X Luke H. TalbotDear RosemaryThank you for request for information concerningChief Constable Luke Talbot, it is somewhat'spooky' that you should contact as only lastweek, because of the lack of information theMuseum held on Luke I started to research him.But first I have to point out a few things. Sadlywe do not have a photograph, that is to say wemay, there are literally hundreds of photographsof officers, but their names were never recordedon the reverse of the photograph. But if you dohave a photograph we would greatly appreciate acopy of it. There is also a discrepancy as towhether his second forename was Hamilton or Henryperhaps you confirm what in fact it was.The Cheshire Constabulary was formed in April1857; there are many thousands of records, theseare held by the Cheshire Record Office, Chester. Ias a retired Police officer and voluntary PoliceMuseum Researcher am slowly extracting theserecords and this is where it becomes a littlecomplicated. Luke was in fact the Chief Constableof Warrington Borough Police Force between 1895and 1907. Warrington Borough Police was anindependent force, it being formed circa 1833 andit remained this way until 1974, it then becamepart of Cheshire Constabulary with thereorganisation of the local Government Boundaries,therefore at the time of Luke's service Warringtonwas part of county of Lancashire. This Museum doeshave copies of the more important documents forWarrington Borough Police. Luke's personal policerecord does not appear in any of these records, wepresume that because he already held theappointment of Chief Constable in Kendal and priorto appointment with Warrington Borough hispersonal records were not treated in the samemanner as an ordinary Police Officer.I am truly sorry that I now have to perhapsshatter any family stories that surround hisdeath, for the truth is that Luke committedsuicide in Egypt in 1907, we understand, althoughthis has yet to be confirmed that he shot himselfin the head, this is one of the reasons why I haveundertaken to research his service.Before continuing with regard to what research Iam undertaking I have added an extract from theshort history of Warrington Borough Police, thisconcerns the benefits that Luke brought toWarrington Borough Police. If you wish to read thefull history please visit the Museum website andfrom the drop down menu marked History you willsee the short history there."The next gentleman to be appointed ChiefConstable in 1895 was Mr. Luke H. Talbot, havingpreviously been Chief Constable of Kendal for aperiod of five and half years. Mr. Talbot had muchexperience in the running and organisation of aPolice Force and was very soon instrumental inobtaining an increase in establishment bringingthe total strength of the force up to 66. Heformed the first Criminal Investigation Departmentin the Borough Police, which consisted of OneDetective Inspector: Four Detective Constables anda Clerk.He also opened out-stations at Latchford andSankey Bridges and later one at Longford. Theseout-stations remained in existence until 1963,only moving position slightly as new property asbuilt and acquired. These out stations got quite areputation; local children who had been naughtycould be taken there by their parents. Where theymet the local Police Sgt who would box their earssaying "If he's no better in a week bring him backfor more". This modernisation of the Police Forcewas continued.It is not clear when Warrington police wereofficially issued with swords, but they were inuse during the Great coal strike of 1893.In 1898, the Constables, showing the first signsof the necessity for mobility and speed thuspurchased two motorcycles for use. It isinteresting to note that mounted Police were notintroduced until 1900, thus in Warrington Policethe machine preceded the horse. Anotherdevelopment in Mr. Talbot's programme ofmodernisation was the introduction of an officialPolice photographer. Photographs of prisoners atWarrington are referred to as far back as 1867,but it was not until 1897 that the PolicePhotographer was appointed. He received 3s. 0d.per week extra in his pay on the understandingthat he took all the necessary photographs andprovided all his own apparatus and materials.In the latter part of the 19th century, the PoliceStation or Bridewell as it was then called stoodin Irwell Street. The main door was on the firstfloor approached by a flight of stone steps oneither side. On the ground floor between theflights of steps stood a sinister black doorabutting onto the pavement, this door lead to thecells. One would not have to wait long inButtermarket Street before the police arrived witha drunk, male or female often in a wheelbarrow anddisappear with their prey through that door. Alsoa common sight in Manchester road was a handcartbeing pushed by two policemen en route to themortuary, which was then in the cemetery, with acorpse covered in sacking and a group of childrenrunning behind.Social conditions for the policeman were alsogetting better, on 14th September 1900, officerspay was increased to 31/- a week. (£1.55p) with anallowance of 14/- a year (70p) to buy boots.In late 1900's after years of debate by HMInspectors of Constabulary and other Policeofficials, the Town Council finally decided thatit was necessary to build a new courthouse andPolice Station. The old Bridewell having long beeninadequate for the purpose. On 11th October 1901,the new Police Station, situated in Arpley Street,and still used today, was opened.It also contained a well-appointed Courtroom,which soon earned itself amongst the visitors ofthe town the title of 'The Palace of Justice'. Theopening of this new building coincided veryconveniently with the acceptance of Warrington asa County Borough on 1st October 1901, Warringtonthus becoming a judicially self-contained unit.The strength of the force was then 73 men. Wellalmost, as the decoration had not yet beenfinished inside so as soon as the ceremony wasover the building was closed again for a couple ofmonths when it was ready for use. And the policedid not completely move into the new policestation until 1902, PC Fish recorded he did notmove to the new Police Station until 9th July1902. And it was shortly after this that theIrwell Street Bridewell was demolished. Before passing from the period in which Mr. Talbotwas Chief Constable, it seems only right tomention his fairness and efforts to create a highmorale within the force. During his term ofoffice, he realised a personal pay award grantedby the Watch Committee, in order to ensure thathis Constables received an increase, which hadlong been overdue. Also due to hisforesightedness and belief in recreation, theWarrington Police Athletic Club was founded. Thisorganisation for many years after its formationraised, through its many activities, large sums ofmoney, which were distributed amongst the manyworthy charities of the town.It was in 1901, that an officer was on duty inBridge Street in the early hours of morning whenhe was confronted by a young man in hisnight-clothes, the officer tried to find out whothe young man was only to be told 'St Michael'. Itwas established that he was living with the vicarof St James church and was suffering withreligious mania. The police took him back to thevicarage without charge and he later went tohospital. It was also the same year that the vicarRev. Powell retired also having gone insane. Thenew vicar Rev. Pearson took over but his wife wassuddenly taken ill and died, so traumatic was thisto the vicar that he shot himself in the vicarage.The census of 1901 put the population ofWarrington at 62,242.On 16th April 1902, Warrington police received newstyle helmets to be worn. Also in April the policehad to inspect the new tramway to Latchford and toSankey prior to it being open to the public. In 1903 Buffalo Bills Wild West Show came toWarrington, Fletchers ground on WilderspoolCauseway, was the location for the Red Indians andCowboys galloping around the huge tent. On thefollowing Sunday the Cowboys of the show attendedat the Parish Church as choristers and the churchwas packed to the doors. It was also at this timewhen travel by horse was popular; these horseswere sometimes not as quiet as the rider wouldlike. It was one of an officers recognised dutiesto stop runaway horse's it was a difficult taskstopping a crazy animal galloping at full speedthrough narrow streets, Sometimes as much as aquarter of a mile before being brought undercontrol. At night the street would resound to theclip clop of the lamplighters clogs as he walkedthe cobbled streets lighting the gas lightburners. Incandescent gas mantles did not appearuntil a few years later.Things at the police station must have beengetting better, on 21st January 1904, after a longwait the billiard / snooker table was opened bythe watch committee; it is still there today,although it has been re-covered a few times.On 12th February 1904, in an effort to smarten upthe police force, weekly drill sessions werereintroduced. And all officers would take part.This no doubt would have helped with theGovernment inspection that took place on 24thMarch 1904.Police uniform was in its infancy, one of thegreat remembered pieces of uniform came into useon 24th march 1905, The police Cape, made fromserge it was easy to carry warm and dry, fastenedat the neck with a piece of chain secured by twolions heads. Many a naughty boy remembers gettinga whack with the cape, especially so when thelions got you.On 4th March 1907, Mr. Talbot suffered a rathertragic death, and the town lost not only adedicated and forward thinking Chief Constable,but a friend".You will note that within this extract it makesreference to the main Police Station being inIrwell Street. In 1901 the new Police Station wasopened and it still stands today, it is still aworking Police Station and also holds the Museum.I have attached a photograph and the onlydifference between then and now is that it doesnot have the trees on the pavements. Luke wouldhave walked in and out of this on a daily basis.The Museum is open to you via prior appointment onMondays and Fridays, in your particular case itwould be good to see just where Luke controlledthe force from.Returning now to what research I have started on,I came across an internet site named "black sheep"this is basically an individual who has over theyears extracted newspaper article's appertainingto police officers service and deeds. Luke'spolice career is certainly well documented fromhis service in Bradford, Durham and Warringtonincluding an article covering his suicide. I haveattached a copy of those entries that mentionLuke. I should point out that the owner of thissite charges for all copies of the extracts andthey are not cheap, the amount of entries Luke haswould certainly be a considerable cost. To thisend I have already sent an email to DurhamArchives asking for the whereabouts of the variousnewspapers in which Luke's name appears. I havealso sent an email to a friend who lives inWarrington to see if he would like to search outwhere the newspapers for the period of time areheld, neither have replied at the moment. By doingit in this manner we could circumvent the'blacksheep' index this would save a considerableamount of money, would you are perhaps interestedin sharing the costs to obtain these newspaperarticles as the museum funds just do not extend tobeing able to pay the full cost's. If so, you donot have to do anything I will make all thenecessary enquiries.I hope that what I have been able to give you hasnot been all bad. When you get a moment would yousend a quick mail so I can mark of your enquiry asbeing complete and of course letting me know ifyou are interested in sharing the cost's. If youhave any further questions please don't hesitateto contact me. Jim Talbot. Trustee and Researcher,Cheshire Museum of Policing.