Avon & Somerset Constabulary Police Museum

In July 2023 I was fortunate enough to visit the new Avon & Somerset Constabulary Police museum at their HQ in Portishead, Bristol, England. 

The Police HQ is a secure area so the museum is not open to the general public. However, It can be visited by appointment only for educational visits by organisations, associations, schools or indviduals with a legitimate interest like myself. 

This has been made possible due to the commendable efforts of the 'curator', Alan Vowles. Alan can provide some excellent insights into the many unique artifcats on display. 

I was pleased to be able to donate a number of items from my personal collection to the museum. At some point I'll probably add a footnote in this blog to the items from my collection which were donated.  

The museum contained some items which I have never seen before, including a rather distinctive Bristol Constabulary helmet. 

Here's a selection of photographs I took during my visit. 

Avon & Somerset Constabulary Police Museum

Early WPC 'pith style' hat

An original and scarce Victorian era Police unform

WW2 display with German incendiary bomb

Standard issue WW2 British Police steel helmet with Inspector rank stripes

WPC uniform circa 1960s/early 1970's. 

Very scarce and unusual Bristol Constabulary helmet

A fine ceremonial unform

Somerset Constabulary Edwardian era helmet - one of my donations which went straight into the display cabinet!

. There were also some hidden treasures in the store

Rarely seen Police 'dinner jacket'

A few hats in the stores were missing their original bap badges, but these are still of interest and somewhat rare examples. 

Inspector/Superintendent 'pill box' hat

Chief/Assistant Constable peaked cap with fine oakleaf braiding

Chief/Assistant Constable peaked cap with fine oakleaf braiding

This nice display of Police crockery was situated next door to the museum adjacent to the staff canteen which is a very appropriate place. 

Police crockery display

Huggins Son & Co. Ltd (Bristol)

Huggins of Bristol is a name often associated with Police clothing from the 1960's. The registered name for the company was Huggins Son & Co. Ltd.

The predecessor of Huggins was a company called Pearson, Huggins and Company who traded as uniform clothing contractors and manufacturers of Bristol and London. This was founded by Thomas Lear Pearson and Charles Gibson Huggins in 1886. A branch in London was opened in 1901.

Pearson Huggins traded successfully in the 1890's and succeeded in securing contracts to supply the Police with clothing in England, Scotland and Wales. In particular, during the 1890's they supplied Police uniforms to Hampshire, Cardiff, Huddersfield, Denbighshire, Greenock and Dundee. This was despite some resentment about a supplier from outside the locality supplying the Police with their clothing. They also supplied railway and tramway companies with uniforms. In 1899 it was incorporated as a company.

In 1911 it became a limited company under the name Pearson, Huggins and Company (Ltd). At this time the Directors were:

Thomas Lear Pearson (Chairman) - 'Glenfield' Downs Park West, Westbury on Trym, Bristol

Charles Gibson Huggins - 'Croziehurst' 33 Woodstock Road, Redland, Bristol

Edmund John Saunders - 64 Lavington Road, Ealing, London

Charles John Rowe - 8 Kent Road Ashley Down, Bristol

Charles Gordon Huggins - 'Croziehurst' 33 Woodstock Road, Redland, Bristol

Thomas Raleigh Pearson - 'Glenfield' Downs Park West, Westbury on Trym, Bristol

Charles Gibson Huggins and Thomas Lear Pearson were appointed as joint Managing Directors. Mr E J Saunders was previously a manager at the London office. Mr C J Rowe was previously the 'Chief Travelling Representative'. Charles G Huggins and Thomas R Pearson, sons of the founders were already employed by the company in some capacity. 

A purpose built freehold factory was built on Mivart Street, Eastville, Bristol.

Unfortunately, within just three years the company was facing insolvency under a cloud of financial irregularities. Company Director Thomas Lear Pearson left without trace having accumulated significant debts.

The register of defunct companies shows it was registered in 1911 and dissolved in 1932.

After the demise of Pearson Huggins and Company, Charles Gibson Huggins went on to form Huggins Son and Company Ltd. No doubt they acquired the assets from the former company in order to continue producing uniforms for the Police. The new company under Charles Gibson Huggins was trading successfully by 1914. Charles Gibson Huggins died in 1943 but the company continued producing uniforms for the Police into the 1960's.

Brighton based uniform maker A.Grantham acquired Huggins in 1968. Grantham was also a clothing maker which was founded when Agnes Grantham started a business concentrating on raincoats in 1915. The Hutchinson family took over in 1917 under the Grantham name but it wasn't until they had acquired the Huggins business that they also began making uniforms for the Police and airlines.

 

Bristol Evening Post - Monday 27 July 1987

The Pearson Huggins company also produced their own Police buttons during the Victorian era.

Bristol Constabulary Victorian tunic buttons made by Pearson Huggins