Name/Title
Brighton Borough Police blue helmet 1952 - 1967Entry/Object ID
1042Description
Two panelled blue felt covered cork Brighton Borough Police helmet, with green buckram type lining and fitted with chrome plated ball top and chrome plated Queen's Crown Brighton Borough Police helmet plate with a coat of arms centre, in a single pressing. Has a black metal helmet band and black patent leather chinstrap. On the leather headband are stamps marked "Christys London" and "Made expressly for G. Eade and Son, 158 North Street Brighton. There is also a size label marked "6 7/8"Use
Winter daytime headdress for Brighton Borough Police constables and sergeants.Context
Brighton Borough Police Officers wore white helmets for daytime summer use between 1933 and 1939, then again from 1952 until 1967. During daytime in the winter months they wore blue helmets with chrome badges (helmet plates) and chrome tops. During the hours of darkness they worn blue helmets with black helmet plates and tops. This was common practice in the UK, the rationale was that a black helmet plate would be harder for a criminal to see and not alert them to the presence of an officer.
The badge or helmet plate on this example, with a "Queen Elizabeth" or "St Edward's Crown", dates it from 1952-1967. This style of helmet is known as a "ball top", which was used for both summer and winter wear in Brighton from the 1890s onwards.
This particular helmet was made by the famous hat maker Christys of London and was supplied by G. Eade and Son of 158 North Street Brighton, who were at this premises between 1889 and 1958, listed as "Hatters, Outfitters and umbrella makers". It was common practice in the past for police forces to order uniform through a local third party, rather than straight from the manufacturer.