Name/Title
Eastbourne Parish Constable's truncheon c1830Entry/Object ID
87Description
Wooden decorated truncheon, approx. 20 1/4 inches (51.5 cm) in length, painted black with green corkscrew scroll containing the gold painted inscription "Eastbourne Parish Constable No.6". There is wear at the top showing evidence of red paint. Has a multi turned handle with a hole for a strap cord. No maker's mark.Use
To be used by an Eastbourne Parish Constable for both protection and as a symbol of their authorityContext
Before the establishment of regular full time uniformed police forces, responsibility for law and order and keeping the peace, mostly fell upon unpaid parish constables who were usually appointed on an annual basis. Like the later full time uniformed police constables, these parish officers carried decorated truncheons which acted as their authority for carrying out their duties. At the same time these truncheons were also designed to be used for protection and were not ceremonial items.
This truncheon would most likely have been used by a parish constable in Eastbourne, prior to the formation of East Sussex Constabulary in 1840. Even after the county force was established and took over responsibility for policing the town, it was heavily reliant on unpaid local non uniformed constables to supplement the very small number of regular officers across the county. These "Local Constables" were issued with truncheons marked "ESLC" (see item 526) which were very different from the truncheon pictured. The red paint showing at the tip of this particular truncheon may indicate it was either re painted or that it originally had more elaborate decoration.