Police: Difference between revisions

 

Another petition praying for two resident constables for the locality was prepared to be presented to the magistrates at Chester Castle.

 

The timing could not have been better. The new Chief Constable, Captain Johnes Smith had powers under the 1856 County and Borough Police Act to reorganise the force and increase its numbers, and to incur expenditure in erecting station-houses.

 

By 1858 Police Sgt John Clark was resident in the area, and a police station complete with cells was being built on the corner of Stone Place and [[Hoole Road]]. Cpt Smith's official residence was to be Hoole Lodge which may have had a bearing on provision in Hoole; the County Constabulary headquarters was then in Seller Street, later moving to Egerton Street.

 

The uniform was stipulated as being blue frock coats, those of superintendents being braided. The Prince of Wales's Feathers were adopted as the badge, which caused a problem later because permission had not been sought to use it.

 

A description of the station made in 1948 sounds as if it was unchanged for 90 years.

 

In addition, in the early years the local incumbent took responsibility for the Local Board's fire hose reel cart, and was also appointed to be its Inspector of Nuisances. This post dealt with complaints like the proper emptying of night-soil, the ill treatment of animals and causation of flooding. The police in Hoole also became responsible for implementing the Common Lodging Houses Act which in the interests of Public Health limited the number of lodgers to sleep in each house, inspected for cleanliness and ventilation and the segregation of sexes. Contagious and infectious diseases needed to be controlled. A notice shows the measures to be taken to combat cholera, Sgt Clarke being the person who would supply medicine to people infected.

 

====Incidents and events====

The advent of motorised vehicles added a significant dimension. Vehicles had to be registered and drivers licensed. The Motor Car Act 1903 made it an offence to drive on a public highway in such a way as to be dangerous to the public. The highest speed was to be 20 miles an hour. Hoole Road and Hoole Bridge were the scene of numerous incidents.

 

 

 

All of this meant working closely with Civil Defence Workers, Air Raid Precautions (ARP) wardens and the Home Guard. In addition normal peacetime duties were made more difficult due to the blackout and rationing, criminal activity increasing. Black market trading was another issue, a case in Hoole involving the purchase of cloth without coupons by Jimmy O'Reilly and Peter Coyle Marl ensured much gossip and a petition for leniency for the much liked chip shop owner. Another premises on Faulkner Street run as betting shop by Freddy Ankers was raided, gambling in such a way being illegal.

 

Cpt Johnes Smith was its first occupant, the 1861 Census recording his wife and four children, his mother-in-law and eight members of staff living there. A coachman was employed for the journey into Seller Street, the location of the County Police Headquarters.

 

Cpt Smith donated £25 to the building fund for All Saints Church which opened in 1967 and a brass plaque in the church commemorates his activities there. He, his wife and family played an active part in local life, being associated with many events at the Church and the Lecture Hall

 

There was embarrassment in 1865 when his son, Ensign St Clair Smith, then of the 49th Regiment, Dublin was convicted for attending a cock-fight at Peel Hall,near Tarvin. He and twelve other gentlemen were fined £5 plus costs.

 

Cpt Smith died in 1977 and:

 

Cheshire's second Chief Constable was Capt Arrowsmith, but because Capt Smith's widow was allowed to remain at Hoole Lodge, he resided at The Elms, which following the death of George Meakin was available to rent. Capt Arrowsmith attended the presentation made to Sgt Clarke in 1878, albeit being responsible for his move after 21 years.

 

 

In September 1881 Col J.H. Hamersley was appointed Chief Constable and he and his family moved into Hoole Lodge, where he soon advertised its 17 acres as being available for grazing. In 1884 he presided over entertainment for the newly formed Hoole branch of the Church of England Temperance Society. In 1899 he successfully objected to a drinks licence being granted for Hoole Volunteer Fire Brigade's sports day which was held at Hoole House, which neighboured his property.

 

He was elected to the Hoole Local Board in 1885 at the same time as the Hon Claude Hamilton Vivian. The Board was at that time in some turmoil. Its Clerk, Joseph Bridgman, who had guided it since its formation in 1864 had died in 1881. His successor, W.M.Weaver, a solicitor, and his deputy W. Grice, who was also its surveyor had difficulty in handling some of the issues such as the taking over of the Hoole Turnpike Road in November 1883, the repercussions of Charles Brown's [https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/1876/39/pdfs/ukla_18760039_en.pdf Flookersbrook Improvement Act 1876], and the pressure from Chester Town Council for the area to be absorbed into its jurisdiction.

 

Following Col Hamersley's retirement in September 1910 Hoole Lodge was no longer used as the official residence and was returned to the Earl of Shrewsbury's estate. It was eventually sold for housing, being advertised as the Hoole Lodge Estate which was to become Park Drive.