Virtual Museum of Police in Wales.

12/05/2026

Next addition to the collection. From Totnes in Devon

12/05/2026

You can also keep up to date with the collection items by clicking on the link below for 'The People's Collection Wales'.

Search there for 'Ross Mather' and you will find over 850 downloaded photographs, which are added to on a regular basis. I am an Ambassador Champion for the People's Collection, Wales - a website sponsored by the Welsh Government.

A People's Story of Wales

11/05/2026

Another from the collection. 1840 Redruth Constable (Cornwall). Measures 20 inches in length.
Research has shown that 37 Parish Constables were appointed to each of the individual Parishes, and each Parish Constable was issued with a 'stave' which was painted and gilded.
Each stave cost 2/6d.

11/05/2026

Two decorated truncheons from the collection.

10/05/2026

From the collection are these decorated truncheons and uniform helmet of the former Neath Borough Police. The helmet was issued originally to Police Sergeant no. 5 Devereux.

10/05/2026

From the collection, three mid-Victorian era, decorated truncheons of the Cardiff Borough Police.

09/05/2026

Many years ago, this is how Local Authorities would distribute weekly pay packets to the council workers at their places of work.....usually spread across the local authorities area. The policeman was an es**rt because of the high amount of cash that was being carried. I used to do the same thing in Barry during the early 1970's...but I hasten to add - transport then was a vehicle, not in a horse and cart!!

This photo shows a 1912 delivery of miners pay's in Merthyr Vale. In my day, the job was always offered to policemen who were a on a 'rest day' and it was paid to you as overtime. I did it several times, sat in a van going around the Barry area whilst council Pay Section employees handed out the pay packets.

09/05/2026

From the collection is this late 19th century Carte De Visite (CDV) photograph showing a Constable of the Glamorgan Constabulary.

Edwin Lott operated his photographic studio on Nolton Street, Bridgend from around about 1875.

Interestingly, the helmet shown is a rose top style -, the type that the force used before introducing the more military type with cross piece / ball top, and curb chain chin strap.

08/05/2026

Facebook stats notification: 1st May - 7th May = 95,866 views!

06/05/2026

From the collection is another large photo, mounted onto a hard card backing. The card backing measures 20 inches in height.

The photographic studio is shown as T. Forrest and Sons, Pontypridd. This one appears to have been fitted into a frame at some point, but was not framed when I obtained it some time ago.

The photo can be dated as being post 1st January1893, which is when Thomas Forrest became 'Thomas Forrest and Sons.'

The photographic premises were known as Cambrian Studios, and was located on the corner of Taff Street and Market Street, Pontypridd.

The Divisional letter next to his number of the Constable's collar can just be made out as the letter 'B', which was the Divisional letter at that time representing Glamorgan Constabulary 'B' or Pontypridd Division.

So, its reasonable to suggest that he is a Pontypridd policeman around the time of the very early years of the 20th century.. The helmet plate displays a Kings crown, which dates it to being after the death of Queen Victoria in 1901.

06/05/2026

From the collection is another large (and heavy) framed photograph. This one measures 30 inches x 19 inches.

Again, being set behind glass, and my unwillingness to break open the sealed back of the frame, which would destroy its originality, my downloaded photos show reflections on the glass.

Dated 1894, it records officers of the Glamorganshire Constabulary 'D' Division. At this time the Glamorgan 'D' Division covered the greater areas of the county around Swansea / Gower etc., which were not policed by the smaller Swansea Borough Police.