Newnham

William Henry Lander the first Forest of Dean Superintendent

The first District police headquarters for the Forest of Dean was opened at Newnham in the Spring of 1840. Its Superintendent was William Henry Lander, who was born in Birmingham around 1811. He was the son of George & Alice Lander and joined the force on the 17th of February 1840.

We do know a little about him as apparently he was sued for debt in April 1838 at the Debtors Court, Lincolns Inn Fields, London and described in the London Gazette as "William Henry Lander, formerly of Gandy Street and the Hill's Court, both in Exeter, Devonshire, afterwards of No. 4 Grays Inn Square, Middlesex, and then of No.8 same place, Articled Clerk to an Attorney, afterwards of 1 The Spa, then Bell Lane, and of Southgate Street, all in Gloucester, Secretary to the Gloster and Hereford Railway Company, and then of the city of Worcester, also staying occasionally at the Bell Inn, Gloucester, and late of No.4 Southampton Buildings, Holborn, Middlesex, in no business or employment, but holding a Commission as an Ensign in the Royal South Gloucestershire Militia. (sued as William H. Lander.)"

William was an ensign with the South Gloucester Militia, a force led by the landed gentry. It was a part-time regiment, and unpaid during peace-time. Its militiamen had to attend an annual training camp, local drill parades and church parades. During the 18th and 19th centuries the South Gloucesters were commanded by members of the Berkeley family of Berkeley Castle, Gloucestershire and during the first half of the 19th century its Colonel was William FitzHardinge Berkeley who between 1836 and 1857 was also Lord-Lieutenant of Gloucestershire.

William Lander had described himself as a gentleman and residing in Gloucester at the time of his marriage to a widow with three children, Sarah Matilda Brice, in January 1840. Sarah (1815) was the daughter of a Westgate Street, Gloucester hairdresser and perfumer George Meadows and already had three children from her first marriage.

He does not appear to have any experience in police work so one can only guess that Lefroy chose him to be a Superintendent because of the army background and his time as Articled Clerk to an attorney. Another possibility is some pressure on the Chief Constable from Lander's Colonel, the Lord-Lieutenant of Gloucestershire.

He moved to Newnham with his new family and two servants to take up the administration of the Forest of Dean District in 1840. His first child Alice Gilbert Lander was baptised at Newnham in November 1840.

The first buildings rented to serve as police stations in the Forest of Dean were often procured in a rush and some would quickly prove unfit for purpose. The station at Passage Lane (now Severn Street) Newnham was rather small to be District HQ.

The small police station seems to have been very crowded in 1841 if all those eight officers listed on the census form were barracked there. The normal policy from headquarters was that no officer would be stationed in his own home district. James Evans (1817-1907) who was a shoemaker from Newnham, and signed up at Cheltenham on the 4th of November 1840, was posted to Minchinhampton in the Stroud District with his wife Elizabeth and their infant daughter Sarah Jane, while John Evans (25) who was from Minchinhampton was posted to Newnham.

The other officers there in 1841 were 21 year old George Walters from Bristol, 30 year old William Onion from Cheltenham, Joseph Perkins from the Ledbury area, John White (20) from Wotton-under-edge, Thomas Symons (30) from Axminster, Devon, Cornelius Lewis (23) Bisley near Stroud, and Nicholas Peters (36), and his wife and daughter, both called Elizabeth, were from Cornwall. Elizabeth Peters would have been expected to clean and cook for the men.

Later, in 1857, the building was described by Lefroy the Chief Constable.

This station is situated nearly opposite the Bear Inn in the lower part of the town and is 12 miles from Gloucester and 4 miles from Blakeney. The premises are very old, the Rooms very low, back of premises confined and deficient in Privacy and the whole accommodation unsuitable and inconvertible. A small insecure Cell without sufficient air and no external light. A strong room. Two rooms, small office, Wash House, Pantries, enclosed Yard & Privy and three good sized bedrooms. Rent £8.8 shillings per annum.

It probably would not have survived as District HQ until around 1849 if Superintendent William Lander had not moved into a property which was either next door, or very close, and situated at the end of Passage Lane. His home was described when being auctioned at the Bear Hotel in 1847 as

" A Very desirable and convenient dwelling house, in good substantial repair, with stable, out offices and small garden attached.

The above premises are situate at the bottom of the Passage Lane in the town of Newnham opposite to the Bear Hotel and command pleasing views of the River Severn and are now in the occupation of Mr William Lander."

The early undated print above shows the Bear Inn at the centre.

The Bear Inn, also called the Passage House, has long been part of Newnham's history. It was one of the five inns recorded in 1637 and from 1759 the borough and manor court of Newnham was being held there. From 1856 it was also the home of the Petty Sessions. When up for sale in 1837 it came with a fishery plus the ferry, and was the town's only posting-house.

By the time of the 1851 census the District HQ was established at Coleford and Newnham was now a station in the care of Sergeant Hugh Brown (bn 1822) from Horsley in Gloucestershire. He had joined the force in 1845. His wife Ann and six year old daughter Selina were with him and there were now only two constables, William Godfrey from Hampton Court in Middlesex and Henry Glad from Swindon in Wiltshire.

Hugh Brown went on to have a distinguished career with the force, serving at Headquarters, Cheltenham and being promoted to Inspector in 1866 and Superintendent in 1868. He died while serving at Dursley in 1869.

Newnham Gloucestershire

To be sold by Auction by Mr James Karn at the Bear Hotel on Friday 2nd of April 1847 at 5 o'clock in the afternoon.

Very desirable and convenient dwelling house, in good substantial repair, with stable, out offices and small garden attached.

To view the property, apply on the premises, and for further particulars to the auctioneer, or to Messers James & Wintle, Newnham solicitors.

Gloucester Journal - March 20th 1847

Passage Lane, Newnham

1847 was an extremely bad year for Superintendent William Lander. His wife Sarah and 3 year old son Henry George died, followed a few months later by their infant daughter Mary. He was forced to send daughters Alice and Elizabeth to live with his Meadows in-laws at Westgate Street, Gloucester and move out of the family home in Passage Lane.

The whole tragic experience appears to have seriously affected him. On the 14th of April 1848, after eight years service in the Forest of Dean District he received his first admonishment from the Chief Constable.

For being under the influence of liquor at Newnham as reported by himself. "I regret very much this occurred and I am satisfied from the manner Superintendent Lander expresses himself that a reoccurrence of it will not take place."

Then on the 2nd of June that same year - "For gross neglect of duty in not having visited his Stations by night as frequently as he should have done." Fined three pounds.

On the 9th of March 1849 - For neglect of duty and disobedience of orders in not reporting several cases of sheep stealing and other serious offences to the Chief Constable. Allowed to resign with pay to the 1st of April 1849.

After resigning William does not appear to have immediately found work. The 1851 census shows him living with his widowed mother near Bath and the occupation recorded was as an unpaid officer with the Royal South Gloucester Militia. Within a couple of years the South Glosters were mobilised in the lead-up to the Crimean War.

Early 1900s Hewelsfield

Up at the pub, now the Carpenters Arms, there used to be a pool on the side of the road now filled in. It was a stopping place for the farmers on the way to Chepstow Market to water the horses and cattle – no lorries or cars. All the farmers drove horses and float. It was a big day out for them, all used to have fast horses and try to pass on the way home, but Mr. G. Bond could always pass them with his gig and trotters. He was always pulling someone's leg on the way home. All pulled up at the Carps, no closing hours in those days.

In those days there was only the pub to go to and before the little club was opened, no restrictions, if you were about 14 and liked to go in no Police did not seem to interfere but the old boys that used to go saw that you behaved, no lads had beer, it was always pop with just a spot of beer. Beer then the first time I remember, was 2 ½ d a pint and if they gave a shilling when they went in they got five pints for a bob. How I remember some of those woodcutters marking it up on the table, four strokes and put the last one across, I can remember Mr Scrivens remark “That’s the one over the bar”.
The old table was still in the Carpenters Arms 50 years after and still shows the marking where he used to put them down. It cost the lads one penny for their glass of shandy, so you can see that times are altered, you wont get much today for one penny. It was all Cinderella and Tabs cigarettes in those days, Woodbines were about. The price then was one penny for five, three half pennies for ten. Ansties Gold Flake in a paper packet was threepence for 10. From Hewelsfield Our Village By P.A. Michael - 1964

William Ellison (bn 1828) joined up in January 1846 and was a tailor's son from Minety in North Wiltshire who was promoted to Superintendent in 1866.

He was moved around the Forest stations between 1848, serving at Blakeney till 1852, St Briavels till around 1857, and Coleford till 1860. Whilst at Coleford he was promoted to Sergeant in April 1856. In 1861 he was Sergeant at Gloucester's busy Bearland Station and May 1866 saw him promoted to Superintendent and posted to the Campden District.

In May 1847 he had been stationed as a constable at Stonehouse. It was there he received his first reprimand from the Chief Constable. 18th May 1847 - For absenting himself for 6 hours without leave from his station at Stonehouse. 'Reprimanded'

Shortly after that incident he was posted to Blakeney in the Forest of Dean. He received his second reprimand in May 1848. For allowing a prisoner to escape from the Blakeney Station. 'As Supt Lander had not forwarded the handcuffs to the station - not proceeded with.'

He was in trouble there again on the 14th of August 1848. For improperly interfering in a case where two men had been summoned for Drunkenness, by allowing them to settle the matter by paying the costs. ' Removed from charge of the Blakeney Station.

He had married Elizabeth Creed (bn 1830) at Tebury in 1847 and four of their children were born in the Forest of Dean area. Henry Edwin Ellison - baptised at Blakeney July 1851, William Stephen - baptised St Briavels April 1853, Mary - baptised St Briavels March 1854, Catherine and Martha - baptised at Coleford in May 1858.

On the 20th of April 1850 he was in trouble again, this time visiting Cheltenham. For neglecting to report his arrival at the Cheltenham Station when in pursuit of two men who had committed a murder in Newport (Mon.). 'Reduced to Constable 2nd Class for 3 months.'

His only reprimand as a Superintendent was in January 1874. 'Not sending in a report made by Dr Long against PC Vick of the Thornbury Station as soon as he should have done.' "I must express my disapprobation at the length of time taken by Supt Ellison in sending in this report. At the very latest it ought to have arrived at this office on Friday morning (Jan 3rd) . This is not the first time I have had to remark on the dilatory way the Superintendent has lately done his duty. If a change does not take place I will have to find someone who will do the work in a more satisfactory manner.

William Ellison received his of £80 per year pension on the 1st of July 1878. Unfortunately it was forfeited in April 1879 by order of the Quarter Sessions when he was imprisoned for forgery.

According to the Gloucester Prison Registers, in February 1879, William Ellison was incarcerated and awaiting trial, the charge being : "Forging several receipts and embezzling five sums of money."

Awaiting trial at Gloucester where in earlier years he had been the Police Sergeant must have been extremely difficult. He was later found guilty and sentenced to "five years penal servitude."

The 1881 census records him at Parkhurst Prison on the Isle of Wight and his wife and one of their children, staying with their daughter's family in Gloucester.

He appears to have had some good fortune after being released. He was given work as a lodge keeper by the Duke of Beaufort at Badminton which was not far from the town of Campden where he had served 12 years as a Police Superintendent. Here he and Elizabeth stayed for at least a decade and, in later years were given accommodation in the almshouses on the Duke's estate. William Henry Ellison died there in June 1901.

Believed to be the home in the 1840 & 1850s of Blakeney's first police station

Blakeney's second station in Church Square from around 1868


	In the first photo the building on the right is the second police station built in 1873 near to the corner of Passage Lane (now Severn Street). The second picture shows the bottom of Passage Lane and the area of the first station which was recorded as being nearly opposite the Bear Inn (the building on the right corner, now called Passage House.)



	On the left is the Bear Inn (now Passage House) as it looks today and on the right, across the road, the possible site of Superintendent William Lander's 1840s home.

	The Hewelsfield Station opened on the 3rd of December 1840 and appears to be the only Forest police station where the day to day diary for that period has been preserved. It records 22 year old Minchinhampton born Constable Samuel Kirby moving the furniture, probably by hand-cart, from the station at Newnham to 'Tumkiln Nails'. He started out at 11.30 am and finally arrived at 7 pm on that winter evening.


	The site on the Coleford to Chepstow road of the since demolished Carpenter's Arms, sometimes known as the Tumpkinhales, and believed to be the area where the 1840 Hewelsfield police station was situated. Account of Duty performed by the constables at this Station commencing 3rd day of December 1840. Orderly Samuel Kirby. Constable Samuel Kirby in charge of the Barrack Furniture proceeded from Newnham at half past 11 am for Hewelsfield and arrived at 7 pm. Sergeant John Baker and Constable Daniel Walker left Newnham at 10am and arrived at Hewelsfield (passing through Blakeney, Nibley Hill, Viney Hill, Deadmans Cross, Whitecroft, Bream, St. Briavels ) at 3pm. Took possession of the house at Tumpkiln Nails provided as Barrack. Hewelsfield Station Diary A note was added by Superintendent Lander who would have arrived at 3pm on horse-back and obviously took a different route to Samuel! Visited this station. Found Sergeant Baker and Constable Daniel Walker arrived, Constable Samuel Kirby not having arrived with the Barrack furniture at 3pm. William Lander Superintendent. Engaged at this session putting up the beds & making the Barrack comfortable.