Name/Title
Brunswick Square Police Force painted truncheon "BC 3", 1842 - 1858Entry/Object ID
1843Description
Wooden decorated truncheon, with plain multi turned handle 17 1/4 inches (44cm) in length. The body is painted black with a large crown painted at the top, over an ornate 'VR" cypher in gold, over a red and gold circlet, around which is painted "Brunswick Square Police Force". Inside the circlet in large gold coloured lettering is "BC 3" Stamped on the end of the handle is the mark, "Parker 233 Holborn". The paint at the end of the truncheon is heavily worn and chipped in other places. There is also a chip missing from the handle.Use
For use by a police officer as protection and as a symbol of his authority.Context
The earliest police truncheons tend to be 17-20 inches (43-51cm) long and are often highly decorated usually with a crown and sometimes with the addition of a royal coat of arms. This was because in the days before warrant or ID cards, the truncheon was the officer's badge of office and symbolised his authority from the crown for carrying out his duties. There was no single style of truncheon or design of decoration in the 19th century and individual police forces chose whatever they liked, some adopting truncheons of a reasonably standard design, made by a large supplier, and others purchasing more unique styles made by local manufacturers. As well as being a symbol of authority decorated truncheons were designed to be used in self defence and were not just ornaments.
The painted crown and 'VR" cypher on the truncheon pictured are of a standard design of decoration produced for much of the 19th century, though the use of a circlet with the force name is unusual, as normally it would be in a cartouche. This truncheon was made by the London firm of "Parker," also known as "Parker Field" and "Field", who were famous sword makers, gunsmiths and suppliers of police equipment. The handle is stamped, "Parker 233 Holborn", and the company were at this address in London, from 1842-1877.
Brunswick Square in Hove is part the Brunswick Town development of high class housing, the construction of which began in 1824. In 1830 using powers under a Local Improvement Act the residents of Brunswick Town swore in two constables to patrol the Brunswick area (Poulson, Rumble and Smith 1987). This represented the first police force in Hove and by November 1830 there were five officers, though they only worked in Brunswick Town and policing for the whole of Hove did not begin until 1858. The first police station of the Brunswick Square Police Force was in Brunswick Street West and in 1856, a new station was provided in the newly constructed Hove Town Hall, also in Brunswick Street West (Middleton 2002). It was only in 1858 as a result of the Hove Improvement Act that the Hove Police Commissioners were formed and took responsibility for policing the whole of Hove Parish, leading to the end of the Brunswick Square Police Force and the creation of Hove Police, later Hove Borough Police. The previous Head Constable of the Brunswick Square Force, George Beach, became the Superintendent of the new force, which probably took on the other Brunswick constables as well. By 1860, as well as George Beach, there were 3 sergeants, and 16 constables (Middleton 2002).
This truncheon dates from 1842 to 1858 and the "BC" probably either stands for "Brunswick Constable" or possibly "Brunswick Commissioners", the '3" either being a collar number or the number of that truncheon. The museum also has another near identical example (item 987) which has "BC 8" painted on it. Given that in 1851 there were only six officers in the Force, these numbers seem more likely to be the numbers of the actual truncheons themselves, unless they are of a later date. There is another style of Brunswick Square Police Force truncheon in Hove museum, although this has the name of the force in the more normal red and gold cartouche and no "BC" or number. This may indicate that the "BC" examples are earlier, possibly from the 1840s, which may account for the unusual circlet.
By the 1870s the public were well used to the concept of uniformed police and the need for decorated truncheons declined. In the 1880s warrant cards were issued as a form of ID and he truncheon became less symbolic. At the same time there was a move towards smaller 14-15 inch truncheons that could be carried in a pocket sewn into the trousers. By the 1890s most police forces had discontinued decoration in favour of plain truncheons of this shorter length.