Exmouth and Torquay
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University of Plymouth PEARL https://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk 04 University of Plymouth Research Theses 01 Research Theses Main Collection 2013 Authority and Crime, 1835-1860: A Comparison between Exmouth and Torquay Bryon, Jacqueline http://hdl.handle.net/10026.1/1400 University of Plymouth All content in PEARL is protected by copyright law. Author manuscripts are made available in accordance with publisher policies. Please cite only the published version using the details provided on the item record or document. In the absence of an open licence (e.g. Creative Commons), permissions for further reuse of content should be sought from the publisher or author. This copy of the thesis has been supplied on condition that anyone who consults it is understood to recognise that its copyright rests with its author and that no quotation from the thesis and no information derived from it may be published without the author’s prior consent. 1 2 AUTHORITY AND CRIME, 1835-1860: A COMPARISON BETWEEN EXMOUTH AND TORQUAY by JACQUELINE BRYON A thesis submitted to the University of Plymouth for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPY School of Humanities and Performing Arts Faculty of Arts September 2012 3 4 Abstract Jacqueline Bryon Authority and Crime, 1835-1860: A Comparison between Exmouth and Torquay This thesis explores the impact of crime on seaside resorts in mid-nineteenth century England, together with the implications and challenges presented for authority and control. The evidence is based on a case study of two contrasting south Devon resorts, Exmouth and Torquay. The research findings are based mainly on the period between 1835 and 1860. In particular, the thesis considers the nature and scale of crime committed and the reactions produced amongst those in positions of power and authority. The responses of these influential individuals and groups were shaped by a range of factors such as social and economic change, class, gender and the unique characteristics of seaside resorts. As the fledgling tourist industry developed, it was important to provide an environment where visitors were welcome and their property was safe. The evidence from the two resorts reflected patterns of crime detected in other parts of the country, especially in relation to property crime, which is examined in detail. Larceny emerges as the most common category of crime. Here, the evidence indicates that this crime was regularly perpetrated by servants, with women often being convicted for stealing clothes and other wearing apparel. Workplace theft was common in Torquay, related to the fact that building work was going ahead at a fast pace from the 1830s. The most distinctive feature of crime within the two resorts can be found in the attention given to countering anti-social behaviour and keeping order on the streets. This was closely tied up with the maintenance of ‘social tone’, which was of crucial importance to the 5 authorities in a number of nineteenth century seaside resorts, including Exmouth and Torquay. 6 List of Contents Tables and Maps 9 Abbreviations 10 Introduction 15 I. Literature Review a) General Histories of Crime b) Cultural and Legal Framework c) Gender d) Seaside Resorts II. Structure, Methodology and Analysis Chapter 1 The Development of Exmouth and Torquay 35 I. The Eighteenth Century II. Population Growth III. Communications IV. Economic and Social Changes V. Influence of a number of powerful families and individuals Chapter 2 Cultural and Legal Framework 69 I. Cultural Background II. Introducing the Legal Framework III. Statutes a) Larceny Act, 1808 b) Larceny Act, 1827 c) Vagrancy Act, 1824 d) Juvenile Offenders’ Act, 1847 and 1850 e) Criminal Justice Act, 1855 IV. Local Government a) Municipal Corporations Act, 1835 b) Lighting and Watching Act, 1833 V. Police a) Metropolitan Police Act, 1829 b) Rural Constabulary Act 1839 c) County and Borough Police Act, 1856 Chapter 3 Engines of Authority 107 I. Parish II. Magistrates III. Improvement Commissioners IV. Board of Health V. Critics VI. Exmouth 7 Chapter 4 Property Crime 139 I. Statistics II. Property Offences a) Malicious Damage b) Smuggling c) Weights and Measures III. Changes in Legislation a) Larceny Act, 1827 b) Juvenile Offenders Act, 1847 and 1850 c) Criminal Justice Act, 1855 IV. Larcenies a) Clothes and Other Wearing Apparel b) Food Theft c) Money V. Receiving Stolen Property, Embezzlement and Forgery VI. Workplace Theft VII. Other Perceptions of Crime Chapter 5 Violent Crime 189 I. Statistics II. Drunkenness III. Assault a) Serious Assaults b) Serious Assaults Against Police Officers Chapter 6 Anti-Social Behaviour 231 I. Background II. Vagrancy III. The Regulation of Inappropriate Behaviour IV. Depositing Rubbish V. Parking, Furious Driving and Obstruction VI. Public Health VII. Toll and Market Offences VIII. Miscellaneous Offences Conclusion 277 Appendices Appendix 1 Magistrates for the Paignton and Woodbury Petty Sessional Divisions 283 Appendix 2 Paignton Division: Magistrates’ Attendance at Quarter Sessions 285 Appendix 3 Woodbury Division: Magistrates’ Attendance at Quarter Sessions 286 Bibliography 287 8 Tables and Maps Table 1 Population of the Principal South Devon Resorts, 1801-1821 45 Table 2 Percentage Growth Rates of the Principal South Devon Resorts, 1801-1821 46 Table 3 Population of the Principal South Devon Resorts, 1821-1861 50 Table 4 Percentage Growth Rates of the Principal South Devon Resorts, 1821-1861 50 Table 5 Selected Seaside Resorts in England and Wales, ranked by population size, 1851 51 Table 6 Selected Seaside Resorts in England and Wales, ranked by population size, 1801-1851 52 Table 7 Age-Sex Structure in Seaside Resorts, percentages of the whole population 61 Table 8 Torquay Petty Sessions: Number of Convictions, 1841-1850 132 Table 9 Exmouth Criminal Statistics, 1835-1860: Male and Female Convictions 141 Table 10 Torquay Criminal Statistics, 1835-1860: Male and Female Convictions 141 Table 11 Torquay: Ages of Offenders, 1835-1860, Quarter Sessions and Assizes 142 Table 12 Exmouth: Ages of Offenders, 1835-1860, Quarter Sessions and Assizes 143 Table 13 Torquay: Female Offenders, 1835-1860, Quarter Sessions and Assizes 143 Table 14 Exmouth: Property Offences, 1835-1860 144 Table 15 Torquay: Property Offences, 1835-1860 144 Table 16 Exmouth: Summary Courts, Property Offences, 1835-1860 145 Table 17 Torquay: Summary Courts, Property Offences, 1835-1860 145 Table 18 Torquay: Larcenies, 1835-1860 156 Table 19 Exmouth: Larcenies, 1835-1860 156 Table 20 Torquay: Crimes against the Person, 1835-1860 191 Table 21 Exmouth: Crimes against the Person, 1835-1860 191 Table 22 Torquay: Assaults, 1835-1860 214 Table 23 Exmouth: Assaults, 1835-1860 215 6 9 Table 24 Torquay: Anti-Social Behaviour, 1835-1860 234 Table 25 Exmouth: Anti-Social Behaviour, 1835-1860 235 Table 26 Exmouth: Vagrancy, 1835-1860 240 Table 27 Torquay: Vagrancy, 1835-1860 243 Maps Map 1 The Seaside Resorts of Devon 35 Map 2 Roads Serving the South Devon Resorts in 1835 55 Map 3 Railways Serving the South Devon Resorts in 1900 57 Map 4 Location of the Parishes 108 Abbreviations DRO Devon Record Office SRO Somerset Record Office TNA The National Archives 10 Acknowledgements First of all, I should like to thank the following copyright holders for permission to reproduce a number of maps in this thesis. Exeter University Press for permission to reproduce maps 1, 2 and 3 from the following book: John F. Travis, Rise of the Devon Seaside Resorts, 1750-1900 (Exeter: Exeter University Press, 1993). ISBN 085989 3928 Devon Record Office, for permission to reproduce map 4 in Chapter 3 which locates certain Devon parishes. I should also like to thank the following institutions and individuals, without whose help this thesis would never have been completed: staff of Devon Record Office, the Devon and Exeter Institution, Exmouth Library, University of Plymouth Seale Hayne Library, Torquay Reference Library, West Country Studies Library, The National Archives, Disability Assist Services, Access South West with Plymouth University and Claro for their help and encouragement. At a personal level, I should like to thank Bob Soutter for making Littleham-cum- Exmouth parish magazines easily accessible, together with other members of Holy Trinity Church Exmouth who have travelled the journey with me; Jon Walker, of IT Bytes for his patience and help in getting me up to speed with IT skills; the late Owen Nankivell for his interest and general knowledge about the history of Torquay; Jan Setterington for her friendship and general support; Angela Singleton for her interest, encouragement and also for providing a home when undertaking research at The National Archives in Kew. Particular thanks must go to my Director of Studies, Professor Kevin Jefferys and the 11 second supervisor Dr Richard Williams. Both have provided excellent supervision, encouragement and support. Finally, thanks must go to my husband David who believed from the beginning in my ability to complete this thesis; he was always there to provide support and help when necessary. 12 Author’s Declaration At no time during the registration for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy has the author been registered for any other University award without prior agreement of the Graduate Committee. This study was self-funded, together with the receipt of a Disabled Students’ Allowance. A programme of advanced study was undertaken, leading to a Master’s degree in History and Biography, awarded by the University of Plymouth in 2004. Conference attended: Local Population Studies Conference, 19 April 2008 on the subject of Crime. Paper presented: ‘Crime, Conflict and Vested Interest: Torquay Petty Sessions, 1840-1850’. Word count of the main body of the thesis: 78,850 Signed……………………….. Date ………………………. 13 14 Introduction The focus of this thesis is a study of crime and the way in which the authorities, that is the groups and individuals who held power, attempted to regulate crime and anti-social behaviour.