We had a request from the owner of what used to be Coalpit Heath Police Station for further information.
We had this picture and one of the Division of Special Constables from World War ll which we established was not taken at the building in question.
We had very little information linked to the photograph apart from the fact that it was Police Constable 173. Further research on the collar number 173 and census has helped to identify him.
Police Constable Charles Wembridge joined the Constabulary on 4th August 1882 and retired on 31st October 1913. The Census shows that he lived at Coalpit Heath in 1901 with his wife Kate and three sons while in 1911 he was still there with 4 sons. The 1911 census notes that there were two children no longer alive. So looking at the information that we can find and dates of birth of the children it appears that the photograph would be dated to about 1906.
We know that the building has been renovated several times since it passed into private hands we would love to see any photographs taken of the building over time and will pass them onto the owner.
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