Name/Title
Framed photograph of a Brighton Borough Police constable wearing a greatcoat c1910Entry/Object ID
2480Description
Large apparently original studio photographic print on board in a modern frame, of an apparently Brighton Borough Police constable wearing a double breasted greatcoat and a ball topped helmet with a white metal wreath style helmet badge. There is a vertically stripped duty band on the left sleeve of the coat and the officer is wearing a woollen white glove on his right hand, whilst holding another in his left. There are no markings but a spot of damage and discolouration under the officer's right foot. Size of print approximately 11.5 x 19 inches (29.4 x 48.2 cm), size of frame 39 x 64 cm.Context
Studio photographs of police officers are quite common, though this is a little unusual in that the constable concerned has been pictured wearing an overcoat rather than just a tunic. It is also of a large size, which may suggest it is an enlargement, however it is not thought to be a modern print. The officer is believed to be a Brighton Borough Police officer, and although the centre detail of the badge cannot be made out it is a wreath style with a kings crown of a type that was used in Brighton from 1902 until 1935. He is wearing a duty band and of particular interest has a pair of white woollen gloves. The fact he is wearing a coat suggests that this was taken in the winter and the use of white gloves suggests either this was normal for daytime use at the time or that he was engaged in some form of traffic control. In later years it was usual for UK officers to be issued with white gloves for summer and blue or black gloves for winter/nightime use.The fact that a white metal helmet badge is shown, again suggests a winter daytime uniform as does the use of white metal buttons.
Overcoats like this are of a military design and called greatcoats and double breasted versions were worn by the police until the 1960s. Indeed the museum has one from Brighton c1967 (see item 18). Police styles did vary and some had a turned up collar for numbers to be attached. This was not the case in Brighton at the time of this photograph. In some areas an officer's number would have been attached to shoulder epaulettes, unfortunately it cannot be seen if this is the case here.
The style of photograph suggests a date of c1910. At least one other studio photograph exists of a Brighton officer wearing an identical overcoat, though with a different backdrop, which can be dated to 1906 - 1918, and the image pictured probably dates from the same period.