Shropshire Constabulary

Shropshire Constabulary was the territorial police force responsible for policing rural Shropshire in central England from 1840 until 1967, when it became part of West Mercia Constabulary.

History

The Shropshire Constabulary was formed in 1840, along with borough forces in the towns of Shrewsbury, Bridgnorth, Ludlow, Much Wenlock and Oswestry. In the early years they were known as ‘Paddy Mayne’s grasshoppers’ because the first Chief Constable was Irish and the constables wore green uniforms. ^[1] The headquarters were at 23, Swan Hill, Shrewsbury.

In 1947 the Shropshire Constabulary absorbed Shrewsbury Borough Constabulary. On 1 October 1967 the Shropshire Constabulary was amalgamated with the Worcestershire Constabulary, Herefordshire Constabulary and Worcester City Police to form the West Mercia Constabulary, later the West Mercia Police.

Chief Constables

• 1840–1859 : Captain Dawson Mayne (first Chief Constable of Shropshire)
• 1859–1864 : Captain Philip Henry Crampton
• 1864–1866 : Colonel Edward B. Cureton
• c.1870 : Colonel R. J. Edgell
• 1890–1905 : Captain George Williams Freeman
• 1905–1908 : Major Llewelyn W. Atcherley (later Sir Llewelyn Acherley)
• 1908–1914 : Gerard Lysley Derriman (killed in action, WW1, 1915)
• 1916–1918 : A. Wood-Acton
• 1918–1935 : Major Jack Becke
• 1935–1946 : Lt Colonel Harold A. Golden
• 1946–1962 : Douglas Osmond (later Sir Douglas Osmond)
• 1962–1967 : Robert George Fenwick
• 1967 : Merged with other forces to form West Mercia Constabulary

References