Name/Title
Decorated police truncheon by Parker c1837 - 1841Entry/Object ID
981Description
Wooden badly damaged decorated truncheon, with plain multi turned handle 18 inches (46cm) in length. The body is painted black with the remains of a large crown painted at the top, over a royal coat of arms in gold and red over a red and gold cartouche, inside which is painted "POLICE".The paintwork is heavily damaged and appears to have been blistered by heat. What is visible of the coat of arms suggests that it is the post 1837 arms of Queen Victoria. Stamped on the end of the handle is the mark, "Parker Holborn".Use
For use by a police officer as protection and as a symbol of their 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, such as this example, 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 truncheon pictured is of a standard generic design and decoration produced for much of the 19th century. It has the Victorian royal coat of arms, which is a less common than those with a "VR" cypher. This one 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 company produced thousands of near identical truncheons with both generic decorations . They were using the "Parker Holborn" stamp from 1794 to 1841, and if the coat of arms is that of Queen Victoria it would date from 1837 -1841. The use of the word "POLICE" signifies it as being for police use rather than as for a special or parish constable. Sometimes these truncheons are named to a specific police force but this is of a less specific "off the shelf" type.
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 sew into the trousers. By the 1890s most police forces had discontinued decoration in favour of plain truncheons of this shorter length.