South Woodham Ferrers Local History Society

It is possible that you might have spent some time (perhaps unwittingly) in police cells in Chelmsford.

‘From Lunatic Asylum to Edwardian Gem’ – is the intriguing title for a talk being given on behalf of the Essex Police Museum by the museum’s volunteer guide team leader Malcolm Taylor at the next meeting of the South Woodham Ferrers Local History Society. This fully illustrated talk will cover the early years of Essex Police, looking at the origins of their first HQ building and why it is was located where it was and the reasons for moving to their 'new' building in 1903 at 59 New Street, Chelmsford - a building no longer used for police purposes. Until last year the cells in the basement of this former Police HQ building was ‘Fifty Nine New Street’ a top quality wine bar and restaurant which you may have enjoyed visiting...

Although this is predominantly a tale of Essex Police Headquarters, the story goes much wider and the speaker describes the presentation as a ‘sort of social history from say 1840 to early 1900's...’  The talk looks at some of the individuals concerned as well as the buildings themselves. It should provide a really interesting angle on an eventful period in this county’s life.