Cambridgeshire

Police

History

Notes

Policing Fen Ditton in the 1840s and 50s

| Parish Constables | Fen Ditton Lighting and Watching Act Force | Arrival of the New Cambridgeshire Constabulary | Fen Ditton Penance |

The Arrival of the New Cambridgeshire Constabulary

By early in 1852 the new Cambridgeshire Constabulary had been formed by the County Justices. Events leading up to the establishment of the Cambridgeshire Constabulary are set out in great detail by Peggy Watts in her excellent book "The Formation of the Cambridgeshire Constabulary 150 Years Ago", published in 2001 and now sadly out of print. but you can download a .pdf version of Peggy's book free of charge from this link - a 16.5MB .pdf.

The practice of appointing Parish Constables did however continue for some years, the appointees being expected to assist the new police when called upon. Fen Ditton was included in the Bottisham Division of the new force under Superintendent John Marson and Sergeant G W Oakley. The Cambridge Chronicle, 24 January 1852 p5, reported that the new police, keen to make an impression, had promptly attended the scene of an arson at William Woollard's farm in Fen Ditton. After searching the scene and interviewing witnesses, Superintendent Marson arrested George Hancock, (PC Cook's assailant the previous September). Hancock later appeared at the Assizes, but as the only evidence against him was purely circumstantial, he was acquitted.

The transition from local policing to the new County police was not without incident. Henry Cousins, bricklayer, Henry Muggleton, carpenter, and William Dows, labourer, all of Fen Ditton, appeared at court for assaulting Police Constable Frederick Coote, of the new Cambridgeshire Constabulary. PC Coote had rented a house at Fen Ditton from Henry Cousins' wife, with the knowledge of her husband. PC Coote moved some of his furniture into the house. Shortly after Cousins put Coote's belongings out into the street, but these were taken back inside again by his wife. Cousins then put a lock and staple on the door. Coote, on finding this, went to Cousins and demanded the key, which was refused. He then, on the suggestion of Cousins’ wife, broke off the staple and entered the house. Cousins followed him, and Coote threw him out. Cousins then went in search of Muggleton, who, with himself, was a parish constable. Muggleton, with Deane (whom the parish constables charged to aid and assist), entered the house and a fight ensued and several severe blows were struck. After hearing evidence on both sides, the Magistrates considered that there was an unwarrantable excess of duty on the part of parish constables, Muggleton and Cousins, and therefore fined each £3 including costs. Dows, having considered himself bound to assist, was fined 10/-. In court it was observed that an ill-feeling had for some time existed at Fen Ditton against the introduction of the new Cambridgeshire Constabulary. (Cambridge Independent Press, 19 June 1852 p4)

PC Philip Cook did in fact gain a place in the new Cambridgeshire Constabulary as a third class constable, appointed on 4 December 1851 (Cambridge Chronicle, 13 December 1851 p5). No traces have been found of a later career for PC Philip Cook. A burial at St Mary's Islington of a Philip Johnson Cook, b.1826 took place on 20 Oct 1854 and might, or might not, relate to the same person.

No direct records of the formation or operation of the Fen Ditton Police are known to have survived.

We are most grateful to Ken Mason for sharing his meticulous research into police officers in Cambridgeshire, which has enabled us to piece together the career of Philip Johnson Cook.

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Parish Constables

Fen Ditton Lighting and Watching Act Police Force

The Arrival of the New Cambridgeshire Constabulary

The Fen Ditton Penance

This page was last modified: 18 November 2025, 13:23

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