Victorian prison buttons

[Jamesb853]

Here are two more early Victorian prison buttons: 1. Newcastle Upon Tyne Prisons; 2. Borough Prison Nottingham. Certain cities and boroughs had their own prisons and houses of correction, independent of the County gaols. These boroughs invariably also had their own police forces, Magistrates Courts, and Quarter Sessions courts, the latter presided over by a part-time professional judge called a Recorder. Some, including both Nottingham and Newcastle, had their own Assizes as well. Criminal justice was very "local" in Victorian England.Prison badge002.jpg

Prison badge001.jpg

[altcar73]

I've unearthed a number of prison buttons from my various boxes and append them herewith. In addition I've come across a button named "Kent Javelin Men" (photo below). I would suspect that those who wore these buttons were responsible for escorting the Judges en route to the Assizes etc. I hope they are of interest.

As an aside, I've never seen any hat/cap badges named to similar prisons (apart from a query Newgate) and wonder if in those days they had "named" buttons but just a generic "Vic. Crown on their caps.

Best wishes, Dave.

[btns]

Nice buttons. Thank you to both for showing these.

[Jamesb853]

I am not sure myself about cap badges. There is documentary evidence (see elsewhere on the forum) that the cap badge for local prisons in England and Wales in 1869 was a crown. There are few contemporary photographs but it would seem that in some instances at least, no cap badge was worn. The HM Convict Department badges sometimes seen were not used in the UK and were only worn in certain colonies, e.g. South Africa and Australia. There is a KC version of that badge as well, incidentally.

[Jamesb853]

Dave, did you get a private message from me, in reply to your last?

[altcar73]

Originally Posted by Jamesb853

Dave, did you get a private message from me, in reply to your last?

James,

Yes, I've just replied to you.

Dave.

[Jamesb853]

Thanks Dave, was having difficulty confirming whether messages I sent were actually being sent!

[Bantam]

Thanks to both altcar73 and Jamesb853 for showing photos of the buttons a very nice collection in wonderful condition.
I have never come across a known cap badge of a local prison but I have seen examples to named prisons and although that appears to be a contradiction it is not because I'm unsure in what context these badges were used.
Bantam

[Peter Brydon]

I agree with Bantam, some interesting photos and information.

P.B.

[Jamesb853]

Looking again at the Kent Javelin Men button, the Crown doesn't seem Victorian and I conjecture that it may be somewhat earlier. The provision of javelin men at Assizes was originally the responsibility of the County Sheriff and in many cases they were his personal servants, and would have worn his livery buttons. By the mid 19th century some counties, though by no means all, had given this duty over to the police. It is recorded that this happened in Berkshire from 1867. There is photographic evidence of police officers acting in this capacity in the 19th and 20th centuries. In some places they continued to keep civilian javelin men until well into the 20th century. Manchester ceased using them in 1921. A number of original javelins are preserved at the Judges Lodgings Museum in Presteign, Radnorshire.

[Bantam]

Hi Jamesb853,
I had never heard of the term Javelin Men before so after reading it in you submission I Googled it .Very interesting I have learnt something new.Thank you.
Hwyl,
Bantam

[btns]

Originally Posted by Bantam

Hi Jamesb853,
I had never heard of the term Javelin Men before so after reading it in you submission I Googled it .Very interesting I have learnt something new.Thank you.
Hwyl,
Bantam

Here is a good article, including pictures of Javelin Men:
http://www.southwalespolicemuseum.or...gan_const.aspx

[Jamesb853]

A very informative article indeed. In some cases Special Constables were drafted in as javelin men, especially where the regular force was small. The Assizes (and to a lesser extent Quarter Sessions) were a major and prestigious event for any town; for example Birmingham Corporation petitioned Queen Victoria in 1857 for the right to hold Assizes in order to boost the town's status, a request that was not granted until 1883, followed by the construction of the grand Victoria Law Courts from 1887-1891. There are several medals commemorating the opening of these courts.

Another official who featured at Assizes, and who is today largely unknown, was the Lord Lieutenant of the County. He was named on the Commission and required to attend, usually sitting alongside the judge on the bench, though he took no active part in the proceedings apart from his ceremonial duties. Lords Lieutenant had their own distinctive military style uniform and insignia including silver buttons featuring a crowned rose, as illustrated.

[HMPbadges]

Outstanding......Bantam I've been away too long!

[yorkstone]

Does any one know if a button for HMP Stafford existed

Regards

Stephen