Fig. 11 ‘Manchester Growth’ map 1838-1909 courtesy of http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/hking/map_projects/manchester/mch_growth_1838_1909.pdf
Fig. 12 Bill for the 1885 Manchester City Extension.
Fig. 12 Bill for the 1885 Manchester City Extension.
The second expansion of 1885
The City of Manchester increased in area with the amalgamation of Bradford, Rusholme and Harpurhey on the 30th September 1885.[1] This led to Manchester taking over responsibility of policing the new areas from the Lancashire Constabulary’s Manchester Division. This was not a straightforward process of simply employing the 26 displaced Lancashire officers [1Insp, 3 Sgts, 22 PCs] and replacing their helmet badges and crests.[2]
The basic principle of beat times and constant patrols remained, but the costs of the policing operation, along with the building estate were all important to the ever watchful and frugal Watch Committee. One interesting development in the larger force was the assessment that Harpurhey PS (unlike Bradford - Brooke Street, and Rusholme - Monmonth Street PSs) was surplus to requirements and at £900 p.a rent, the decision was made to return the station to the Lancashire Constabulary.[3]
The new Willert Street PS was only 0.9 miles or 15 minutes to the south so within reasonable walking distance for the beat officer. However, the poor state of the building and the fact that the Lancashire Constabulary had removed all the essential furniture and fittings from this and the Bradford PS may have been a deciding factor.[4]
The Chief Constable provided a detailed plan for remodelling the force establishment and Divisional boundaries:[5]
The basic principle of beat times and constant patrols remained, but the costs of the policing operation, along with the building estate were all important to the ever watchful and frugal Watch Committee. One interesting development in the larger force was the assessment that Harpurhey PS (unlike Bradford - Brooke Street, and Rusholme - Monmonth Street PSs) was surplus to requirements and at £900 p.a rent, the decision was made to return the station to the Lancashire Constabulary.[3]
The new Willert Street PS was only 0.9 miles or 15 minutes to the south so within reasonable walking distance for the beat officer. However, the poor state of the building and the fact that the Lancashire Constabulary had removed all the essential furniture and fittings from this and the Bradford PS may have been a deciding factor.[4]
The Chief Constable provided a detailed plan for remodelling the force establishment and Divisional boundaries:[5]
A Division: increases with proportion of D Division down to City Road – R. Irwell – Cornbrook and to transfer 33* officers from the D to A Division.
B Division: to ‘annex’ Harpurhey. Establishment of 196 to increase by 16 - 3 Sgts, 13 PCs – to 206
C Division: to take in Bradford. Establishment of 197, additional 33 men necessary - 2 Insps, 2 Sgts, 27 PCs -230
D Division: to take in Rusholme. Establishment 183, to increase by 2 Insps 2 PCs with 37 men allocated for Rusholme. [-154*]
E Division: [CID Town Hall] additional 2 D/Sgts, 3 DCs for a total 4 D.Insps, 10 DSgts, 75 DCs [94 Detectives].
The City Surveyor suggested all new furnishings and two additional cells for both Bradford and Rusholme Police Stations.
Map 5 Manchester’s Second Expansion 1885.
This would involve the employment of 56 more officers from inspector to constable. The Chief Constable requested only 40 officers to start with, ‘reviewable after 3 months’ to cover the shifts and beats of what was now an expanding and more populous district of Manchester. [6] The WC resolved to grant the Chief Constable a mere 30 officers, an increase of only 4 on the old Lancashire strength. As a result the borough establishment rose from 846 to 876 officers. [7]
All was to change within five years with the next (third) expansion of the city boundaries and the subsequent significant increase in establishment.
[i] Manchester Extension Act 1885: London Gazette, 14 August 1885. For electoral boundaries the 1884-5 Parliamentary Elections (Redistribution) Bill.
[ii] Watch Committee Minutes 21 Sept 1885.
[iii] WCM 29 Oct 1885. See Harpurhey PS 1890 for details.
[iv] Ibid.
[v] WCM 21 Sept 1885.
[6] WCM 21 Sept 1885.
[7] WCM 31 July 1890 for later review of decisions within the WCM 1890 ‘City Extension Amalgamation Report’.
This would involve the employment of 56 more officers from inspector to constable. The Chief Constable requested only 40 officers to start with, ‘reviewable after 3 months’ to cover the shifts and beats of what was now an expanding and more populous district of Manchester. [6] The WC resolved to grant the Chief Constable a mere 30 officers, an increase of only 4 on the old Lancashire strength. As a result the borough establishment rose from 846 to 876 officers. [7]
All was to change within five years with the next (third) expansion of the city boundaries and the subsequent significant increase in establishment.
[i] Manchester Extension Act 1885: London Gazette, 14 August 1885. For electoral boundaries the 1884-5 Parliamentary Elections (Redistribution) Bill.
[ii] Watch Committee Minutes 21 Sept 1885.
[iii] WCM 29 Oct 1885. See Harpurhey PS 1890 for details.
[iv] Ibid.
[v] WCM 21 Sept 1885.
[6] WCM 21 Sept 1885.
[7] WCM 31 July 1890 for later review of decisions within the WCM 1890 ‘City Extension Amalgamation Report’.
