Printed and Published at the Dover Express Works. 1916.

TO BE FORMATTED

ANNALS OF DOVER.
SECTION SEVEN.
OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION.
X. THE CHIEF Ax\D OTHER CONSTABLES.

Watch and ward was kept in Dover by its Burgesses from
time beyond which records rmi not to the contrary. Every
Freeman liad to take his turn of duty as Constable in his
own Ward, under Chief Wardsmen, who were called Alder-
men. Dover was divided into twenty-one Wards in ancient
times, corresponding with the twenty-one ships that the
combined Wards ox the Barony of Dover provided for the
King's service. The earliest record of these Wards that we
have seen is of the Reign of Henry VHL, and at that time
there were twenty Wards, one, which was situated between
the two mouths of the River Dour, having at that time been
swept away by the sea. Those twenty Wards, which formed
the beats of the Ward Constables at that time, were within
the following limits : —

1. Biggin Ward: From I>adywell to Biggin Gate.

2. St. Mary's Ward: From Biggin Gate to the Market Bar.

3. Cannon's Ward: The Market Place and King Street.

4. Moryn's Ward : West side of river, opposite the Market.

5. Snargate Ward: The Bench and Snargate Street to

Chapel Street.

6. Western Ward : Upper part of Queen Street, Cowgate

and Chapel Place.

7. George's Ward: Lower part of Queen Street.

8. Nicholas Ward: Last side of Bench Street.

9. Boureman's Ward: Last Lane.

10. Mankin Ward : Bottom of St. James's Street, adjoining

the river.

11. Shingle Ward: The Shore adjoining Townwall Street.

12. Ball's Ward: Woolcomber and Trevanion Streets.

13. Oxe's Ward: Under the Castle Cliff, outside Eastbrook

Gate.

14. Halvenden Ward: St. James's Street about Fector's

Place.

15. Wolve's Ward: Between Eastbrook and Westbrook.

16. Dereman's Ward: Under the Chff down Snargate Street.

17. Delf Ward: Alongside Eastbrook from Old St. James's

Church.



358 ANNALS OF DOVER

18. Upmarket Ward: Laureston Place and Old Castle Hill.

19. Horsepole Ward: Each side of Ashen Tree Lane to St.

James's New Church.

20. Castle Dane Ward : From St. James's New Church to

Charlton boundary.

The watch in each of these Wards was set nightly by
one or two sworn Wardsmen, called Aldemien of the Ward,
and from two to five Constables in each Ward, according tc
its size, the Freemen on watch each night, when the watch
was properly kept, being about 100. As years passed the
Wards were reduced in number and made larger, but the
same system of keeping watch and ward by the Freemen, as
a gratuitous public duty, was kept up until the year 1778,
when the watching of the Town was undertaken by watchmen
appointed and paid by the Dover Paving Commission. The
watchmen were continued from 1778 to 1836, and then the
present Police Force was established under the powers of the
Municipal Corporations Act.

The Dover Police Force, originally consisting of one
Inspector, three Sergeants, and twelve Constables, was first
turned out for duty on the night of the 20th January, 1836.
The first Chief of the Police, called an Inspector, Henry
Crosoer, had fifteen men under him, the Police Station being
a tower in Townwall Street. In 1S38 a new Police Station,
with lock-up cells, was built at the back of the old Gaol in
Queen Street. In December, 1841, Robert Correl, also
called an Inspector, succeeded Henry Crosoer as Chief of
the Police. He held the office until 1850, and in March of
that year he was succeeded by John Rolf, to whom was given
the title of Superintendent. He came from Walsall, in
Staffordshire, and only remained for one year. Superintendent
Coram, who had been a sergeant in the Metropolitan Police,
succeeded Mr. Rolf, and he successfully superintended the
Police for twenty years, resigning at the close of 1871. He
was succeeded, in 187.7. l-y Superintendent T. O. Sanders,
a native of Wickhambreaux, Kent, but who had also been a
sergeant in the Metropolitan Police. He held his post with
great credit for thirty years, the number of men under him
having increased during his term from 27 to 57. Mr.
Sanders was succeeded, in 1901, by H. N. K. Knott, who
had entered in the Dover Police Force as a Constable, and
risen to the rank of Chief Inspector. He was a worthy
man, but, unfortunately, his health broke down, on which



OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION 359

account he resigned in 1908, and he died in 19 10. He was
succeeded, in 1908, by Inspector D. H. Fox, who also had
commenced his career in the Dover PoHce Force. Both he
and Mr. Knott were called Chief Constables, and that now
seems to be the recognised title for the Head of the Police
Force. Chief Constable Fox, holding office during the
great European War, his post became a highly responsible
one, the Borough of Dover being, under the Defence of the
Realm Act, a part of the Dover Fortress, necessitating
co-operation with the Military Commander of Dover under
circumstances that have not previously existed since the
Dover Police Force was established.



360 ANNALS OF DOVER