FILE OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE CAMPDEN POLICE STATION AND MAGISTRATES COURT.

BUILT 1871

Collected by Carol Jackson, J.P. North Gloucestershire, March 2000.

1 THE POLICE STATION AND MAGISTRATES COURT, Chipping Campden High Street.

1. THE SITE.

The Police Station and Magistrates’ Court in Campden was built between 1870-2 on the site of two houses and gardens, at cost of £2500. The date and inscription on the front reads ‘County Police Station 1871’.

One of the properties on which it was built, belonged to Charles George Noel, the 2nd Earl of Gainsborough and the other to a Mr Thos Hutchings, yeoman of Blockley. The Conveyances (now held in the Gloucester Record Office) for these two plots are respectively dated 31st August and 25th March 1870. (See appendix I for details). Prior to 1660 this latter property was occupied by Mr Francis Playdon, a mason. In 1660 it belonged to William Nutto, a ‘taylor’. Subsequent deeds show involvements by Richard Harris a ‘Shoomaker’, Thomas Perrin a ‘Shoomaker’, William Ordway a glover, John Roberts a weaver, William Perrin a ‘Perukmaker and Barber’ and Francis Gibbs ‘Perukmaker.’ In 1770 Nathan Gibbs a butcher was the owner, then his son who held it in 1816. J.Gibbs transferred it to Thomas Hutchings in 1834.

The two sites were bought in 1870 for a new police station to be built. The builder was Mr Tombs of Campden, who also worked the Westington Quarry at the time. The new building contained a house for the Superintendent of Police and one for the Sergeant, as well as three or four cells, offices and a Court Room.

The modern garage block at the rear came much later and the rooms above were used as single men’s quarters.

The Police Station and Magistrates’ Court was built between 1870-2 on the site of two houses and gardens, at cost of £2500. The date and inscription on the front reads ‘County Police Station 1871’.

The two sites were bought in 1870 for a new police station to be built. The builder was Mr Tombs of Campden, who also worked the Westington Quarry at the time. The new building contained a house for the Superintendent of Police and one for the Sergeant, as well as three or four cells, offices and a Court Room. See the file of information near the Magistrates Chair.

2 2. THE POLICEMEN.

In the 1881 Census, about 9 years after the Station was built, living at the Police Station were:

Enumerator Number 82 Matthews John age 37 Sup. Of Police Born Newent Matthews Sarah, age 39 wife born Kingswood Matthews Florence age 9 scholar born Horfield

Enumerator Number 83 Bunker Edward* age 41 Sergeant of Police born Minehead Devon Bunker Mary E age 32 wife born Berkeley Bunker Edward A** age 8 scholar born Wickware Bunker Edith M age 6 scholar born Wickware Bunker Eve Annie age 5 scholar born Wickware

Corbett Michael 21 Boarder Policeman born Salperton Jones Joseph 26 Prisoner born Birmingham

Note that there was a prisoner in the cells on the day the census was taken.

*Sergeant Edward Bunker was appointed to Campden Police Station in 1877 and was there until 1892 when he was received his pension. He died in 1907 age 68 and his grave is in St James’s Churchyard.

One son, William George ‘Bill’ Bunker (he was not included in the 1881 census as he was not born until 1884) was to become Campden’s postman and later the Steward at the British Legion, which opened in 1920’s.

**The elder son Edward Albert ‘Bert’ Bunker also became a policeman and Superintendent. He died in 1940 and is also buried in St James’s Churchyard, with his wife Emmie. It was their daughter, Winifred who married Percy MacDonald ‘Don’ Ellis, parents of Pat Thomson and John Ellis, current residents of Campden.

There was an ex Superintendent Jones and his wife at the funeral of Mrs Mary Bunker (wife of Edward Bunker) in 1934. Was he the successor to Superintendent Bunker?

Jesse Helps ‘seven years Superintendent of Police in this town’ who died aged 50 in 1893 is also buried in St James’s churchyard.

1916 Chamberlain’s District Guide records Superintendent Hopkins, Police Sergeant Lane and Police Constables Fry and Miles.

Pre-W.War II, the Superintendent’s name was Hallam.

In 1958 the Inspector at Campden was N.E. Baker with Sergeant Lodge.

3 3. MAGISTRATES COURTS

In 1902 The Petty Session Division served the area surrounding: Admington, Aston Subedge, Campden, Clifford Chambers, Cow Honeybourne, Clopton, Dorsington, Ebrington, Hidcote Bartrim, Lark Stoke, Marston Sicca, Mickleton, Pebworth, Preston-on-Stour, Quinton, Saintbury, Welford-on-Avon, Weston-on-Avon, Weston Sub-edge and Willersey.

Blockley Division business, including Cutsdean, Draycott, Paxford, Ditchford, Aston Magna, Dorne and Northwick was also conducted in Campden Court.

In 1986 Campden, Winchcombe, Northleach and Stow Petty Sessions were all merged into one area, to be known as North Cotswold and the 7 magistrates of each bench became one group of 28, who sat on different days at Stow, Campden and Winchcombe. Northleach Court Room had closed some time before this (now a museum).

However the last sitting at Winchombe Court was 20th September 1991 and at Campden Court was 25th Sep 1991, both courts closed thereafter. Business was conducted in Stow Court room until finally that was closed in 1999, last sitting on 18th June 1999. North Cotswolds Petty Sessions Division was merged with Cheltenham to become North Gloucestershire Petty Sessions Area.

4 4. THE TWO CHAIRS GIFTED FROM THE MAGISTRATES’ COURTS COMMITTEE TO CHIPPING CAMPDEN HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

High backed wooden armchair with interwoven slats and deep burgundy velvet cushion seat.

High backed wooden armchair with red velvet seat, more in Arts and Crafts style that the other, possibly given by Mrs Spurgin of Blockley (*see later).

The two chairs were originally used among others at Chipping Campden Court. They are thought to be about 1910 in origin, the smaller in Arts and Crafts style used in the retiring room, the larger the Chairman’s chair (see photo of chair in situ). After the last Court Sitting in Campden in 1991, they were moved to Stow Court and used in the retiring room there. When that closed in 1999, they went to Cheltenham Court, from whence they returned in February 2000 to the care of the Campden Historical Society.

The stained glass window, which was made for Campden Court Room to commemorate the Queen’s Coronation in 1953 and which was also presented by Mrs Spurgin, has also been returned to the town from Stow Court. (see appendix).

Other papers and memorabilia have been sent to Gloucester Record Office.

5 5. MAGISTRATES OF CAMPDEN COURT BEFORE CLOSURE in 1991 WHO COULD HAVE SAT IN THESE CHAIRS:

Captain Peter Aizlewood, farmer and son of a Major-Gen. from Paxford Manor. Fred Banks, electrician from Winchcombe Jane Bartlett, business woman of Campden, appointed 1979-1987 Brian Chatfield, business man from Chipping Campden Mrs Creswell, lived at Ardley House, Cotswold House and Charingworth Manor. John Cross, Headmaster from Toddington C. Everett**, estate manager and bailiff for Seven Wells, Springhill Estate Gordon Fisher**, farmer of Ebrington, Margaret Fisher’s uncle by marriage Desmond Godman**, Landowner from Rissington, served 30 years, retired in 1997. Mrs Harding, from Northleach Jim Horne,** son of well known Grocer, Andrew of Moreton in Marsh L.Horne, Chairman of the Campden School Governors from 1959-69 Angus Bailey-Hamilton, farmer Pamela Hudson-Bendersky, retired senior nursing administrator of Draycott Joan Jones, wife of Campden School Headmaster Allan Jones Felicity King, housewife from Turkdean Christine Laine, wife of a Patent Solicitor in Winchcombe. Geoffrey Lusty**, business man of Campden Michael Oughton, Farmer of Swell Sir Walter Pollen, from Norton Hall Wally Povey, British Telecom engineer of Ebrington, appointed 1979-1996 Josephine Robbins, daughter of Joseph Webb, Market Gardener from Mickleton Betty Wooliams, Farmers wife and nursery school owner from Evenlode

** Bench Chairmen.

The Justice’s Clerks through this period were Mr Saunders from Evesham, Roy Holden from Cheltenham Court and Eric Gordon was Deputy Clerk.

6. JUVENILE REGISTER OF COURT AT CAMPDEN 1ST NOV 1933 UNTIL 1959 SHOWS THE FOLLOWING MAGISTRATES IN THIS PERIOD:

T. Henry Fisher M. Sunderland Taylor G.B. Sheppey George Ebborn Euperia Cresswell Louis I. Coath G. Raymon Booth F.Clare Spurgin Janet M. Campbell Phyllis Horne Henry G. Fisher C. Everett

6 7. MAGISTRATES OF CAMPDEN COURT EARLIER IN 20TH CENTURY WHO COULD HAVE SAT IN THESE CHAIRS:

From Blockley. Captain Spencer Churchill Dame Janet Campbell 1943-1953 Mrs Frances Claire Spurgin 1943-1970* M.Hope 1960-1971 Adrian Bolt, proprietor of the village store & post office 1972- Sir Thomas Skyrme, Vice President of the Commonwealth and National Magistrates associations. From Paxford: JC Reynolds 1900-1905 D. Holton 1924-1945 W. Heath 1942-1951

* Mrs Spurgin was elected to the Parish and District Councils in 1943. She was to play a prominent role in magisterial affairs both in Britain and overseas, becoming a leading member of the council and later Vice-President of the Magistrates’ Association of England and Wales. She was also the only woman President of the International Association of Juvenile Court Magistrates. She first came to Blockley in 1938, in search of a country house in case of war and found Cotswold House in Blockley (which she later renamed Rodneys). In 1980, she was to be seen, well over 80 herself at that time, in the Campden School as one of a voluntary working party decorating the School Assembly Hall.

8. CHAMBERLAIN’S TOWN GUIDE of 1916 LIST THE MAGISTRATES:

James Ashwin (Chairman) Bretforton Manor Sidney Graves Hamilton of Kiftsgate Manor Samuel Bruce of Norton Hall Rev. Bonner Shekell of Pebworth Manor Col. E.G.Paley* Major W.J.Matthews Rev. P.Lewis (Glos only) G.Hookham (Glos only) W.T.Jordon (Glos only) Major H.M.Spencer (Worcs only) Capt.E.G.Spencer Churchill (Worcs. only)

*The Clerk was Oliver H. New. Neville New, son of O.H.New in letters in 1990’s to C.Jackson described Col. Paley as follows:

“I first [before 1919] remember Col. and Mrs Paley living there [Cotswold House, Campden]. He was a tall ramrod straight military figure always immaculately dressed. Mrs Paley was also a rather stately figure with a drawl and a slow way of speaking. They had a very smart early chauffeur-driven Daimler and I think played little part in the social life of Campden.”

The Courts met on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday in the Month (also Market Day).

7 9. FROM THE 1902 KELLY’S DIRECTORY, THE COUNTY MAGISTRATES FOR THE CAMPDEN PETTY SESSION DIVISION WERE LISTED AS:

Thomas Stevens Shekell, DL. Pebworth Manor, Stratford (Chairman) Earl of Gainsborough, Campden House James Ashwin # esq. Bretforton Manor, near Evesham Isaac Averill esq. DL. Southview, Broadway Samuel Bruce, Norton Hall Sidney Graves Hamilton esq. Kiftsgate Manor William Thomas Jordan esq Clifford Ford, Stratford Edgar Flower esq, Middle Hill Broadway Philip John Canning Howard esq. Foxcote, Shipston. Major Vicesimus Knox, Spring Hill Moreton in Marsh Joseph Crescens Reynolds esq. Paxford Rev. Edleston Bonnor Shekell, Pebworth Manor

Clerk to Magistrates, William Higford Griffiths (solicitor of Bedfont House Campden)

Petty Sessions are held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday in the Month at 12 noon. (also Market Day).

# It was a James Ashwin JP. of Bretforton, who, the Riot Act having been read ten days earlier, met Isambard Kingdom Brunel and his solicitor at the site of the Mickleton Tunnel on 21st July 1851, at 2am with 35 constables and soldiers from Cheltenham to try to disperse the 2000 men Brunel had gathered to oust his rebellious contractor Marchant. Ashwin bravely reasoned and negotiated with both parties to find a solution and the Battle of Mickleton Tunnel was confined to scuffles and a few broken limbs.

8 10. FROM THE CAMPDEN COURT BOOKS AT GLOUCESTER R.O.:

Sample of Cases dealt with in the fairly new Court House. Crimes were much the same as now – stealing, vandalism, traffic offences, violence, drunk and disorderly:

Oct 21st 1883 Fred Turner v. John Hancock and William Webb at Blockley for stealing fallen walnuts, value? The property of William Gladwin

Nov 17th 1883 Edward Bunker* v. John Haines Rimell of Campden, for being drunk and disorderly in public, 14 days hard labour. *NB. Edward Bunker was listed in 1881 census as Sergeant of Police, aged 41.

Nov.29th 1883 Michael Corbet** v. John Haines Rimell for being drunk on licensed premises kept by Charles Kedward(?) **NB. Michael Corbett was listed in 1881 census as Boarder Policeman aged 21.

Dec 31st 1883 Michael Corbet v. Elizabeth Annie Dunn for keeping licenced house and premises open for sale of intoxicating liquor at unlawful hours.

Jan 5th 1884 George Morgan v. John Marles at Campden for damage to property of Earl of Gainsborough.

Feb 8th 1884 William Wheale for begging in Campden.

Feb 8th 1884 Before Mr Chadwick at Farncombe, Campden Lighting Inspectors v. Frederick Harris for ‘breaking the glass of street lamps’

Mar 24th 1884 assault at Campden, Susan Howell v. George Wilkes, Julia Wilkes v. Susan Howell, George Wilkes v. James Howell

May 19th 1884 at Campden, Robert Haydon v. Henry Goodson for maliciously damaging a hedge the property of the complainant.

William Higford Griffiths of Campden appointed clerk instead of Frederick Hancock, deceased, to commence duties 19th October 1886.

Nov. 1886 Jesse Helps Superintendent of Police appointed Inspector.

Nov 25th 1886 Michael Corbett v. Joseph Keen, labourer of Campden, drunk and disorderly in public street on, fined 5 shillings plus costs 9sh 6d.

Dec 1st 1886 Edward Bunker v. Herbert King, of Campden, draper for being drunk on public highway at Campden, fined 10 shillings, plus costs of 9 shillings and six pence or 14 days hard labour.

Mar 2nd 1887 Edward Bunker v. Emma Griffin of Broad Campden, single woman and v. Alice wife of John Tomes stonemason of the same Hamlet, for unlawfully damaging trees at Broad Campden on 25th February 1887, the property of Lord Northwick to value of 1 shilling. To be paid damages of 1 shilling, plus costs of four shillings and sixpence.

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11. LICENSING WAS ALSO PART OF THE MAGISTRATES WORK:

1883 Renewal of license granted to John Badham of Campden to keep petroleum.

Sep 2nd 1885 Campden Alehouses granted licences:

Thomas Brace Kings Arms Samuel Sambrook Lygon Arms James Gibson Red Lion Richard Griffin Volunteer Mark Gurton Noel Arms John Such Angel Broad Campden George Mansell Taplin Swan Charles Kedrocarda? George (and Dragon?) Herbert Wixey Shop James Haines Shop

Campden Beerhouses granted licences to sell beer and cider:

Thomas Keyte Broad Campden John Lane Campden John Waine Campden Elizabeth Whatcote Campden

Mr Mark Gurton, Noel Arms Hotel, Campden applied for extension of time for Monday 11th April 1887 until 3 o’clock in the morning on the occasion of a Quadrille Party and for Wednesday 13th April until 12 midnight on the occasion of a concert in aid of the Management Fund of the Britannia Benefit Society. Granted.

12. SOME LOCAL TALES:

This story as told by Neville New, son of Oliver New, Campden Solicitor and the Court Clerk for many years: “ Talking of Post masters, who now remembers the rascally Pritchard in the mid 1920’s. He organised a Betting Book and used his postmen as agents to collect bets from those in the villages and farms to whom they delivered letters. Inevitably the scheme crashed and quite a large sum of public (and Post Office) money was lost. Pritchard was, of course, dismissed from the job and the Police (probably Supt Jones) brought criminal charges. The wiley Pritchard had ingratiated himself with the vicar (Canon Hitchcock) to become a sidesman at St. James’s and incredibly the Vicar organised a move to try and block the criminal case. There was an outcry of indignation by various responsible Campdonians (including my mother) and my recollection is that Mr P. was convicted and sentenced.”

Another tale told of a later period is of Sergeant Gay, who when a new young Constable brought in a prisoner for being drunk and disorderly to sober up in the cells, his Sergeant said “You can’t do that, I’ve got my geranium cuttings in there!”

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13. FAMILY MATTERS, JUVENILE CRIME, ADOPTIONS AND PATERNITY ORDERS ALSO FEATURED IN THE COURT RECORDS:

Jane Benfield of Campden v. Thomas Evans of Ilmington, Labourer for a child, born April 6th 1886. Order made for 1/6d per week from this date until the child is 16.

There were several adoption cases:

16th Dec 1942 George Henry Austin Cooper and Lucy Cooper adopted John Samuel Page, age 9 months, Mrs Creswell appointed Guardian.

14. EXAMPLES FROM THE JUVENILE REGISTER OF COURT AT CAMPDEN 1ST NOV 1933 UNTIL 1959:

Nov 14th 1933 Donald Mumford, age 13, Thomas Playle, age 13, and Edward Playle, age 12, for playing football on the highway in Station Road, bound over for 6 months for sum of £5 and pay costs of 4sh.

Mar 18th 1934 Donald Pitcher, age 14 and Ernest Bennett, age 12 accused of larceny of 5 live fowls, bound over.

June 29th 1944 Donald George Pitcher, age 16 riding a pedal cycle without lights in darkness.

May 26th 1936 Thomas Lewis Devreux, age 14 indecent assault on female

Mar 11th 1945 Leslie George Devreux, riding a pedal cycle in hours of darkness without lights.

June 4th 1937 Harold Esmond Payne, age 15 and Wilfred Ernest Proctor, age 16 accused of larceny of 6 packets of 5 Woodbine cigarettes to value of 1sh.

July 12th 1937 Geoffrey Perry, age 14 and George Ellis, age 15 breach of one way traffic regulations in Church Street.

Nov 16th 1938 Arthur John Coles, age 15 riding bicycle without lights in Church Street, Campden.

Oct 24th 1940 Barry FitzHugh, age 16 riding bicycle without lights in High Street at 9.30pm.

Feb13th 1941 Hilary Bricknell Cook, age 16 riding bicycle without lights in Station Road at 7.05pm.

May 27th 1943 Douglas John Pitcher riding pedal cycle without red rear light.

11 Cynthia Dolphin age 16, a young person under age 17 brought before the court in need of care and protection, committed to a home in Bristol and Glos Education Committee until age 18.

Dec 2nd 1948 Albert William Moulder, larceny stealing 4 £1 Bank Notes, 6 envelopes each with a 2 and 1/2d stamp, remanded in custody.

Between October 31st and Dec 28th 1948 Anthony Keyte, age 15 and Dennis Wheatcroft, age 15 concurred together in stealing 43 lines, 1 set signals, 1 turntable, 6 pieces rolling stock, 1 set buffers, 1 engine, 11 platform accessories for use with model train set, total value £8.10.0, Probation 2 years.

Sep 1949 Ernest James Wilks, age 14 attempting to commit buggery with a hill pig, remanded to Willana Remand Home and 3 years probation.

Feb 6th 1950 William Gadsby, age13 and Geoffrey Pritchard, age 11, for 2 persons on one pedal cycle adapted for the carriage of 1 person.

Sep11th 1958 Michael Richard Tomes at Keens Confectionery Shop, High Street did steal 1 Crunchie Bar value 6d, the property of Alfred Keen, conditional discharge 12months, 6d compensation and 15/- costs.

Apr 30th 1957 Brian Geoffrey Alan Mills larceny of 2/7d in money and ten Players cigarettes valued 1/11d, the property of Mr Dennis James Eagles.

There were also a notable number of juvenile defendants aged 12-15 with Polish or foreign names in 1950’s, stealing lead, wilful damage, stealing shotgun, etc.

12 APPENDIX

1. DETAIL FROM DEEDS BUNDLE AT GRO. REF: DC SJ9 1632-1871.

2. PHOTOCOPY FROM GRO

3. COPY OF COURT LETTER ANNOUNCING CLOSURE

4. LETTER GIFTING CHAIRS TO CADHAS.

5. PHOTOGRAPHS OF MAGISTRATES ON LAST DAY AT CAMPDEN AND COURT ROOM AFTER CLOSURE, PLUS NEWSPAPER CUTTINGS ABOUT CLOSURE AND SALE OF POLICE STATION

6. PHOTOGRAPH OF MAGISTRATES ON LAST DAY AT STOW COURT, PLUS CUTTINGS ABOUT CLOSURE.

7 CUTTINGS ABOUT RETURN OF THE CAMPDEN COURT WINDOW FROM STOW TO CAMPDEN

13 APPENDIX 1

From: GLOUCESTER RECORD OFFICE DEEDS REF: DC SJ9 1632-1871.

Names and trades mentioned in these deeds which relate to the site of the Police Station in Campden, i.e. were these people living and trading on that site before it was sold in 1871 to build the new Police station.

1. 1632 June 16th Leases for Lives of: Thomas Bason, Butcher of Broadway yeoman and Ambrose Jenks? of Campden to Ffrancis Playdon of Broad Campden, mason.

2. 1660 April 20th Indenture: between Francis Smith (Smyth) of Clopton, Warwick and Edmund White of Shipston on Stower of Worcs. Weaver? and William Nutto of Chipping Cambden, Taylor.

3. 1660 Oct 13th Assignment: by William Nutto, Taylor, to R’d Harris of Chipping Campden, ‘Shoomaker’.

4. 1703 May 7th Thomas Perrin of CC, Shoomaker.

5. 1760 May 28th William Ordway of CC, Glover, John Roberts of CC, Weaver to William Perrin, Perukmaker,

6. 1761 November 7th William Perrin of CC, Barber & Perukmaker

7. 1767 November 27th Francis Gibbs, Perukmaker .

8. 1834 Oct 2nd Conveyance between J. Gibbs, George Bartleet of same place, Clothier and Marianne, his wife to Thomas Hutchings of Blockley Yeoman.

9. 1870 March 25th Indenture: Thos. Hutchings, John Curtis Hayward of Quedgely House, Sebastian Stewart Dickinson of Browns Hill Stroud, and Robert Wilton of Glos. Gent, Treasurer of County? Stock & Honourable Augustus Fitzharding Berkeley of Fremlington?, C of Subsey? Clerk of Peace.

10. 1870 August 31st Conveyance: A portion of the site of the Station House, 1. Right Hon Geo Grey of Falloden, Co Northumb. Bart 2. R.Hon Chs Geo Earl of Gainsborough (2nd Earl) 3. J.Curtis Hayward, Herb. Steward Dickinson 4. Robert Wilton 5. Augustus Fitz. Berkeley

14 MAGISTRATES AT LAST SITTING OF STOW COURT 18TH JUNE 1999

LEFT TO RIGHT, BACK ROW TO FRONT.

JIM HORNE, WALLACE POVEY, FELICITY KING, CHRISTINE LAINE, CAROL JACKSON, FRED BANKS, BETTY WOOLIAMS, PAMELA HUDSON-BENDERSKY, PAULINE (COURT USHER) MATTHEW PINK AND JOHN ATKINSON (JUSTICES’ CLERKS).

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