Title

Special Constable's Truncheon

Description

Truncheon used by Special Constable on 10 April 1848 on the occasion of the Great Chartist Gathering on Kennington Common, South London.

Around 80,000 special constables were sworn-in, most conscripted by their employers to guard their places of work. This might have had the side effect of preventing them from attending the gathering had they so wished. Some refused and lost their jobs as a result.

Some were even recompensed financially for the loss of a day’s pay - Thames 'Coal Whippers' (dock workers) were one such example. Most were workers and craftsmen but some were middle-class volunteers, including allegedly Charles Dickens and the future Napoleon III of France.

Few, if any truncheons were actually used as the meeting was much smaller than anticipated and entirely peaceful. Many kept them and decorated them as souvenirs later which is how this example probably came to be so clearly marked.

Temporal Coverage

10 April 1848

Date

1848-04-10

Subject

chartism

groups

policing

practices