Cradley Police Station

It is not known when the Police station opened, it is first mentioned in Kelly’s Trades Directory 1884 listed as, County Police station High Street, John Clare in charge.

The 1888 Kelly’s lists William Webb in charge. The 1892 Kelly’s lists County Police station, Colley Lane Walter Clarke officer in charge. By 1904 Walter Clarke is the Sergeant in charge and four constables.

1901 census Colley Lane Police Station.

Walter Clark Head married 40 Sergeant of Police born Britton Gloucs.

Louisa Clarke wife married 39 born Tetbury Gloucs.

Edward Webb boarder single 24 Police Constable born Tenbury Worcs.

George Dyson boarder single 23 Police Constable born Severn Stoke Worcs.

Charles Clarke son 18 single Furnace fitter born Oldbury Worcs.

Florence Clarke daughter 8 born Cradley Worcs.

William J Allen Head married 37 Police constable born Hanley Castle Worcs.

Louisa Allen wife married 37 born Hanley Castle Worcs.

William C Allen son 6 born Cradley Worcs.

The Journal of Police Constable 317 George Thomas Dyson was found in a drawer in the Police Station whenit was being used as a Community Centre. It is dated from August 9th 1900 to 14th May 1903. It contains mainly dates, hours of duty and places patrolled around Cradley and the surrounding districts.

In the front of the book are several documents, this one relates to the movement of pigs during an outbreak of swine fever and is dated 15 th October 1899 signed by Frank Oliver. One pig is to be moved from Frank Oliver’s Barn Farm, Two Gates, Cradley to Frank Oliver’s Oldnall Farm, Two Gates, Cradley. The form is counter signed by Sergeant Clarke.

The Maypole was a Public House in Maypole Hill Netherend Cradley kept by the Leonard Family for several generations.

From Thursday October 18th 1900 to Thursday 25th October George is on leave at Severn Stoke where according to the census he was born. All his leave in the journal is spent back home. In 1903 he gets married at Severn Stoke, and by the 1911 census he is a Police Constable at Clows Top Bewdley with his wife Helen and son Alfred Harold Dyson aged 6 years.



1911 Census Police station Cradley has two families and two single police constables living there.

William Nobes head 44 married 17 years Police Sargent Worc. County

Annie Maria Nobes wife 50

William Arthur Nobes son 16 single

Beatrice Maud Nobes daughter 11 school

Percy George Nobes son 8 school

Joseph Ernest Johnson head 37 married Police Constable

Elizabeth Louise Johnson wife 33

Harold Ernest Johnson sone 11 school

Ernest Hayes 27 single Police Constable

Arthur Joseph Ashford 25 Police Constable.

A typical weeks patrols from the Journal

Friday 12 th October 1900 Hours of duty, 9am-5pm & 8.30-12.30pm. Names of places visited, Stourbridge, Lutley & Hagley Gate, Colley Gate & Overend. Remarks, To Attend Petty sessions. Met PC304 Lutley 9pm, PC228 Hagley Gate 10pm,S337 PC231 Overend 12midnight.

Saturday 13 th October 1900 Hours of duty,9am-1pm, 2pm-5pm & 10pm to 4am.Names of places visited, Station, Stourbridge, Two Gates & Overend, Cradley Park & Colman Hill, Netherend & Cradley Bridge. Remarks, Cleaning Station. Received Pay from Mr Supt. Pugh £2.5s 9d Met S337, PC 231 Overend 12midnight. S337 PC 262 Cradley Park 1am PC231 Colman Hill 2am.

Sunday 14 th October 1900 Hours of duty 2.30pm -4.30pm & 9.45pm- 4.45am.Names of places visited Colley Gate & Oldnall, Overend & Two Gates, Netherend & Cradley Bridge, Round of Beef & Careless Green. Remarks, On Patrol Met PC122 Overend 11pm, S337 PC288 Netherend 12.30am. Met PC262 Careless Green 4am.

Monday 15 th October 1900 Hours of duty 6pm-8pm & 10pm -4.30am. Names of places visited, Two Gates & Overend, Colley Gate & Overend, Cradley Park & Two Gates, Fairview & Careless Green. Remarks, On Patrol. Met S337 PC122 Overend 12 midnight, met S337 PC288 Cradley Park 1am PC122 Fairview 3am, met PC288 Careless Green 4am.

Tuesday 16 th October 1900 Hours of duty 6pm-8pm & 10pm- 4.30am. Names of places visited, Two Gates & Oldnall, Colley Gate & Overend, Cradley Park & Wassell Grove & Hagley Gate. Remarks, On Patrol met S337 Colley Gate 11pm PC122 Overend 12 midnight S337 PC288 Cradley Park 1am, PC288 Wassell Grove 2-30am, PC202 Hagley Gate 3-30am.

Wednesday 17 th October 1900 Hours of duty 6pm-8pm & 8pm-2.30am.Names of places visited Colley Gate & Overend, High Street & Maypole, Overend & Cradley Bridge. Remarks On Patrol Met S337 PC231 High Street 11pm, Met Staffs PC Overend by crossing 1am.

Thursday 18 th October 1900 Names of places visited Severn Stoke On Leave. Remained at Severn Stoke until Thursday 25 th October returning at 9pm.

At the back is a list of Cases brought forward by George Dyson PC 317.

1900

Thomas Clifton Driving without lights 6s-6d & costs

Sidney Parkes Shooting with catapult 6s-6d& costs

Harry Bridgewater Drunk & disorderly 2s-6d & costs

Harry Willetts Gambling 5s & costs

George Smith Gambling 5s & costs

Solomon Brettle Drunk & disorderly 5s & costs

Joseph Robinson Drunk & disorderly 10s & costs

Walter Williams Indecent Language 10s & costs

William Robinson Indecent Language 5s & costs

Daniel Round Drunk & Disorderly 10s & costs

William Roberts Indecent Language 10s & costs

William Scott Coal stealing 5s including costs

Benjamin Rice Coal stealing 5s including costs

Edward Wood Coal stealing 5s including costs

Stephen Skelding Coal stealing 5s including costs

Jemima Skelding Coal stealing 5s including costs

Benjamin Scott Coal stealing 5s including costs

Christopher Hill Indecent Language 5s & costs

James Worton Indecent Language 5s & costs

Charles Brettle Drunk & Disorderly 10s & costs

William Harbach Indecent Language 10s & costs

William Johnson Drunk & Disorderly 15s & costs

Hamblett Johnson Drunk & Disorderly 15s & costs

Ephraim Wood Indecent Language 5s & costs

David Millward Drunk on highway 5s & costs

Edward Bloomer Indecent Language 10s & costs

David Burgess Gambling 10s including costs

William Crumpton Gambling 10s including costs

Ernest Dunn Gambling 10s including costs

William Rawlings Gambling 10s including costs

William Plant Gambling 10s including costs

Harry Bridgewater Gambling 10s including costs

William Cox Drunk on Licenced Premises Assault on Police 10s & costs

Joseph Harris Drunk on highway 5s & costs

Eli Hart Drunk in charge 10s & costs

William Roberts Indecent Language 15s & costs

William Marsons Indecent Language 5s & costs

William Hill Drunk & Disorderly 5s & costs

Frederick Pass Drunk & Disorderly 5s & costs

December 14 th Sarah Cross Drunk on the highway 5s & costs

December 21 st Margaret Baker Indecent Language 2-6d & costs

1901

January 4 th William Cox Drunk & Disorderly 5s & costs

Sidney Taylor Wilful damage 6d & costs

Benjamin Tromans Drunk on highway 5s & costs

February 8 th Ephraim Wood Drunk & disorderly 7-6d & costs

February 22 nd Timothy Harris Drunk & disorderly 5s & costs

March 8 th Samuel Grove Drunk & disorderly 5s & costs

March 15 th John Robins Driving without a light 5s & costs 5s

March 22 nd Joseph Williams Indecent Language 5s & costs

April 4 th Frederick Lloyd Riding bicycle without light 5s & costs 10s

April 12 th James Unwin Indecent Language 1s & costs

April 19 th Daniel Round Drunk & disorderly 10s & costs

May 10 th Joseph Bloomer Indecent Language 7-6d & costs

Harry Willetts Gambling 5s including costs

William Ray Gambling 5s including costs

George Edmunds Gambling 5s including cost

May 31 st Frank Shaw Drunk & Disorderly 5s & costs

June 7 th Joseph Robinson Gambling 10s & costs

David Robinson Gambling 10s & costs

Joseph Robinson Gambling 10s & costs

Joseph Harris Gambling 10s & costs

Nelson Harris Gambling 10s & costs

June 21 st Alfred Burrows Indecent Language 10s & costs

Annie Smith Coal stealing 2/6d & costs

May Rawlings Coal stealing 2/6d & costs

Emma Hill Coal stealing 2/6d & costs

Alice Billingham Coal stealing 5s & costs

August 16 th William Pardoe Gambling 15s including costs

Thomas Baker Gambling 15s including costs

Joseph Meredith Gambling 15s including costs

Albert Pritchard Gambling 15s including costs

Edward Brooks Gambling Dismissed

August 30 th William Williams Drunk & disorderly 10s & costs

September 27 th Charles Brettell Drunk on the highway 15s & costs

October 18 th Alfred Worton Shooting with a catapult 5s & costs

Samuel Crampton Indecent Language 10s & costs

November 1 st Alfred Burrows Indecent Language 10s & costs

Levi Cliff Gambling 10s including costs

John Crampton Gambling 5s including costs

Albert Crampton Gambling 5s including costs

Frank Pearson Gambling 5s including costs

November 8 th James Pearson Gambling 5s including costs

Harry Harrison Gambling 5s including costs

George Smith Gambling 5s including costs

November 22 nd Joseph Kirton Drunk & Disorderly 10s & costs

John Smith Gambling 5s & costs

Thomas Crampton Gambling 10s & costs

Aaron Unwin Gambling 10s & costs

Joseph Gill Gambling 10s & costs

Harry Jasper Gambling 5s & costs

November 29 th John Beasley Drunk & Disorderly 2/6d & costs

John H Bishop Breach of the peace Paid costs 8/6d

Thomas Kirkham Breach of the peace Bound over 8/6d

December 6 th Alfred Hawks Indecent Language 2/6d & costs

1902

January 3 rd Jane Cole Indecent Language 5s & costs

Frank Shaw Drunk & disorderly 2/6d & costs

January 17 th Joseph Pearson Drunk & disorderly 5s & costs

January 24 th Frederick Ryder Riding bicycle on footpath paid costs 7/2d

January 31 st Benjamin Forrest Gambling 5s & costs

Lefroy Bashford Gambling 5s & costs

Bert Mobberley Gambling 5s & costs

Percy Clews Gambling 5s & costs

February 28 th Herbert Bissell Driving without lights Paid costs 6/6d

March 14 th Kate Unwin Indecent Language 5s & costs

March 21 st Alfred Wooldridge Indecent Language 5s & costs

April 18 th Frederick Pass Drunk & Disorderly 5s & costs

May 16 th Thomas Fellows Horse straying Paid costs 4/6d

May 23 rd Thomas Morriss Riding bicycle on footpath 10/- & costs

June 6 th Tydal Parsons Drunk & disorderly 5s & costs

June 13 th Ernest Dunn Drunk on highway 2/6d & costs

June 19 th William Bate Drunk on highway 10/- & costs

July 4 th Kate Unwin Indecent Language 5s & costs

July 4 th Roseannah Smith Indecent Language 2/6d & costs

July 4 th William Hill Wilful damage Paid costs 4/-

July 4 th Thomas Hill Wilful damage Paid costs 4/-

July 11 th William Yates Drunk & disorderly 5s & costs

July 25 th Albert Fowkes Drunk & disorderly 2/6 & costs

Charles Winkett Indecent Language 5s & costs

Joseph Taylor Wilful damage Paid costs 5/-

Pharoah Knowles Wilful damage Paid costs 6/-

Frederick Turner Wilful damage Paid costs 5/-

William Chance Wilful damage Paid costs 5/-

William Taylor Wilful damage Paid costs 7/6d

John N Chance Wilful damage Paid costs 5/-

Eli Wakeman Wilful damage Paid costs 5/-

August 1 st Moses Knowles Gambling 5s & costs

John Brettell Gambling 2/6d & costs

William Kendrick Gambling 2/6d & costs

James Aston Gambling 2/6d & costs

August 8 th Joseph Dillard Drunk & disorderly 5s & costs

August 15 th Minnie Taylor Coal stealing Paid costs 5s

August 22 nd John Shilton Indecent Language 10s & costs

Andrew Priest Gambling 5s & costs

Frederick Garton Gambling 2/6d & costs

Arthur Potter Gambling 2/6d & costs

John Williams Gambling 2/6d & costs

August 29 th Joseph Allen Wilful Damage 7/6d & costs

Mary Ann Chaloner Coal stealing Paid costs 7/6d

October17 th Phoebe Heath Coal stealing 10/6d including costs

Hannah Homer Coal stealing 10/6d including costs

October 31 st Thomas Davies Drunk & disorderly 5s & costs

Nov. 1 st William Smith Breach of the peace Paid costs 9/6d

Felix Dunn Breach of the peace Paid costs 9/6d

Nov. 14 th Emmanuel Taylor Indecent Language 5s & costs

Nov. 28 th David Kirton Drunk & disorderly 7/6d & costs

Benjamin Tromans Drunk & disorderly 5s & costs

Dec. 5 th Thomas Perry Drunk on Highway 5s & costs

Dec. 19 th Daniel Round Drunk & disorderly £1.0.0 & costs

1903

January 2 nd William Stokes Drunk on highway 2/6d & costs

Heber Edmunds Breach of the peace Paid costs 9/6d

Samuel Woodhouse Breach of the peace Paid costs 9/6d

January 9 th William Newey Drunk & disorderly 5s & costs

Ellen Round Indecent Language 5s & costs

January 23 rd Mary Knowles Coal stealing 10/- including costs

February 13 th Phoebe Ann Robins Coal stealing 5/- & costs

Timothy Shaw Drunk on highway 5/- & costs

February 27 th John Henry Smith Stealing post 40s including costs

March 20 th Benjamin Barker Drunk on Licenced Premises 10s & costs

“ “ Wilful damage 2 months & £

March 27 th Frederick Evans Gambling 5s & costs

Frank Pearson Gambling 10s & costs

April 17 th Samuel Southall Indecent Language 10s & costs

Walter Cole Gambling 7/6d & costs

George Bullock Gambling 7/6d & costs

Ernest Powell Gambling 5s & costs

William Tromans Gambling 5s & costs

George Green Gambling 5s & costs

William Stevens Gambling 7/6d & costs

Reuben Brettell Gambling 7/6d & costs

May 8 th John Bloomer Drunk & disorderly 2/6d & costs

The last entry in the journal is Thursday 14 th May 1903.

Entry on back page November 10 th 1902 Posted 12 Bills respecting swine fever infected area. Between August 10th 1900 and May 14th 1903 PC George Dyson PC317 brought forward 170 cases.

Of those 16 were ladies, 11 charged with coal stealing, 4 with indecent language and 1 drunk on the highway.

There were 54 cases of Gambling

31 cases drunk & disorderly

28 cases indecent language

16 cases of coal stealing mainly women

11 cases wilful damage

10 cases drunk on highway

6 Breach of the peace

2 Driving without lights

2 shooting with catapult

2 Riding bicycle on footpath

1 drunk on licenced premises and assault on Police officer

1 drunk on licenced premises

1 Drunk in charge

1 Driving without a light

1 Riding a bicycle without a light

1 Horse straying

1 stealing post

Nearly all of the cases resulted in a fine some with costs and some including costs, only one resulted in prison, that of Benjamin Barker who on 20th March 1903 was given a two month prison sentence for Wilful damage and was fined 10/- and costs for being drunk on licenced premises.

The largest fine of 40 shillings including costs was given to John Henry Smith for the crime of stealing post on 27th February 1903. The smallest of 6d and costs was given to Sydney Taylor on January 4 th 1901 for Wilful damage.

As PC 317 George Dyson’s patrols took him to Wassell Grove, Hagley, Wollescote and Lye not all the miscreants were from Cradley, they were all tried at Stourbridge Petty Sessions on Fridays. PC Dyson also had to travel to Stourbridge to collect his pay. Saturday mornings were spent cleaning the Station. He was also responsible for posting bills and serving summonses while on patrol.

On Tuesday 9 th October and Wednesday 10 th October 1901 he was on special duty at Stourbridge Town Hall.