Name/Title
Decorated truncheon, possibly from the Metropolitan Police c1837 - 1870sEntry/Object ID
980Description
Wooden heavily worn 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 the remains of a 'VR" cypher in gold, over a red and gold cartouche, though the original lettering inside has worn off. The top of the handle is stamped "W ^ D" and has an old circular collector's sticker with the number "48" written on it. No markers marks.Use
For use by a police or parish constable for 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, 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 though heavily worn is of a standard design and decoration produced for much of the 19th century. Indeed if you wanted a typical example of a Victorian painted truncheon, this would be it (see item 218 for an undamaged example of this decoration).
This particular one has no makers stamp. The 'VR' clearly dates from 1837, when Queen Victoria came to the throne and truncheons with this form of decoration were in common use until the 1870s. The "W^D" stamp may however be an indication of its origins. The "WD" is short for War Department and the "^" is what is known as a "broad arrow" and was originally used by the Board of Ordnance to designate Government Military Property. In 1855 the Board of Ordnance was disbanded and its roles and responsibilities were taken over by the War Department, who also began to use the "^" mark.
The "W^D" strap was often used as an inspection mark and it is known that the Metropolitan Police at various times used the War Department services to test and inspect items of equipment, both those already in service and new purchases alike. The items that passed were stamped with this mark.
In the 1880s in particular a number of truncheons were tested and marked in this way over concerns of the strength of those in service and that of potential new designs. It is quite likely that this truncheon was originally in service with the Metropolitan Police and at some time was inspected by the War Department.
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.