police in London

[Angelaj]

Hi,
Having traced police constable Charles Cox with much help I now have more queries. On the 1901 census my gt. grandfather's address is the police station itself (Lavender Hill, Battersea). Did policemen live 'on site' at all or is that just the way they were recorded for the census?



Angela

[busyglen]

I'm not too sure, but could it have been that he was on `night duty' and therefore not at home on Census night?

Glenys

[Colin Moretti]

My recollection of my youth is that even in the 1940s some police stations (Hatfield in my case) had accommodation for unmarried officers. I also have a book Crime & Punishment From Old Photographs which includes a picture of Godalming Police Station, Surrey 1897. A typical example of the small town police stations built in late Victorian times combining the station office with living accommodation. I would be surprised if the Met didn't have rooms over the shop.

Colin