The Dorset County Constabulary was formed in 1856 and at the Dorset History Centre we hold the general order books dating back to the very beginning of the force.
These handwritten books are small handwritten volumes that would take a long time to look through, but on our searchroom shelves is a transcript of the books dating up to 1888 which allows you to follow the fortunes of the earliest policemen in the county. The transcript was created by Maurice Hann, the author of Victorian Policing in Dorset.
The general order books record where policemen were stationed, when they were transferred and when they pass exams and get promoted. They also record when they are disciplined or fined.
There are a records of policemen being fined or demoted for offences such as being drunk, being found in a public house or beer shop when they were supposed to have been on duty and failing to report crimes. There are also several who were forced to resign after being found in compromising situations with prostitutes, married women or on one occasion a female prisoner.
There are also records of good conduct. In 1885 PC John Trowbridge obtained Merit Class for his courage in arresting poachers near Chettle House and in 1871 PC Richard Hann, the ancestor of the man who created the transcript, was commended for not drawing his truncheons at Cranborne in a violent assault.
In 1873 there is a record of the policemen who received a monetary reward from the Board of Trade for the saving of lives during the wreck of the Royal Adelaide, an iron sailing ship that was wrecked on Chesil beach on 25th November 1872. All but 7 lives were saved.
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Felix Bealing, PC number 32, had a very eventful career. He was reprimanded 3 times between July 1869 and September 1870, twice for being absent from a conference point and the third time for being drunk when he returned to the station when he was fined a week’s wages.
In 1876 the general order book notes that he was being absent from the station on sick leave but was found at a cricket match in Litton Cheney!
Finally, in 1877 it is recorded that he was placed at the bottom of the second class for allowing a prisoner to escape from headquarters.
Despite all these missteps he retired in 1880 due to ill health when he was given a gratuity of £50.00 for 13 years’ service.
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Are there any police in your family’s history? Let us know in the comments below!
My Great, Great Grandfather was Robin Hood, who I understand was a Police Sergeant during the late 1800s. Any information would be much appreciated. We think his son was Horace Hood, who we have found information on. Many thanks, Gemma Billingham
Hi Gemma, thanks for your message. If you drop us an email (archives@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk) one of the team can have a look into this for you.
My father Douglas Gordon Christopher (cannot remember his number) was a constable from 1952(ish) to 1971. He started in Poole, moving to Powerstock, Broadwindsor – riding a push bike up and down the west Dorset hills! Later he rode a motorbikeon beats around Dorchester for a number of years until his retirement from ill-health.
Do you know if it is possible to access a summary of his record from Dorset Police?
Hi Mo, thank-you for your comment. We hold various Dorset Police records, but many are uncatalogued, or have GDPR issues, which means that we cannot necessarily provide direct information. Your query has been passed onto one of the team to look into and get back to you in due course.
My partner’s 3xgreat grandfather was PC 37 George Fripp(1835 -1863 ).We have a photo of him that shows his number. He served initially at Toland and then at Portland. Because he caused some resentment by being over zealous, he was told to always carry his cutlass at night. He died as a result of being hit on the head while on duty.An appeal in a local newspaper raised £67 for the wife and 3 young children he left behind.Both his son Isaac and 3 of his grandchildren became policemen. Any information would be much appreciated.
Hi Richie – thank-you for your message, which has been passed onto one of the team here at DHC to look into. Someone will be in touch with you within the next 10 working days.
Hello Ritchie, Thats really but very interseting as the Chief Constable at the time just said , he regretted to the Force, that he was a good officer. I would love to see his photograph as I have a blog on ” Dorset Constabulary”. dorsetcontabulary.com IAN
Hi, i have just found out that a not to distant relative is Cornelius Pendlebury Brown (possible PC no. 407) 1886-1934. He joined the constabulary maybe around 1912, He was stationed at Wimborne, Poole, Portland and Dorchester during his career. I have managed to fact check most of this on ancestry with addresses and job titles like 6, Police Buildings in Poole and 7, Poole Road Wimborne also Dorchester Victoria Park County Constabulary. My relation to him is his wife Lily Pike, sister to my Great Grandmother on my dads side. Would be interested to see if you have any information about him. Kind regards, Kris
My great great grandfather Thomas (Tom) Custard was a police constable in Dorset from the mid-late 1870s to around the early 1900s. I have a photo of him in uniform but can’t see his number. The 1881 census has him living at Bradpole, 1891 at Hook, 1901 at Stour Provost and 1911 at East Stour, although he is described as a police pensioner than. If you have any information you can give me about him I’d love to see it as we are putting together a potted family history for my mother’s 90th birthday in April. Thank you!
Hi Rebecca, thanks for getting in touch. Your enquiry has been passed onto one of the team here to look into, and they will be in touch with you in due course.
My Great, Great Grandfather was Frank Northover (1857 – 1909) He joined the Dorset Constabulary on 2 July 1878 and his number was 24. Frank retired on 26 February 1905 at Portland where he was Sergeant-in-charge. I have 2 photographs of him in uniform which I would gladly let you have a copy for your records.
Any information you have on Frank would be very much appreciated.
Regards Jane
Hi Jane, thanks for getting in touch – your enquiry has been passed onto one of our team here at Dorset History Centre, who will reply to your email address in due course with any relevant information relating to Frank.
Hi – I noted the above request for information from Kris Barnes that has not yet received a reply. I too would be interested in a response as Cornelius Pendlebury Brown was my great grandfather. … Hi, i have just found out that a not to distant relative is Cornelius Pendlebury Brown (possible PC no. 407) 1886-1934. He joined the constabulary maybe around 1912, He was stationed at Wimborne, Poole, Portland and Dorchester during his career. I have managed to fact check most of this on ancestry with addresses and job titles like 6, Police Buildings in Poole and 7, Poole Road Wimborne also Dorchester Victoria Park County Constabulary. My relation to him is his wife Lily Pike, sister to my Great Grandmother on my dads side. Would be interested to see if you have any information about him. Kind regards, Kris
Hi Julie, thanks for your message. The enquiry has been passed along to one of our team here, and someone will be in touch with you directly soon.