Actual Reference is HO107 piece 2493 folio 127 page 36 Joseph Constance, 34, Police Officer, born Gloster Ann Constance, 38, born Monmouth Alfred Constance , 14, born Monmouth Ellen Constance, 12, born Monmouth Agnes Constance , 10, born Hereford Henry Constance , 8, born Hereford Eliza Constance , 5, born Hereford Ann Constance , 3, born Knighton
The surname VERDON is correct> Actual ref is HO107 Piece 1455 folio 6/28 page 22 Henry Verdon, 28, Police Officer, Not born in County Frances Verdon, 29, Not born in County Henry Verdon, 3, Not born in County Frances Verdon, 3 months, Born in County
Thomas Pugh, 28, Police Constable RCC, born Cwmdauddwr, Radnorshire Ann Pugh, 31, born Cwmdauddwr, Radnorshire Thomas Pugh,1, born Knighton
Joseph Normington, 29, Police Constable, born Trowbridge, Wilts Catharine Normington, 27, born Blaina, Mon Rhoda Normington, 5, born Blaina, Mon William Normington, 1, born Knighton, Radnorshire
William Bufton, 41, Sergeant of Police, born Nanhuel (?), Radnorshire Ada Gertrude Bufton, 35, (married 1 year, no children), born Presteign, Radnorshire
Found another one for 1901, living at Number 1 police Terrace, Knighton (RG13, piece 5183, folio 91, page 2): Lewis LEWIS, Mar, 27, Police Officer, b Talgarth, Brecon Annie LEWIS, Wife, 24, b Talgarth, Brecon John LEWIS, son, 3, b Rhayader, Rad Mabel I LEWIS, dau, 2, b Knighton, Rad Gladys L Lewis, dau, 5 months, b Knighton, Rad
Ah Lewis Lewis was a policeman in Llangunllo which is about 5 miles from town. The census says Knighton as it is in the Knighton catchment area. Thank you too Jan, you have been very kind.
Matthew Edwards, 58, General Labourer, born Bucknell, Salop Mary Edwards, 48, (married 5 years, 3 children of whom 2 have died), Assistant, born Dearfold(?), Hereford Norah Keeley, 18, daughter, single, Assistant, born Llangunllo(?), Radnorshire William Aspley, single, boarder, 25, Police Constable, born Bucknell, Salop
Unless someone comes by and fills in the gaps from the census references that I posted for 1901, I will do so tomorrow evening/Wednesday.
To fill some of the gaps between the census years, you could try the parish register. I see, for example, that there is a baptism at Knighton in 1841 for a child of Henry Verdon, police officer. NB this was before the formation of the Radnorshire Constabulary and too early for him to be a 'Superintending Constable', so he may have been appointed by the parish. 'The Watching and Lighting Act of 1833 had provided for the payment of constables, who were still to be appointed on a parochial basis' (from F.C. Mather, Public Order in the age of the Chartists, online via Google Books). Also, don't forget the newspapers! Welsh Newspapers Online gives loads of matches if you search for Knighton AND police. Too many really: you will have to experiment to find the most useful search terms to find the sort of articles you want. You could try some of the names that have been found on the censuses too (try rank + surname as well as full name). Here's just one example, from the Montgomeryshire Express and Radnor Times of 28 July 1896: 'KNIGHTON POLICE INSPECTION. - On Tuesday, Captain Parry visited the Knighton Police Station. The men, under Inspector Rogers, were inspected as well as the books and cells. The Chief-constable (Mr J.E. Lloyd) was also present.' Finally, you could try getting hold of a book by W.C. Maddox, A history of the Radnorshire Constabulary (1981).
My 'finally' was premature. David Rogers gave evidence at an 1866 trial involving some strange goings on at a pub in Knighton. The trial proceedings are reconstructed here from a newspaper account: http://www. judgeslodging.org.uk/resources/on_trial_the_case_of_the_stolen_ducks/ I like the judge's question, 'Is it usual to play cards for ducks in Radnorshire?'
Funny lot in Knighton....... I loved the account of the trial which Huncamunca found and whilst looking at some of the many, many mentions of the police at Knighton, this little piece caught my eye. Hereford Times 3rd March 1934 At the Knighton Police Court on Wednesday, Police Sergeant Lewis Morris charged himself with having his chimney on fire on February 6th. It was very amusing to hear the Sergeant conduct the prosecution and defence, and the case caused considerable laughter. After stating the evidence briefly, P. S. Morris said he reported the matter to the Chief Constable in the usual way, and was ordered to take out a summons against himself. There were no previous convictions, and he had never been cautioned (laughter). The Chairman (to the Chief Constable): Don't you generally caution people in these cases? The Chief Constable: We generally give warning, but this was so serious a matter that we had to take notice of it (renewed laughter). Mr Dilwyn Jones suggested that in case their worships imposed a fine they should allow the defendant time to pay (laughter). The case was dismissed, also was a similar summons against William John Edwards, Bridge Street, Knighton. Ann
