Have you heard of the ‘The Houndsditch Murders’? Claimed the
lives of three City of London Police officers and remains to this day the
largest loss of life in one incident on duty in the UK! Check out the model of
the building where the murders took place which was used at the trial. Plus a
3D animation of the original automatic Mauser pistols – a lethal weapon!
So where can you find all this and more? Make your way to the new City’s Police Museum housed in the Guildhall Library which
opened on 7th November.
 |
| In the beginning ... |
It is a small space, but like Dr Who's tardis, once entered it seems much bigger! Brilliantly designed and decorated with
excellent graphics, large bright show cases, 3D elements and all on a tight budget. The Heritage Lottery Fund awarded a grant of
£90,000 towards the development of the museum and associated community
engagement. Success of the project is not only down to the team of staff and volunteers at City of London Police
and the Guildhall Library, but working in partnership with Guildhall School of
Music & Drama, and the City of London Corporation (who owns the school).
Plus the City Guides who helped promote the Police Open Day and who we hope
will play an important role in encouraging visitors to go to the
Museum.
 |
| City of London badge on early uniform |
The Museum also offers tours to schools, so do check the web
site for further details of tours, plus walks and talks.
My admiration is of course biased as I am a City Guide and very proud of the City and all those mentioned above to create from a large, dare I say, disorganised, collection of historical
records and many macabre artefacts, this very modern and elegant little museum. I was like a kid in a sweet shop when I was
invited to the private view. My
photographs only give a taster, you must visit to really appreciate why I am so
excited about it.
Not to give too much away, I am only offering headlines
here of what you will find:
Catherine Eddowes – last victim of the Ripper
The Hounditch Murders – as mentioned above
The recruitment of women into the force
The Two World Wars and their impact on policing
Olympic Gold Medal – won in 1920 – City of London Police are still the reigning champions
Terrorism – from the home-made bombs by the suffragettes on
display
Technological progress of communications
Police Uniforms and kit
The force’s animals
There is something of interest for everyone and hands on
too!
City of London Police Commissioner Ian Dyson said:
“We are a
unique force and everyone who works here is incredibly proud to serve the City.
This museum illustrates much of what makes us special, our partnerships, our
close links to our communities and most significantly, a long history that
entwines us with the Square Mile and London.” Sara Pink, Head of the City of
London Corporation’s Guildhall Library and City Business Library, said: “The
museum will certainly attract a wide range of visitors, including City workers,
residents, tourists and crime historians. From the horrors of Jack the Ripper’s
murders in Whitechapel to how all of us must be extra-vigilant about identity
fraud and terrorism, the exhibits will bring the personal stories and issues
alive.”
The Commissioner mentioned 'Z Cars' in his speech at the Private View, and those of who remember the TV series can no doubt still hum the theme tune. Just in case you have forgotten here is a You Tube link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWflrCrwUSw .
Sara Pink, Head of the City of London Corporation’s
Guildhall Library and City Business Library, said:
“The museum will certainly
attract a wide range of visitors, including City workers, residents, tourists
and crime historians. From the horrors of Jack the Ripper’s murders in
Whitechapel to how all of us must be extra-vigilant about identity fraud and
terrorism, the exhibits will bring the personal stories and issues alive.”
Admission is FREE
Details of opening times can be found here:
For those of my readers who are not City local, the information below explains something of the workings and connections of and with the City of London:
About the City of London Corporation:
The City of London Corporation is a uniquely
diverse organisation. It supports and promotes the City as a world leader in
international finance and business services and provides local services and
policing for those working in, living in, and visiting the Square Mile. It also
provides valued services to London and the nation. These include the Barbican
Centre, Barbican Music Library, Guildhall School of Music & Drama,
Guildhall Library, Guildhall Art Gallery and Roman Amphitheatre, London
Metropolitan Archives, a range of education provision (including three City
Academies); five Thames bridges (including Tower Bridge and Millennium Bridge),
Central Criminal Court at Old Bailey, over 10,000 acres of open spaces (including
Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest), and three wholesale food markets. The City
of London Corporation is London’s Port Health Authority and also runs the
Animal Reception Centre at Heathrow. For more details, visit www.cityoflondon.gov.uk
About the City of London Police:
The City of London Police is responsible for
policing the City’s business district, the ‘Square Mile’ in the historical centre of London. In addition,
it holds national responsibility for Economic Crime and under this remit is
host to Action Fraud (the national fraud and cybercrime reporting service), the
National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, the Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department
and the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit. The City of London
continues to be one of the safest urban areas in the country.
About the Guildhall School of Music
& Drama
The Guildhall School is a vibrant, international community
of young musicians, actors and theatre technicians in the heart of the City of
London. Twice-rated No.1 specialist institution in the UK by the Guardian
University Guide, and recently selected as one of the top ten institutions for
performing arts in the world (QS World University Rankings 2016), the School is
a global leader of creative and professional practice which promotes
innovation, experiment and research, with over 900 students in higher
education, drawn from nearly 60 countries around the world. It is also the UK’s
leading provider of specialist music training at the under-18 level with nearly
2,500 students in Junior Guildhall and Centre for Young Musicians. The School
is widely recognised for the quality of its teaching and its graduates, and its
new building, Milton Court which opened in September 2013, offers
state-of-the-art facilities to match the talent within its walls, ensuring that
students enter their chosen profession at the highest level. Milton Court is
part of the unique Guildhall School/Barbican partnership delivering world-class
arts and learning.
About the Heritage Lottery Fund:
Thanks to National Lottery players, we invest money
to help people across the UK explore, enjoy and protect the heritage they care
about - from the archaeology under our feet to the historic parks and buildings
that we love, from precious memories and collections to rare wildlife. www.hlf.org.uk
@heritagelottery
No comments:
Post a Comment