

Bygone Times of the Barnstaple Borough Police

Chief Constable Richard Eddy
Mr Richard Eddy, Chief Constable of Barnstaple
Mr. Richard Eddy, Chief Constable of the Borough of Barnstaple, was born at Clovelly, in Devonshire, in 1836, his father at that time being engaged in farming one of the largest estates in that pariah. Up to 18 years of age he assisted his father on the farm, but then went to America, and obtaining good employment with a miller and farmer at Scarborough, near the City of Toronto, Canada, he spent some years there, much to his own advantage and to the satisfaction of his employer.
Returning to England in 1862, he married, and in the same year joined the Barnstaple Borough Police Force, which then consisted of a Chief Constable, one Sergeant, and eight Constables. In 1872, upon the resignation of the then Chief, Mr. Thomas Blanchard, a vacancy occurred for a Sergeant, and Mr. Eddy, although the junior Constable, was promoted to that rank and took charge of the books. In 1883 the Government Inspector, Capt. Elgee, was pleased to compliment Sergt. Eddy upon the efficient manner in which he had discharged his duties, at the same time suggesting to the Mayor and Watch Committee the desirability of appointing another Sergeant, the strength of the Force then being twelve. A Sergeant was accordingly appointed, and Mr. Eddy promoted to the rank of Inspector, thereby creating a new rank in the Force.
The following are a few of the many experiences in connection with Mr. Eddy's official career:-
In 1877 a butcher of Barnstaple, in a fit of drunkenness, murdered his wife by stabbing her with a butcher's knife, the blow taking effect in her breast, and only barely missing her baby which she was suckling at the time. Information was given to Sergt. Eddy, who shortly afterwards arrested the murderer who had escaped to another house in the neighbourhood. The prisoner pleaded guilty to the charge of murder at the Exeter Assizes, and was sentenced to death and hanged.
Some years ago Mr. Eddy, in company with two other Police Officers, went to a rather low locality in Barnstaple to arrest a man who had attempted suicide by poison, and had threatened to kill his wife and children. In a water-closet on the premises Mr. Eddy found the man cutting his throat with a knife with which he aimed a blow at the Officer, inflicting a very severe cut on his hand, at the same time knocking out of his hand and extinguishing the candle which the Officer carried. Notwithstanding the total darkness, Mr. Eddy at once closed with the man, and, the other Officers coming to his assistance, the prisoner was secured.
In 1887 a large quantity of valuable linen was stolen while in transit between Bristol and Barnstaple on the Great Western Railway. The case having been placed in Mr. Eddy's hands, he succeeded in tracing the goods to the possession of several persons in neighbouring towns to whom they had been sold, and in subsequently arresting and convicting the thief. The directors of the railway company thanked him for his conduct of the case, and also presented him with a substantial cheque.
Chief Constable Richard Sidney Eddy
In July, 1893, upon the retirement of Mr. Longhurst, Mr. Eddy was appointed Chief Constable of the Borough by the unanimous vote of the Watch Committee, the appointment being approved of by the burgesses.
In addition to the position of Chief Constable, Mr. Eddy holds the appointments of Superintendent of Markets, Inspector under the Food and Drugs Act, Inspector under the Explosive Substances Act, and Inspector of Hackney Carriages.
It may be mentioned that he is a member of the St. John Ambulance Association, as are also the Inspector and several members of his Force. Mr Richard Eddy was the Chief Constable of Barnstaple from 1893 to 1905. His son Richard Sidney Eddy succeeded him and was Chief Constable of Barnstaple Borough Police until they became part of Devon Constabulary in 1921. At that time, he became Superintendent of A (Barnstaple) Division.
(Police Review and Parade Gossip, 16 August 1895; Western Morning News, 3 October 1921 - The British Newspaper Archive)

Barnstaple Borough Police, 1921. Chief Constable Richard Sidney Eddy with Sergeants Charles Smith and Bartholomew Braund along with Constables William Manley, James Squires, John Fry, John Brownscombe, John Corney, William Taylor, John Newcombe, Alfred Hill, Walter Baker, Sidney Gould and Samuel Gammon
Barnstaple Borough Police, 1921. Chief Constable Richard Sidney Eddy with Sergeants Charles Smith and Bartholomew Braund along with Constables William Manley, James Squires, John Fry, John Brownscombe, John Corney, William Taylor, John Newcombe, Alfred Hill, Walter Baker, Sidney Gould and Samuel Gammon

Barnstaple Borough Police, 1921. Chief Constable Richard Sidney Eddy with Sergeants Charles Smith and Bartholomew Braund along with Constables William Manley, James Squires, John Fry, John Brownscombe, John Corney, William Taylor, John Newcombe, Alfred Hill, Walter Baker, Sidney Gould and Samuel Gammon

Barnstaple Borough Police PC Richard Holland
Mr. Richard Holland, who was born at Combrew Farm, Fremington, joined the Borough Police Force in 1882, retiring in 1903, being presented by the then Mayor (Mr. Henry Barrett) with a purse of gold containing over £30, and inscribed album for his twenty-one years faithful service.
Ploughboy, soldier and policeman, Mr. Holland has been. In 1879 Mr. Holland joined the North Devon Hussars, in connection with which he said he well recalled the bread rioting at Barnstaple, and the calling out of the Yeomanry.
At the time Mr. Holland joined the borough police force the force was composed of a Superintendent, a Sergeant, and ten Constables: Superintendent G. Songhurst, Sergeant R. Eddy, and P.C.'s G. Jones. J. Molland, J. Sargent, C. McLeod, C. Abbott, H. Thorne, J. Edwards, J. Tucker, G. Pugsley, and R. Holland. The pay of a Constable in those days was 18s. 7d. per week.
In those days there was much more ceremonial attending Quarter Sessions than to-day, for the whole force accompanied the Recorder from the Golden Lion Hotel to the Guildhall. I often accompanied the Mayor and Corporation in a barge down the river on the occasion of the beating the borough bounds - another old local custom no longer observed.
I wonder if any other policeman has ever had such an incident as this in his career
said Mr. Holland, going on to refer to an interesting episode in his police career.
I was taking two prisoners to Exeter after their committal to prison lieu of the payment of fines. The two men were handcuffed, and we were standing the Junction station platform when the train from llfracombe arrived. A gentleman passenger, leaning from the carriage window, inquired what the two men had clone, and when told they were going to prison, he remarked, "I am on honeymoon and would like them released if possible." I replied that they could be released by the payment of the fines, whereupon the gentleman wrote out a cheque for the amount and I immediately took off the handcuffs and released the men. Meanwhile a crowd that had gathered cheered the gentleman heartily for his generous action. I was rather worried, however, until the cheque handed me had been honoured.
On another occasion I again acted as collector when on the journey to Exeter with a prisoner who was associated as huntsman with a well-known local pack of hounds. He was recognised by traveller, who promptly paid me the amount of the fine and gave the man an invitation to his house which was situated near the next station for a good square meal.
I once had an exciting experience on the Torridge at Bideford, where I had been sent to take possession of Russian vessel which had been in collision with another ship.
The Russian crew could not speak a word of English, which added to the difficulties when trouble broke out among the crew late one night. Knives were freely used, and there were several casualties. Mr. Holland succeeded in quelling the disturbance, but for a time things looked serious.
"Always up to some mischief" was Mr. Holland's allusion to the young people of Barnstaple in the old days.
Queen Anne's statue was often adorned in the most grotesque attire, and the Albert Clock and the fountain in the Square were frequently informally decorated. On returning from beat to the police station at 2 o'clock one morning I found the station building had been surrounded with plants and flowers that some the young bloods had transported from various gardens in the town.
The present generation remember Mr. Holland for his long association with the Barnstaple Conservative Club, where he was steward from January, 1904, to January, 1934.
Sources
- The North Devon Journal, 13 June 1935 - The British Newspaper Archive