Introducing Gloucestershire Police Archives

This website is based on the archives of Gloucestershire Police and has been created by the Gloucestershire Police Archive Volunteers as part of “For the Record”, a Heritage Lottery Funded project. Here you can browse through photos, memories, stories and historical information related to the history of Gloucestershire Constabulary.

About us

Gloucestershire Constabulary Archive Group was formed in 1998 and  first became involved with the county’s police heritage when a number of retired police officers were asked to record details of some photograph albums which had been discovered on police premises.

The project  and the group has evolved to include members of the wider police family as well as people interested in police history. A database of archive material and images has been created  containing almost 8,000 entries- with many more waiting to be added.  this work has led to the Constabulary and the Police and Crime Commissioner working in partnership with Gloucestershire County Council in the “For The Record” Project. the Project will enable the Constabulary Archive records to be preserved in the best condition for years to come making the Constabulary records truly accessible to the public and other interested parties. It has also seen the creation of the Heritage Hub where a number of different archive volunteer groups will be housed creating a fully interactive hub.

More information and regular updates regarding the project  can be found on the Gloucestershire Council Website.   https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/archives/for-the-record/

 

 

We also stage exhibitions at Constabulary open days and local history & heritage events, and answer enquiries about police ancestors and history. We are always interested in new recruits, so if you’re interested please contact us.

 

Contributing to the site

You can add a comment about anything on the website by clicking on the ‘Add a comment’ link at the bottom of each page. You can also submit your own photos, stories or information to the site by using our contribution form.

 

 

 

tetbury

You may also find further information at the Tetbury Police Museum as they hold some of the Gloucestershire Police archives.

Tetbury Police Museum & Courtroom

Discover the history of crime and detection in Gloucestershire FREE ADMISSION OPEN MONDAY TO FRIDAY 10AM-3PM

The Victorian Police Station and Courthouse house the Town Council’s administration offices, with the original Police office and cells containing a most interesting and not to be missed array of exhibits and memorabilia primarily dedicated to the history of the Gloucestershire Constabulary and also the social history of Tetbury. The museum which is well worth a visit as it includes the world renowned Alex Nichols collection of Handcuffs and Restraints, and on the first floor a complete magistrates court with a display using models and depicting a hearing, as it would have been in the late 1940’s or early 1950’s. Visitors can also enjoy other audio-visual displays, children’s quizzes and a trail.

tetburypolicemuseum.org.uk

Follow us on twitter @museumtetbury or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Tetbury-Police-Museum-and-Courtroom-247080042092039/

This page was added on 08/04/2014.

Comments about this page

  • My grandfather Thomas Luker was stationed at Upton-st-Leonard’s my father whose photo is shown was David Wagstaff who retired as a Chief Inspector while stationed at Staple Hill Bristol.I remember living in a house at the back of Holland House Cheltenham having a ride down the long drive on my father’s horse also lived at 19 Bearland Gloucester, 25 Honyatt Road Gloucester The Police Station Cinderford and 1 Teewell Hill Staple Hill. I had an uncle Bernard Keane also in the force and brother-in-laws Michael Durham and Reginald Pitman. I remember many of the personnel stationed at Cinderford and Staple Hill and many incidents that happened including being snowed in for a week at Cinderford in 1947

    By Margaret Higgins (10/08/2019)
  • This is a great site – a very useful find! I am researching, for a history research group, James Simpson b. 1856. You have a fantastic photo of him as Officer number 47. In the joining lists however, No 47 is given to another person – did they re-use the numbers?

    By S Wynne (23/06/2017)
  • Thank you for your comment. Collar numbers were reused until relatively recently, in fact there were times when an officer left on one day and the next day the number was reissued.

    By Sue Webb (25/06/2017)
  • Hi have just found my great great grandfather Samuel Gabb on your site he was with the Glos police in 1842 he then went on to join the Wiltshire police until his death thank you for the information you have put on this site wish there was one for Wiltshire as not been able to find anything regarding his time there,

    By beryl street (14/01/2017)
  • This is a wonderful site and will, no doubt, be used by many. Your interest in forming the records is commendable. Thank you all.

    By Barry Manning (286) rtd. (30/09/2016)
  • Thank you for your time and effort in bringing this to be seen. Although it gives me facts I already know via word and mouth it is nice to see something in print.
    Extraordinary facts.
    My Great grandfather Henry Boulton. Joined the Glos Constabulary in 1862 (March) . He was stationed in Cheltenham. I joined in April 1962 exactly 100 years later. He was resident as a single person in the Police station. Eventually being married he lived in Swindon Street and little did I know that 100 years later I would be patrolling that beat. Our paths took the same route as he got promoted to Bristol 15 years later as did I. I have managed to find through family history that he retired and started work as a weigh bridge keeper. It’s a shame that on our almalgamation with Bristol in 1974 very little records were kept on the Glos intake back in history. I would have appreciated knowing what Police station he served at in Bristol especially as I was one of the 1974 officers swallowed up by Avon and Somerset. However I appreciated all the hard work you have put into the archives and long may it continue
    Mike Boulton. Formally PC670. Was stationed at Filton,Cheltenham,Tewkesbury, Lydney and Staple Hill.

    By Michael Boulton (16/09/2016)
  • Really fantastic work. Great people and an amazing collection of pictures to make us proud of our ‘family force’.

    By Mark Stephens (16/09/2016)

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