulary in Ireland, to see if he had anyone
serving under him who would be suitable to be recommended for
the post of Chief Constable so that there was no chance of its
being supposed that the office of Chief Constable was given by
acquaintances, by connection with the County, by private
intimacy on the part of the Magistrates or otherwise than by the
appointment of the very best man. The Lord Lieutenant concurred
but suggested that a letter should go to the Secretary of State
requesting him to communicate with the heads of London and Irish
Police. At the Adjourned General Quarter Sessions held at
Gloucester on the Monday, 18th of November 1839 a minute was
approved and recorded agreeing to the establishment and
appointment of County and District Constables. 
A Testimonial from the
head of Ireland's Inspectorate, Colonel MacGregor,
recommended Anthony Lefroy who was 37 years of age and not a
military man. 'That he was an extremely gentlemanly man. An
Englishman believed from Cumberland and had served in the Irish
Police Force for several years to the entire satisfaction of
Colonel MacGregor.'
On the 18th of November
1839 Anthony Lefroy was appointed Chief Constable of
Gloucestershire. A letter dated 9th December 1839 from the
Secretary of State, confirmed the appointment.
Now the Gloucestershire
Constabulary was recognised and given the Government's
blessing. The County force had been founded only six hours
after Wiltshire Constabulary, making it the second rural police
force to be formed in Britain.On December 1st 1839, less than
two weeks after his appointment, he had already brought over
from Ireland, and placed on the pay-roll, six new
superintendents and twelve constables (a thirteenth, Thomas
Watson from Co. Armagh, signed on three weeks later).
Lefroy's original plan was
to have the County divided into 20 police districts, each being
controlled by a superintendent. That idea was forced to change
as a high rate of resignations and dismissals took its toll and
by 1841 the figure was 14 and in 1842 down to 11.
Before releasing his new
recruits into those mainly rural districts they were issued with
a uniform and given a brief period of training by experienced
Irish officers.
The 1839 appointments book
shows that 16 of the first 23 constables originated from
Ireland, some being brought over by Anthony Lefroy and others
sent by Major Browne at Dublin HQ.
Out of the more senior
appointments, at least five of his twenty new District
Superintendents, Charles Keiley, Thomas Russell, William
McMahon, John Nicholls and Thomas Pilkington were from
Ireland and John Dean King was an Englishman
from Woolwich in Kent who had served in Ireland and married
Deborah Westerman from Leinster in 1839.
We know little of those
five officers or their six colleagues. Their ages and origins
are not recorded in the Superintendents Default & Commendations
book.
One of the experienced
Irish officers, Charles Keiley, must have been
exceptional as he was appointed by Lefroy as the County's first
Deputy Chief Constable in July 1840 and administrator for the
outer Tewkesbury District. Keiley stayed in that post until 1853
when he vanished into thin air after absconding with the wages
and expenses for Cheltenham and Tewkesbury.
Each new superintendent needed a horse to travel between the
stations in his district and was given a £40 yearly allowance
for its maintenance.
The new force's first problem was the existing police station at Cheltenham.
In 1831 Cheltenham Town Commissioners had instituted its own
police force based on the Metropolitan Police system consisting
of an inspector and 25 men with headquarters at what is now John
Dower House in Crescent Place, pictured here.
The
1839 Act required town forces to be absorbed into the County
policing structure and within a few months the Cheltenham force
was disbanded, despite opposition from Town Commissioners and
local people.
Because the city of Gloucester already had an independent police
force unaffected by the new Act of Parliament, the County
Constabulary now had its new headquarters at 1 Crescent Place,
Cheltenham. It was here that the administrative machinery of the
Force was based, while the 45 men allotted to police Cheltenham
went across the road to the Central Police Station.
The Superintendent there in 1841 was Irish born Thomas
Russell and one of his Sergeants was also from Ireland.
He was Sgt William Hanbidge born in 1816
at Dunmore, Co. Wicklow and was later a Superintendent at Chipping
Campden and Painswick.
Qualifications,
necessary for Superintendents and Constables, as laid down by
the Secretary of State.
To be under 40 years of age. To stand 5 feet 7 inches, without
shoes. To read and write and keep accounts.
To be free from any bodily complaint; of strong constitution and
generally intelligent.
No person appointed a Superintendent or Constable who shall be a
Gamekeeper, Wood Ranger, Bailiff, Sheriff's Bailiff or Parish
Clerk or who shall be a hired servant in the employment of any
person or who shall keep or have any interest in any house for
the sale of beer, wine or spirituous liquors by retail and if
any person who should be appointed a Superintendent or
Constable, should at any time after such appointment became a
Gamekeeper, Wood Ranger, Bailiff, Sheriff's Bailiff or Parish
Clerk or shall act in any capacity or shall sell or have any
interest in the sale of any beer, wine or spirituous liquor,
such person shall thereupon become and be incapable of acting as
such Superintendent or Constable and shall forfeit his
appointment of Superintendent or Constable and also all salary
payable to him as Superintendent or Constable.
The uniform items issued for the first
year were :
One
Greatcoat Cape with Badge
Coat with
badge
Two pairs of
trousers
One pair of
shoes
One Hat
Rates of pay
were laid down as follows:-
Chief
Constables not less than £250 or more than £500 per year
Superintendents not less than £75 or more than £150 per year
Constables
not less than 15 shillings or more than £1.1.0d. a week
All
gossiping, and especially talking to women, was discouraged and
although there was no official meal break, officers were invited
to use their top hat to carry a snack around.
The Chief
Constable introduced the patrol ticket system where an officer
left a ticket with trusted farmers and land-owners on his beat
who would sign and date it. This ensured that the constable had
patrolled where instructed and that prominent members of the
community were aware of it.
Accoutrements to be supplied
A constables
staff is to be supplied to each constable and a small Cutlass
may be supplied to any constable who is so situated that, in the
opinion of two Justices of the Peace of the County, it is
necessary for his personal protection in the performance of his
duty. The Cutlass to be worn at night only or at times when
rioting or serious public disturbance has actually taken place,
or upon orders by the Chief Constable who shall, on each
occasion of giving such order, report the same and the reason
for such order, to any two Justices of the Peace for the County,
as soon afterwards as is practicable, who shall immediately
transmit the said report to the Secretary of State.
On the 7th
of November 1840 the Home Office approved the appointment of the
force's first sergeants.
That 38
Sergeants be appointed at £1-2-0 per week each and the
Constables who shall in future join the force shall only receive
16s a week subject to future promotion.
That the
sergeant shall (with the consent of the committing Magistrate)
hire a cart or other cheap conveyance for the removal of
prisoners, the Bill for which to be sent to Constabulary Office
with the Magistrate's Certificate attached stating that the
expense was necessarily incurred, when it will be included in
the Constabulary Accounts.
That the
following stations be annexed to each Superintendent with the
respective Salaries - the alterations if any to take as
Vacancies occur.
2
Superintendents £120 & £100 Cheltenham - Birdlip & Frogmill
1 " £100
Campden - Moreton & Quinton
1 " £100
Cirencester - Fairford & Bibury
1 " £120
Dursley - Wotton & Berkeley
1 " £120
Hanham - Hambrook & Westbury
1 " £100
Sodbury - Thornbury & Marshfield
1 " £120
Newnham - Mitcheldean, Coleford, Lydney & Hewelsfield
1 " £100
Stow - North Leach & Great Barrington
1 " £100
Gloucester - Whitminster, Newent & Ashleworth
1 " £100
Winchcombe - Tewkesbury & Taddington
1 " £100
Tetbury - Minchinhampton & Nailsworth
1 " £100
Stroud
That the
Salary of every Superintendent of any District constituted as in
the said list be greater by £40 than the sum respectively set
down and to cover the expence of finding and keeping a Horse and
all travelling expense within the County but not his own
maintenance while travelling.
County of
Gloucestershire Constabulary
Return showing increases and decreases in manpower from
its formation in December 1839 to October 1880
|
|
Chief
|
Supts
|
Inspectors
|
Sergeants
|
Constables
|
Total
|
Increase
|
Remarks
|
1st December 1839
|
1
|
19
|
0
|
0
|
230
|
250
|
0
|
Commencement
|
1st December 1840
|
1
|
19
|
0
|
40
|
190
|
250
|
0
|
|
1st April 1841
|
1
|
14
|
0
|
40
|
195
|
250
|
0
|
|
1st June 1842
|
1
|
11
|
0
|
55
|
183
|
250
|
0
|
|
1st July 1854
|
1
|
11
|
0
|
55
|
187
|
254
|
4
|
Borough of Tewkesbury amalgamated
|
1st September 1859
|
1
|
11
|
0
|
46
|
216
|
274
|
20
|
City of Gloucester amalgamated
|
1st October 1861
|
1
|
11
|
0
|
43
|
219
|
274
|
0
|
|
1st November 1862
|
1
|
11
|
0
|
44
|
218
|
274
|
0
|
|
1st October 1863
|
1
|
11
|
0
|
44
|
232
|
288
|
14
|
|
1st August 1866
|
1
|
11
|
3
|
41
|
232
|
288
|
0
|
|
1st March 1867
|
1
|
10
|
3
|
41
|
233
|
288
|
0
|
|
1st July 1867
|
1
|
10
|
3
|
42
|
232
|
288
|
0
|
|
1st October 1872
|
1
|
10
|
3
|
42
|
234
|
290
|
2
|
|
1st March 1875
|
1
|
10
|
3
|
43
|
245
|
302
|
12
|
|
1st January 1877
|
1
|
10
|
3
|
43
|
247
|
304
|
2
|
|
1st July 1880
|
1
|
10
|
3
|
44
|
252
|
310
|
6
|
|
1st October 1880
|
1
|
10
|
3
|
44
|
254
|
312
|
2
|
|
The original plan for 20 police divisions was soon
changed to 19 and by 1842 was reduced to 12 as
vacancies, resignations, dismissals, and modifications
in the light of early experiences, occurred.
|
From Rules for the guidance of the Rural Constabulary of
Gloucestershire issued by the Chief Constable on 22nd of
February 1840.
There will be a Daily Parade at nine o'clock in Summer
and ten o'clock in Winter when the Superintendent or
Constable in charge will strictly inspect the men of the
party and see that they are clean and properly shaved
and that they never appear out in any other state.
The men are not to be permitted to work at trades nor to
engage in private pursuits; their time belongs to the
public and is to be devoted to its service
The Sheets are to be changed on the first Monday in
every Month; the soiled ones be washed under the
directions of the Constable in charge, on the cheapest
terms, and the cost paid by the men.
No pigs, dogs or birds are to be kept at any of the
Station Houses.
The Diary Books at each Station to be regularly and
neatly kept, and filled up at night , and produced when
called for.
The Shirt Collars of the men are never to be seen above
their Stocks.
The Superintendent, Sergeant or Constable in charge of
Stations will be most particular in calling the Roll and
seeing that the men are in their Barracks every night,
Eight o'clock in Winter and Nine o'clock in Summer,
which they are not to quit without permission, unless on
duty.
|
From Instructions for
the Constabulary of the County of
Gloucestershire issued by the Chief Constable 1st of
February 1840.
Each man shall devote his whole time to the Constabulary
Force.
He shall serve and reside wherever he is appointed.
Each man is conspicuously marked with the number
corresponding with his name in the books so that he can
at all times be known to the public.
A certain number when so ordered by their officer must
sleep in their clothes to be in complete readiness when
called on.
He shall allow a deduction of one shilling per week to
be made from his pay when lodgings are found him.
He shall promptly obey all lawful orders which he may
receive from the persons placed in authority over him.
Each Constable is liable to instant dismissal for
unfitness, negligence, or misconduct, independently of
any other punishment to which by law be subject. The
Chief Constable may also, if he think fit, dismiss him
without assigning any reason.
He shall not upon any occasion, or under any pretence
whatever take money from any person, also he shall not
eat nor drink at the expense or on the invitation of any
person, whilst on duty, without the express permission
of his superior officer.
|
The 1839 appointments book shows that at least 16 of the
first 23 recruits originated from Ireland. To be added are the
Superintendents, who were not included in that record, a high
proportion of whom were from Ireland.
Edward
Birch |
bn 1806 Castle
McAdam, Co. Wicklow. Sponsor A Lefroy. |
Sgt
1840. Mangotsfield 1851. Pension 1851. Died 1872 |
William
Hanbidge |
bn 1816. Co.
Wicklow. Sponsor A Lefroy. |
Sgt Cheltenham
1841, Supt at Cheltenham 1847. Pension Supt 1877 after
38 years. |
Thomas
Hollyman |
bn 1806 Fennagh,
Co. Carlow Sponsor A.Lefroy |
Sgt 1840,
Constable 1853. 'Died |
Thomas Lee |
bn 1811 Kilbride,
Co. Offaly. Sponsor Major Browne |
Sgt 1840.
Winterbourne 1841. Reduced to Constable 1843. Resigned. |
John Lee |
bn 1813 Clonegal,
Co. Carlow. Sponsor A Lefroy. |
Dismissed 1843 for
telling falsehoods to girl he made pregnant. |
Andrew
McIntyre |
bn 1809 Antrim.
Sponsor Major Browne |
Assessment - 'Not
sufficiently steady or correct to say Good. Resigned. |
Richard
Nicholson |
bn 1812 Kilbride,
Co. Wicklow. Sponsor A Lefroy |
Sgt 1840, Reduced
to Constable 2nd Class 1841. Resigned |
John
O'Brien |
bn 1815 Co. Cork.
Sponsor Major Browne |
Constable 1840.
Dismissed for living under the influence of alcohol |
Robert
Porter |
bn 1807
Baileborough, Co. Cavan. Sponsor Major Browne. |
Sgt 1840
Wotton-Under-Edge 1841/1851. 23 years service. |
Paul Sparks |
bn 1817
Roscommon. Sponsor Major Browne. |
Dismissed for
drunkenness. |
James
Stephenson |
bn 1815 Dublin.
Sponsor Major Browne |
Constable.
Dismissed for striking and knocking down Constable
Charwood. |
John
Sheckleton |
bn 1817 Annagh,
Co. Cavan. Sponsor Major Browne. |
Sgt 1840, Const
1842, Sgt 1842, Sgt 1851. |
Joseph
Cockings |
bn 1805
Bedfordshire, UK |
Sgt at Frampton in
1841, Mitcheldean 1851 |
John Dorey |
bn 1804. Stroud,
Gloucestershire |
Constable 1840.
Dismissed for making use of insolent language to Chief
Constable. |
James
Newman |
bn 1813 Stow,
Gloucestershire. |
Constable 1840.
Resigned. |
John
Osborne |
bn 1813
Dintesborough, Cirencester, Glos. |
Constable 1840. |
Peter Budds |
bn 1814
Kilkenny. Sponsor Major Browne. |
Constable.
Resigned |
John
Sheills |
bn 1819
Charlestown, Co Louth. Sponsor Major Browne. |
Sgt 1841/42
Hewelsfield. Resigned. |
Thomas
Watson |
bn 1804 Co.
Armagh. Sponsor Major Browne. |
Sgt at Fairford
1840-1841. Constable 1843 Resigned 1843? |
Charles
Bennett |
bn 1793. Nth
Wingfield, Derbyshire. Sponsor Lord Reddesdale. |
Constable 1840.
Dismissed for fighting with Constable Natheson? in
street. |
Daniel
Bolton |
bn 1802
Cirencester. Recommended by local magistrate. |
Constable 1840.
discharged through ill health. |
William
Dash |
bn 1820
Aldingborough, Sussex |
Constable
Wotton-Under-Edge 1841, Cheltenham 1851, Cirenc. 1861.
Grocer 1871 |
John Morrow |
bn 1804 St
Michaels, Dublin. Recommended by a Glos. Gent. |
Constable 1840.
Dismissed for absenting himself without leave. |
William
Noonan |
bn 1807 St. Johns
Limerick. Rec. by John Ellis Esq. Berkeley |
Constable 1840,Sgt
1842, Constable 1843. Resigned. |
John
Rafferty |
bn 1811 Castlerea,
Roscommon. Rec. by Henry Burnett, Cheltenham |
Constable 1840.
Dismissed after it was ascertained he was sacked from
Bristol police |
John Hacket |
bn 1809
Pitterdon?, Kilkenny. Recommended by Rev. Smithson |
Sergeant 1841 and
1842 |
James
Lipsett |
bn 1820 Arklow, Co
Wicklow. Rec. by Samuel Hore Esq. Arklow |
Sgt 1840. Sgt
1845. Resigned |
William
Bailey |
bn 1807 Cork.
Recommended by a Gloucester JP. |
Constable 1840.
Dismissed for fighting with Constable Ford. |
At least eleven of
Lefroy's Irish recruits came from the recently formed Dublin
Metropolitan Police and were recommended by Major Browne. An
un-armed unit, it had replaced the old Dublin Police Force
(1786-1836).
The information in the
table below was kindly passed by Jim Herlihy via Jeff Lowndes.
Jeff is researching his Gloucestershire Constabulary ancestor,
another Irishman, Superintendent Thomas Russell,
who served at Cheltenham in the early 1840s.
Dublin
Sergeants Charles Keilley and Thomas Pilkington, who
joined the Gloucestershire Constabulary as Superintendents and
were involved in its early administration, both appear to have
joined the DMP as sergeants and gave their previous occupation
as clerks.
James Budds only
remained in Gloucestershire till August 1841 and then resigned. Thomas
Lee was made a sergeant in 1840 but resigned in 1843
after being reduced to constable. Andrew McIntyre was
made a constable but resigned after a few months. He rejoined
the DMP in October 1840. John O'Brien was also
only with the Gloster force a few months and was dismissed for
"living under the influence of liquor".
Robert Porter was
made a sergeant in 1840 and remained to collect his pension in
1864. John Sheckleton was also made a sergeant in 1840 and
remained with the force until his resignation in the 1850s. John
Sheils (Sheills) was made a sergeant in 1841 but
resigned in July 1842 to become a game-keeper in the Forest of
Dean.
Paul Sparks was
made a constable but was dismissed for drunkenness in October
1842. He rejoined the DMP in June 1843.
James Stephenson,
also a constable, was dismissed for "striking and
knocking down Constable Charlwood".
Thomas Pilkington,
who had already served 13 years with the Irish Constabulary
before joining the DMP, was a superintendent with the
Gloucestershire force until his death in 1846.
Charles Keilley (Keily)
joined as a superintendent and was promoted to Deputy
Chief Constable in 1840.
In 1852 it was announced
that he had been short-listed for the position of Chief
Constable of Staffordshire.
His career ended in
disgrace in June 1853 when the 38 year old absconded with £485,
the month's wages and expenses for the Cheltenham and Tewkesbury
forces, leaving his wife and eight children unprovided for. In
July 1853 Chief Constable Lefroy announced a reward of £100 for
the apprehension of the Irishman, or £10 for information of his
whereabouts. Apparently he was never found.
Edward
Wilkinson, a former coach driver, replaced Charles Keilly as
Deputy Chief Constable. In July 1855 he was forced to resign
after an embarrassing court case when a policeman named
Alexander Gordon, who lived at Cheltenham police station,
successfully sued him for damages for taking improper liberties
with Mrs Gordon on three occasions. The jury had returned a
verdict in favour of Mr Gordon and awarded him 40 shillings
damages.
John
Nicholls, Superintendent of the Dursley district, an
officer since December 1839, became the third Deputy Chief
Constable on September 1st 1855. He was in that position in 1865
when Lefroy retired after 25 years service and was replaced as
Chief Constable by Captain Henry Christianson.
John Nicholls remained as his DCC until 8 March 1867, when
he died at the Cheltenham Police Station aged 57. He left a
widow and six children, the eldest only thirteen years old.
John Nicholls was succeeded by Tetbury born
Superintendent Charles Griffin.
The Dublin information
came from author Jim
Herlihy. He is considered an expert on the military
and constabulary history of
Ireland and has published several books including:
The Dublin
Metropolitan Police. A Complete List of Officers and
Men, 1836-1925. The Dublin Metropolitan Police: A Short History
and Genealogical Guide.The Royal Irish Constabulary: A Complete
Alphabetical List of Officers and Men, 1816-1922. Royal Irish
Constabulary Officers, A Biographical and Genealogical Guide,
1816-1922.
Name
|
DMP no.
|
Age
|
Trade
|
Home Parish
|
Joined
|
History with Dublin Force
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Peter Budds
|
712
|
23
|
None
|
St. Canice's, Kilkenny
|
1/12/1837
|
Constable 1st Class 18/1/1837.
Previously 7 years Constabulary. Resigned 29/1/1839
|
Charles Keilley
|
952
|
25
|
Clerk
|
Dublin
|
9/2/1838
|
Joined as Sgt. Resigned 11/12/1839
|
Thomas Lee
|
321
|
28
|
Labourer
|
Kilbride, Kings Co.
|
1/12/1837
|
Sgt 12/4/1839. Previously Turnkey
at Kings County Gaol. Resigned 5/12/1839
|
Andrew McIntyre
|
291
|
28
|
Shoemaker
|
Antrim
|
1/12/1837
|
Sgt 16/2/1838. Previously 2 years
in militia. Resigned 1839. Rejoined DMP Oct 1840-Feb
1843
|
John O'Brien
|
948
|
23
|
None
|
Innishannon, Cork
|
5/1/1838
|
Constable 2nd Class. Previously
with Old Dublin Force 5 months. Resigned 5/12/1839
|
Thomas Pilkington
|
173
|
32
|
Clerk
|
Killenuny, Galway
|
1/12/1837
|
Sgt 1/1/1837. Had 13 years previous
service with constabulary. Resigned 11/12/1839
|
Robert Porter
|
1440
|
30
|
Labourer
|
Loughgilly, Armagh
|
12/10/1838
|
Constable 2nd Class. Had 11 years
previous service with constabulary. Resigned 5/12/1839
|
John Sheckleton
|
1387
|
23
|
Labourer
|
Ardagh, Meath |
31/8/1838
|
Constable 2nd Class. Joined Glos.
Police 1/12/1839.
|
John Sheils
|
192
|
20
|
Labourer
|
Charlestown, Louth
|
15/12/37
|
Constable 1st Class. Resigned
11/12/1839
|
Paul Sparks
|
2782
|
20
|
Labourer
|
Elphin, Roscommon
|
29/10/1838
|
Constable 2nd Class. Resigned
5/12/1839. Rejoined DMP 23/6/1843. Resigned DMP
22/5/1844
|
James Stephenson
|
790
|
23
|
None
|
Balbriggan, Dublin
|
1/1/1838
|
Joined as Sgt. Previously with Old
Dublin Force 5 years. Resigned 5/12/1839
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A 19th Century bull's- eye
lantern in the Tetbury Police Museum is
believed to have belonged to PC John Tawney (born 1841)
who served at Chipping Campden in the 1860s. The display
notice indicates that it was recovered in 1887 after an
accident in which the constable had suffered a broken
leg and was treated by Bristol's Doctor W.C Grace the
famous cricketer.
PC Tawney was stationed at Oldland, Keynsham in the
1880s. For the
Victorian policeman this oil lantern was a very vital
piece of equipment. Including carrying handles modified
to fit on a belt, and a ground-glass lens, it not only
served as a light source, with the amount of light
varied by simply turning its chimney, but was a personal
heater in the winter and a stove for his "cuppa".
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