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What was this please?/ Police Boxes


ukelele lady

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What exactly did, or do, these boxes contain? A telephone? A supply of spare truncheons? A chemical bucket-and-chuckit loo? A gas ring and kettle? A chair?

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40 minutes ago, Athy said:

What exactly did, or do, these boxes contain? A telephone? A supply of spare truncheons? A chemical bucket-and-chuckit loo? A gas ring and kettle? A chair?

The telephone could be accessed through a small door on the outside so that as well as giving officers contact with the police station, the public could also use it in emergency. There was also a first aid kit similarly accessible. On the inside I think they were quite basic, there was a desk and stool for officers to right up notes and reports, restrain a prisoner, or take a break. The light on the top was controlled from the police station so could be used as a signal to the beat officer. I believe he would report in from there every hour.

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Back in the 40's a bicycle was kept in the box at the junction of Moonshine Lane with Raisen Hall Road at Southey Green.

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35 minutes ago, Voldy said:

Back in the 40's a bicycle was kept in the box at the junction of Moonshine Lane with Raisen Hall Road at Southey Green.

That's a reminder, thanks, you often saw a bicycle propped up at the side of one.

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On 12/4/2011 at 17:18, ukelele lady said:

 

Looks like Howard Road / Commonside maybe.

it was on common side i remember it very well

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This is my personal record of starting out as a young copper with my mashing can in my haversack in Central Division in Sheffield.

 

Police Dog-gerel.

 

There is a mystery, a litany of names I come to learn,

As when I take my place in that great establishment

They call Police.

My uniform, of  serge and midnight blue, with shirt and collar, too,

With cape and greatcoat well supplied,

I heave it on and wear with pride.

 

A stick, a pair handcuffs strong,

I march to face the public throng,

Earnestly to right all wrong.

But first I have to learn the lines,

A poem of historic times,

Each a name I must rehearse.

 

These names a street or place bely,

Some so odd you wonder why,

But soon it all becomes a piece.

These names will ring to city folk

a chord, a bell, a laugh, a joke.

And yet they are a litany.

 

From Bow to Eldon,

Moorhead, Lansdown,

Sharrow, and Town Hall

These are the places

I will call,

 

the places no man mocks,

For these are places

Where the law is kept,

The place they call

The Beat Box.

 

Bridgehouses, Infirmary,

Ellesmere, Wicker,

Nursery and Fitzalan.

 

Hereford and Leveson,

Gower and Broomhall,

All these names I call,

 

Midland, Granville,

Christ Church,  All Saints,

Places holy,

 

Park Hill and Sheaf

Pomona, Bow and

places lowly,

 

Exchange and Midland

I could go on

But learn I must.

 

From each of these

I pound the beat,

In boot or shoe

With aching feet

 

A hundred years and more

They’ve stood, watching over

Neighbourhood,

They’ve seen their bobbies come and go,

Seen the street life’s ebb and flow,

Seen the snow and gale-born rain,

Seen the hurt and seen the pain

Of folk whose need is plain.

 

A missing child, a stolen bike,

A drunken neighbour,

Noisy Tyke,

The Police Box is to all

A place to go whenever

Winds of misfortune blow

 

They come and ask,

The Innocent, the

course and rude,

the blustering fool,

the helpless in their downcast mood.

 

Often painted cream and green,

The police box is a scene

Now gone.

But still the memory

Lingers on, of sandwiches at 2am,

Luke warm tea  and then a scone

 

And once again unto the night,

Watching ever,

Keeping guard.

Like  shepherds watching  flocks.

I bless that place, the old Police Box.

 

(PC 441 B Div 1961 -1964)                  STRICTLY COPYRIGHT

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On 31/12/2017 at 18:58, Unitedite Returns said:

I'm pretty sure that it is a police box, and I believe that Sheffield had a number of these 'mini-police-stations' once upon a time, although nowadays, only one, that by the Town Hall is still retained in its original location.

I was once told that they were called Sillitoe Boxes,after Percy Sillitoe, one time Chief Constable of Sheffield, although as to whether he introduced them, I cannot say.

In 1926 Percy Sillitoe became Chief Constable of Sheffield. He was credited with authorising "reasonable force" to break the hold of criminal gangs.

Below, is a closer photograph of another one, long-gone, seen standing here, on West Street, between the junctions of Holly Street and Leopold Street, Sheffield, on 24/10/1953.

PT332-Sheffield Transport No.500 at West Street, between junctions of Holly Street & Leopold Street, Sheffield-24-10-1953-EDITED.jpg

An appropriate destination blind on the tram.

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7 hours ago, LeadFarmer said:

Taken stood on Boston St at crossroads with London Rd (going left/right)

 

image.png.c615a23049755ad4586f4354aca79c22.png

The same PCB (Police call box) seen from a different angle, the Pub background left is the Derby Hotel,  picturesheffield.com/s13637

lans_lon_rd.jpg

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