Name/Title
St. Marys Westminster parish or special constable's truncheon c1842 - 1877Entry/Object ID
977Description
Wooden decorated truncheon, with plain multi turned handle 17 1/2inches (44cm) in length. The body is painted black with a large crown painted at the top, over an ornate Victorian royal coat of arms in gold and red over a red and gold cartouche, inside which is the remains of what appears to be "St Mary's Westminster". Stamped on the end of the handle is the mark, "Parker 233 Holborn". Much of the paintwork is damaged.Use
For use by a parish or special constable 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 truncheon pictured is of standard generic design and decoration produced for much of the 19th century. It has a Victorian royal coat of arms, which is less common than those with a "VR" cypher. It 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 to both generic designs. They were using the "Parker 233 Holborn" stamp from 1842 to 1877.
This truncheon is named to the parish of St. Marys Westminster, and is thought to relate to the parish of St Mary -Le- Strand.
Westminster was in the earliest Metropolitan Police District and this truncheon would have been for the use of either a parish constable or more likely, a special constable raised within the parish.
Whilst the Metropolitan Police were responsible for policing Westminster from 1829, this truncheon is clear evidence that this particular parish continued to take some responsibility for policing after that date. As the Metropolitan force became established and grew, the need for parish constables in London declined, though local magistrates would still have been able to swear in special constables when required.
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.