Cambridgeshire

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Notes on Policing Littleport 1800-1841

| Introduction | A Lighting and Watching Act Force | Parish Constables | Named Constables and Watchmen | The Isle of Ely Constabulary | Littleport lock-up | Lighting and Watching Act 1833 |

Introduction

This article describes aspects of policing in the Cambridgeshire village of Littleport from around 1800 to the formation of the Isle of Ely Constabulary in 1841. This is a work in progress which raises a number of questions and leaves plenty of scope for further research. It is hoped that over time more information may come to light. Please get in touch if you would like to contribute.

Littleport is a 16,000 acre rural parish containing a small town, situated on the River Great Ouse, about 6 miles north East of Ely, a similar distance from the Cambridgeshire / Norfolk border and 12 miles South of Downham Market, Norfolk. The population grew steadily in the 19th century: 1811: 1,847, 1821: 2,364, 1831: 2,644, 1841: 3,365, 1851: 3,832

In the early 19th century basic police functions in Littleport were carried out by Parish Constables, who were local householders, probably nominated at the local Court Leet. Nominations probably followed some sort of rotational arrangement wherby Constables served for a period of time. Their service was generally unpaid but Constable's disbursements (expenses) could be claimed for the execution of certain functions, such as serving summonses or conveying prisoners to gaol. The parish also employed watchmen, either generally or if there was some identified need. If more than one Watchman was employed, a Sergeant of the Watch might be appointed to take charge of the function. Watchmen might also be sworn as Constables.

Surviving vestry minutes from Littleport (Cambs Archives P109/8/1 1745-1833 and P109/8/2 1834-1861) show that very occasionally the Vestry had some say in the activities of Parish Constables and watchmen, but the Vestry does not appear to be the body nominating these local officials. On 14 June 1810 the Vestry recorded "that the constables and special constrables will attend to the instructions and directions of the Magistrates as to the regulations of the parties standing idly in the streets of the parish of Littleport." Then the following on the subject of the watchmen - "Six men shall watch every night, four of whom shall be constantly on duty to go out a half an hour after sunset and continue on duty until an hour after daylight" Then on 4 March 1835 "The Constables should proceed to Old Pool Drove and Westmore Drove and remove such encroachments as have recently taken place in those places.

In 1842 the system, whatever it had been, changed with the passing of the Parish Constables Act. Under this Act Magistrates annually issued a precept to the overseers asking for a list of householders eligible to serve as Constables. Magistrates selected Constables for the year ahead and they were sworn into office. The Littleport Vestry Minutes 24 Sept 1842 record the names put forward were:
James Simpson jnr, farmer Wisbech rd
Samuel Dring, wheelwright, Wisbech Rd
John Dennis, gardener, Victoria St
James Cross, butcher, Victoria Street
William Green, Miller, Lynn Rd
Will Edmd Day Jewson, coal merchant, City Road
Thomas Tubbs, painter, Crown Street
Josiah Dewey Jnr, farmer, Burnt Fen Bank
Richard Metcalf, cordwainer, White Hart Lane
Thomas Mott, farmer, Dairy Houses
John James, carpenter, High St
Three names: Dring, Cross and Jewson, were marked with crosses, presumably being the three appointed for the next year.

No longer term lists of Constables or Watchmen are believed to have survived for Littleport. Cambridgeshire Archives have an extensive series of Petty Sessions Records for the Ely and South Witchford Division, which includes Littleport. Their class of records KPSE/A/D/, contains informations, complaints and statements, organised by year, and many of these documents include the names of local Constables and Watchmen. Occasionally a press report on a local court case might mention the name of a Littleport Constable. This link will take you to a list of the Constables and Watchmen gleaned from these Petty Session records and press reports. From gaps between years in the surviving documents, it is obvious that this series is not complete. Therefore it can be anticipated that the list of the local Constables derived from it is also not complete. Hopefully other information may come to light in due course on individual constables.

Although not a complete set of records, it is possible to derive some further information from the linked list. First, it helps to answer the question "How many Constables were appointed each year?" We know that more than one Parish Constable served at any one time. Edward Butcher was convicted at Ely Sessions in 1819 of riotously assaulting the Constables (plural) of Littleport (Cambridge Chronicle 30 April 1819 p3). Some of the Constables' appointments overlapped, three in the years 1831, 1834 and 1837, two in the years 1838 1839, three in 1843. Overall, it seems likely that three constables were nominated to serve annually. The next point of interest is how long individual constables served in office. A number of the Constables appeared in records for one year only. This might suggest annual appointments, or possibly the random nature of which records have survived. However, there were exceptions: Robert Woodbine 1824-1828, Thomas Taylor 1831-1836 and James Smith 1838-1840. Service for more than a single year might have occurred where the Vestry decided to pay the constable to serve, or possibly where an officer agreed on payment to serve as a substitute for another householder. There is currently no information on payment, however, the surviving court material shows a very high workload for a few of the Constables, especially James Smith. It seems unlikely that he would have put in so much work without fair remuneration.

Littleport and Ely Riot

No article on 19th Century Littleport would be complete without a mention of the Littleport and Ely Riots which took place in 1816. There were many causes of the riots, particularly difficulties in the agricultural sector: poor crops, falling wages and loss of work, accompanied by rising prices, and an event sparked by a gathering in Littleport fuelled by alcohol. The whole event is subject of an excellent article in Wikipedia. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ely_and_Littleport_riots_of_1816). The following local press account, written a few days after the riots, gives a flavour of events. (Cambridge Chronicle 31 May 1816 p3)

"On Wednesday the 22nd inst a most desperate body of Fen men assembled at Littleport in the Isle of Ely where they attacked on the same night the House of the Reverend Mr Vachel, a magistrate, who for some time stood at his door armed with a pistol, threatening to shoot anyone who should attempt to enter, when three men rushed upon and disarmed him. He immediately ran upstairs to relieve his wife and two daughters, who, with very slight covering, made their escape with him, running nearly all the way towards Ely, where they arrived safe after midnight. The rioters then broke all the windows, and nearly demolished everything in the house, burning all Mr Vachel's valuable papers and writings, and stamping his plate under their feet; after which they extorted considerable sums of money from the inhabitants and broke into two shops, helping themselves, without anyone daring to oppose them. The publicans' cellars were their next object, where, after having drank what they liked, they got a waggon and team of horses and proceeded for Ely, taking with them every gun they could find. On their arrival at that City they were joined by some of its refractory inhabitants before 8:00 on Thursday morning, when they demanded contributions from the houses and shops of the brewers, bakers, butchers, grocers, and millers, which were unavoidably assented to, and a dreadful scene of drunkenness and riotous conduct ensued. They then proceeded to the House of Mr Rickwood, a miller, where they began to break his windows & but on his wife consenting to go with a party of them to the bank, for the purpose of giving them £50; On obtaining that sum they left his house without committing any further depredations ........The mischief was chiefly committed by the Littleport rioters, who, after separating themselves from those of Ely, extorted money from several persons of that city, which they spent in drink and departed homeward to complete their lawless depredations; having first obtained the release of two of their confederates who had been imprisoned by the Ely magistrates. Happily there was no further disturbance in that place after the departure of the Littleport Banditti.

It is with great pleasure we are now enabled to announce to our readers that the riots at Littleport and Ely, which were likely to be creative of much more serious consequences than any we have had the unpleasant task of giving an account of, are at length terminated, by the very spirited and active exertions of Sir Henry Bale Dudley, Bart, one of His Majesties Justices of the Peace for the Isle of Ely, aided by a very respectable number of the gentleman and inhabitants of Ely and the Royston troop of volunteer cavalry, together with a small detachment of the Ist Royal Dragoons consisting of 18, who had in the first instance been sent for from Bury. These proceeded in a body on Friday afternoon to Littleport, and a very severe struggle ensued between them and the rioters, who had secreted themselves in different houses, and were armed with guns, with which they fired many shots at the military and civil power, and severely wounded one of the soldiers, but not dangerously. The military then received orders to fire and the man who had wounded the soldier was instantly shot dead and another fell who has lost the lower part of his face, and part of his tongue, but is not dead. When this took place the rioters were completely disconcerted and fled in every direction but by the perseverance and activity of the military and civil power, no less than 73 of the rioters were taken prisoners and are now lodged in Ely gaol. Many more were also taken who appearing to have been forced to join the mob, have been liberated. Amongst those taken and now under confinement are several persons of some property and apparent respectability in life. At least 50 guns, 9 or 10 large fowling pieces, such as are used by gunners for the destruction of wild fowl, each carrying at least four or five pipes of powder and as many of shot, were taken from the rioters, and plate and other articles to the value of about 3 or 4 hundred pounds have been recovered.

A detachment of the 69th Regiment arrived at Ely on Sunday morning, where they will be stationed for some time to come although the inhabitants of Ely and its environs are now quite easy and have abandoned those alarms which such daring outrageous could not but have occasioned".

A special Assize Court opened at Ely on 17 June 1816 where 82 were tried for various offences including burglary, robbery and theft from dwellings. 23 men and one woman were sentenced to death. 18 of the men and the woman had their sentences commuted, five were executed. (Cambridge Chronicle 21 June 1816 p3 for a report on the special assize court held at Ely on 17 June.

It seems likely that the Littleport Parish Constables would have been powerless to intercede in the early stages of the riot.

Parish Constables Policing Littleport

After nomination and appointment, the names of Parish Constables would have been included in a notice on the church door. Residents would soon know who to fetch in the event of a crime or disorder.

The documents shown in the List of Parish Constables give an indication of some of the issues for which Parish Constables were called upon. These included: breaches of licensing and poaching laws, thefts, criminal damage, arson, false pretences, non payment of rates, and running vagrants and beggars out of town.

But, probably the most difficult and dangerous tasks involved dealing with violent groups of drunken young men on the street or inside inns or beerhouses. For example on 18 November 1833 Thomas Taylor and Robert Thornhill, Littleport Constables, were called to a beer shop where a group of several men were trying to force an entry after being refused drink. Constable Taylor remonstrated with them but was abused and pelted with stones and retired, injured, to his house to take shelter. The door to his house was broken open with a rail and all his windows were broken. On 25 December 1833 the two Constables were again called to deal with a disturbance at the George and Dragon Inn involving some of the same men. The officers managed to drag some of the offenders to the cage but received several violent blows and the prisoners were rescued. At the Isle Quarter Sessions six of the offenders were given 12 and 6 month sentences of imprisonment with hard labour. (Cambridge Chronicle 4 January 1833 p3)

The Constables were not always strongly supported in their role by the public or the Courts. On the eve of the arrival of the new Police, Thomas Simpkin, described as "the only police constable in Littleport" attempted to stop a fight in the street. He was abused and set upon, dragged about the street and beaten by some of the crowd who had been watching the fight. His injuries prevented him from working for the following two weeks. At one point the Constable called upon those present in the Queen's name to assist him. Nobody would come to his aid. Five offenders were tried for assaulting the officer in the execution of his duty. The defence produced a number of witnesses who alleged that the officer was the main protagonist and the jury was quick to acquit all the defendants. (Cambridge Independent Press 10 July 1841 p4)

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A Lighting and Watching Act Force

There is a record in the ledger in the Museum of Cambridge, kept by Cambridge tailor, Smart, of the provision of police uniform to the "Littleport Watch Committee". Items provided initially were sufficient to equip two officers, one of whom was named as "Simpkins". The ledger entry reads:

December 1838
Double breasted greatcoat Inspector £3.10.0
Dark blue night double breasted greatcoat - Simpkins £2.2.0.
Blue superfine Inspectors uniform £4.4.0.
Police Constables ditto coats and 2 pairs of trousers £3.0.0.
Two capes 14/-
Stock and buckle £1.2.0.
Carriage £1.2.0
Total £13.12.4. paid by cash Feb 17 1840

December 16th 1840
A stuff hat Simpkins 16/-
pair of blue trousers 14/-
A pair of night overalls 10/6d
Paid Thomas Rook for boots £1.4.0.
Total £3.4.6. paid 28 October 1841

This is evidence that the parishioners of Littleport established and ran their own tiny police force between 1838 and 1841. Why did the community feel that they needed to enhance local policing at that point? Change was in the air. The population of Littleport was growing, inclosure of the open fields was in process in the late 1830s. Other towns and villages were introducing new uniformed police as a visible presence on the streets. Within living memory, there had been serious riots in Littleport and Ely, and more recently drunkenness and disorder on the streets were not uncommon, so threats to public order could have been a consideration for some. However, it is most likely that this was in response to fears about rising crime.

For example:

• A man named Osborne who had returned from transportation was apprehended near Littleport for sheep stealing (Public Ledger and Daily Advertiser, 19 April 1837 p3).
• The turnpike gate keeper on the Ely to Littleport Turnpike was robbed by three men who made off in the direction of Littleport. (Huntingdon, Bedford & Peterborough Gazette, 7 October 1837 p4). A year later the same victim was knocked unconscious when three men broke into his house and stole his cash (Huntingdon, Bedford & Peterborough Gazette 15 Sept 1838 p3 - the press report suggested that large numbers of thieves operated in the area, attracted by local fairs)
• Samuel Ripley, a poor man, had been robbed on the highway between Littleport and Hilgay. (Cambridge Chronicle, 2 December 1837 p2)
• Mr Whiffen of Littleport and two servant girls were robbed on the Ely to Littleport road by four men who made off with a watch and cash (Huntingdon, Bedford & Peterborough Gazette 10 November 1838 p3. The same issue of the paper mentioned two other attempted robberies near Ely and two cases of pick-pocketing at Ely Fair)
• More frightening was the "Denver Murder", just 10 miles from Littleport. One January night, Hannah Manfield, an elderly lady, living alone and known locally as a bit of a fortune teller, had her throat cut when her house was broken into by three navvies who stole her cash and silverware. The offenders were caught in Doncaster weeks later and two of them were hanged for their crimes at Norwich. (Sun (London), 18 January 1837 p4, Morning Herald 2 May 1837)

Establishing the Force

This link is to an outline of the Lighting and Watching Act 1833. Public notices would have been circulated and the adoption of the Lighting and Watching Act 1833, including provision of a police force, would have been discussed in Vestry, probably around August / September 1838. A police rate was set to fund the force for the year ahead. A watch committee of elected Inspectors was formed and police officers were hired. We do not currently know who were the main supporters in the Vestry of adopting the Act, or who were elected as Inspectors. Over the next year local opinions for and against the new force hardened. Parishioners living in the fens, outside the town, felt they were being penalised twice - being charged a police rate and being the recipients of any unsavoury characters thrown out of the town by more effective policemen. Fen dwellers complained;

"more petty depredations have been committed in the Fens during the last year that the policeman has been in Littleport, than in the previous dozen years" (Cambridge Independent Press 16 November 1839).

A number of rate payers refused to pay the police rate and the Parish Constable and the policeman were dispatched to execute distress warrants to seize possessions of some of the non-payers, which could be sold to recover the sums due. Two sheep belonging to Mr Ayres were seized, but before they could be sold they were mysteriously stolen. Three other farmers had animals seized. These were sold, but nobody wanted to benefit from the predicament of the non-payers and the only bids were from the original animal owners. (Cambridge Chronicle 13 July 1839 p2 and Cambridge Independent Press, 3 August 1839 p3).

Matters came to a head after the force had been running for a year and a new police rate was being set for 1840. It was agreed that there would be a poll of Littleport ratepayers to decide whether the force should continue or cease to exist. The poll took place on 8 and 9 November 1839 and proved, by just seven votes, in favour of retaining the force. (Cambridge Independent Press 16 Nov 1839 and 21 December 1839)

The coming of the new Rural Police

The Littleport Force continued to operate until Isle of Ely Magistrates adopted the Rural Police Act of 1839 and established the new Isle of Ely Constabulary. The decision on the 1839 Act took place in January 1841, more details were agreed in February 1841, the Chief Constable, F.B.Hampton, was appointed in July 1841 commencing duty 14 July 1841. Officers were recruited and the force was operational by September 1841 (Cambridge Independent Press 16 Jan 1841 p3, 27 Feb 1841 p3, 4 September 1841 p3)

In his first report to the Justices, the Chief Constable of the new Isle of Ely Constabulary reported that two of the 37 officers in the force had been posted to Littleport. (Cambridge Independent Press 29 January 1842 p.1)

Littleport Lock-up

Like most towns and villages in the 19th Century, Littleport had a lock-up or cage for the short term confinement of prisoners between arrest and appearing before a Magistrate or court. In 1842, the Chief Constable of the new Isle of Ely Constabulary reviewed the force's accommodation, in his first report to the Police Committee. He did not mention the Littleport lock-up, instead stating, "At Littleport, two constables are stationed: the station houses must have two additional rooms, estimated expense £160", a proposal which the magistrates did not immediately act upon. (Cambridge Independent Press 29 January 1842 p.1) The Littleport Lock-up was located at the West corner of Wellington Street and Globe Lane, opposite the junction with Ponts Hill (Information kindly provided by the Littleport Society archivists www.littleportsociety.org.uk ). The Lock-up had fallen into disuse by 1864 and was most likely demolished soon after the first Isle of Ely Constabulary Police Station was built, with cells, in the High Street in 1871. The construction of the building is not known but it was not particularly secure and there are occasional references to prisoners escaping (for example Robert Flanders in 1838 PS/E/D21/217 and Charles Doe in 1834, PS/E/D17/24).

Littleport Lighting and Watching Act Police Officers

James Smith was hired by the Littleport Force as their first police officer and Sergeant of the Watch, probably from around September 1838, serving to at least June 1840. He was joined by Thomas Simpkins from around December 1838, serving to around December 1841.

James Smith, Littleport Policeman, is mentioned in a bizarre case of a man selling his wife and children for a pound. (Cambridge Independent Press 14 September 1838 p3) Also informations and complaints are held in the Cambridgeshire Archives in the name of James Smith, police officer, Littleport, dated between 1 January 1839 Ref PS/E/D22/1 and 1 June 1840 Ref PS/E/D24/135. A number of complaints and informations name Thomas Simpkin, police officer of Littleport, from 18 February 1839 Ref PS/E/AP/1839/57 to 22 February 1841 ref PS/E/D25/37

James Smith may have later joined the Isle of Ely Constabulary. His is a common name and there were no fewer than three entries for James Smith in the Isle Constabulary. These may all three refer to the same person, who may or may not have been James Smith Littleport Policeman.

• James Smith Constable, joined 12 Aug 1841 resigned 5 June 1842
• James Smith Constable joined 7 January 1844 resigned 14 January 1844
• James Smith Constable joined 25 March 1844 resigned 7 May 1849

Nothing further is currently known about the Littleport James Smith.

The second police officer appointed by the Littleport force was Thomas Simpkins (various spelling; Simkins, Simkin, Simpkin) who was a Cambridge Borough Police officer, PC 21, at least from 1837 to June 1838. The last case he dealt with in that role was the prosecution of James Fenn, convicted in the sum of 10s and in default of payment 7 days imprisonment for obstructing the officer and rescuing a prisoner from his custody (Huntingdon, Bedford & Peterborough Gazette, 2 June 1838 p3). It is not known whether there was a gap between his service in Cambridge and appointment at Littleport.

On 6 June 1841 Thomas Simpkin appeared in the 1841 census in Church Street Littleport, aged 30, occupation Police Officer. He was living with his wife Sarah aged 30, and sons Thomas (6) and Frederick (4).

Later careers of the Littleport Officers

This link will take you to information on the subsequent career of Thomas Simpkin.

(Grateful thanks to Ken Mason for early records of Isle of Ely Constabulary officers)

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This page was last modified: 13 March 2026, 11:15

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