Decorated black painted wooden truncheon 17 1/4 inches 44cm) in length, with small royal crown in red and gold over "W IV R" cypher painted in gold at top of main body. No maker's mark. there is a hole for attaching a wrist cord and a protrusion at the handle end.
Use
For use by a constable as protection and as a symbol authority
Context
This truncheon has the cypher of William IV who reigned from 1830 - 1837. It is relatively plain and it could have been used by either a parish constable or an early police officer. At this time truncheons were decorated with the crown because they were a symbol of the holder's authority for carrying out their duties. These truncheons were also designed to be used and were not ceremonial items.
Given its provenance there is a strong possibility that this truncheon was used somewhere in Sussex.
