Somerset & Bath Constabulary

Somerset and Bath Constabulary 1967-1974

 

 

This short-lived force was the result of an amalgamation of the Bath City Police and Somerset Constabulary. The headquarters were at Taunton, Somerset.

Somerset & Bath Constabulary helmet 1967-1974

At some point between 1967 and 1974 Somerset & Bath Constabulary issued helmets with a chrome band like the one above. Only black bands were used on helmets previously issued by Somerset and Bath. In addition to this, there was only one ventilation eyelet on each side instead of two. I believe these were issued in the early 1970's, possibly after the uniform review of 1972.

The helmet shown here is made by Christy's of London and constructed of hardened felt, which is why there is no seam. These helmets were effectively made redundant when the Avon & Somerset Constabulary was formed in 1974 since they reverted to cork helmets with black metal bands. This helmet variation is rare since they were only used for a relatively short period. Despite this, the value is probably the same as most helmets from this period - around £40. The short period of issue probably explains why the leather helmet headband remains in such good condition on this example. The majority of other helmets from this period used black helmet bands since they were already in use by the former Somerset Constabulary and City of Bath Police. I believe this is the only time a chrome helmet band was previously used (prior to the new current version). Some of these helmets were simply re-fitted with the Avon & Somerset Constabulary helmet plate and continued in service throughout the 1970's. The press photograph below from 1977 confirms this (3 years after Avon & Somerset was formed). The felt made helmets tend to be lighter and no doubt more comfortable to wear.

Embed from Getty Images

Distinctive chrome band and one eyelet

This helmet rose is of the same design used by the London Metropolitan Police. The centre rose pommel is slightly larger compared to those found on Somerset and Bath helmets. Probably not surprising since this helmet was produced by a London maker. The photograph below provides a comparison of helmet rose tops. The pommel has been highlighted in red since reflections from the chrome make it difficult to see the actual size. Pommels in photographs 1 and 2 are the same size and slightly larger than those in photogaphs 3 and 4.

1. Christy's felt helmet as featured in this blog post.

2. Modern Metropolitan Police ABS helmet.

3. City of Bath Police cork helmet.

4. Modern Avon & Somerset Constabulary ABS helmet.

Green felt interior with soft leather headband

Plastic chin strap

Wooden pegs to secure the rose top and helmet plate

Wooden pegs were typically used to secure the rose top and helmet plate. However, sometimes the lugs would hold firmly enough without the need for pegs. 

Christy's of London makers mark

These next photographs show Somerset & Bath Constabulary Police officers wearing their Christy's helmets during the early 1970's. 

Somerset & Bath Constabulary Police officers wearing their Christy's helmets

Somerset & Bath Constabulary Police Officer c.1973

These next profile photographs illustrate the slight variation in helmet design in use at the same point in time. The photographs show Somerset & Bath Constabulary officers attending the same presentation during the early 1970's.

1. Christy's felt made helmet identified here by it's chrome band and single eyelet on the side. Notice also how the helmet edge is much sharper than the standard cork helmet.

2. Six panel ex-City of Bath Police helmet. These were made of cork.

3. Almost the same as the previous helmet but most likely two panel. This may have been a later issue City of Bath Police helmet.

4. Standard issue cork Custodian helmet typical of those issued by Somerset Constabulary. The shape differs slightly in that it is wider at the top compared to the ex-City of Bath helmets. This shape has been carried forward to the helmets issued today.

In most cases it was sufficient to replace the old helmet plates with the new Somerset & Bath Constabulary versions when they were issued from 1967. I'm sure most people didn't notice the mixture of slightly different helmets being used around that time.


The photographs below were taken during the early 1970's provide further evidence that some helmets were fitted with a black rose top and chrome helmet plate combination. The helmet on the right is a six panel ex-City of Bath helmet with chrome rose top and helmet plate. I've written more on this in my blog post under Somerset Constabulary (helmet plates).

Somerset & Bath Constabulary Police officers

I've only once seen a Somerset & Bath Constabulary helmet for sale with a black rose and chrome helmet plate. I'm sure most collectors considered this to be incorrect and that the rose top or helmet plate had been changed post-service. It just goes to show that irregularities with helmets can sometimes turn out to be authentic even when they appear wrong.


Here's a rare photograph showing a new recruit at the stores having his new uniform measured. He appears to be a Somerset Constabulary officer because of the shoulder epaulette badges. Uniforms were tailored to fit and not just 'off the peg'. His new helmet also has the black rose top and band but with a chrome helmet plate combination. Peaked caps still fitted with their now superseded Kings crown cap badges can be seen on the store shelf. Brown paper also seen on the shelf was the standard packaging material before plastic bags were introduced. Both Police and military headgear which has been stored and never issued can sometimes still be found with traces of the original brown packaging paper attached.

Somerset Constabulary new recruit uniform fitting

This next helmet below has a six panel cork design. It was issued to an officer who joined the City of Bath Police in 1958. Bath Police used six panel helmets and these were re-fitted with the new helmet plates when it became Somerset & Bath Constabulary in 1967. The old helmet plates were probably handed back to the stores and subsequently discarded. The liner has a leather sweatband with red drawstring. It has a patent leather chin strap. The helmet rim is made of plastic.

An ex-City of Bath Police helmet which was re-badged when Somerset & Bath Constabulary was formed.

Badges

Somerset & Bath helmet plate

Standard three lug fixing on reverse

Somerset & Bath cap badge

    

 

 

Here we have three seemingly identical badges but they all have different rear fixings.  Unusually, the first one has two brass lugs soldered diagonally onto the badge. The second has two chrome lugs soldered horizontally. The third and last badge has the standard prong leaf fixings.

 

The first two are probably post-service repairs made by collectors or dealers. The third example is how the badge was originally issued. The prong fixings were not very durable as they only needed to be bent once to fit onto a peaked. They can easily snap off if tampered with.
 

This next blue enamel version is relatively common and frequently appears on eBay. The centre is filled and uses a lug type of fixing on the rear. A second and rarer variation of this was issued with a cut-out Wyvern centre and prong fixing (see further below).

Expect to pay about £7 for the first enamel version and anything from around £15 upwards for the second version with 'cut-out' centre.

Somerset & Bath senior officers enamel cap badge

Lug fixing on reverse

This next example has a darker blue enamel ring and the reverse has the badge imprint rather than a smooth surface like the previous one shown above.

Somerset & Bath Constabulary senior officers cap badge

This next example is unusual because it's in unfinished brass. It's the same version as above before it would have been chrome plated and enameled. This may have come from old new stock which was never finished before being superseded by the new Avon & Somerset cap badge in 1974. Although, curiously the brass has hardly tarnished as you would expect to see from something this old.
 

 

 Here's the slightly rarer version which has a 'cut-out' centre:

Somerset & Bath Constabulary senior officers cap badge variant

Somerset & Bath Constabulary senior officers cap badge comparison

Somerset & Bath Constabulary senior officers cap badge comparison - reverse

Somerset & Bath Constabulary adopted this small Wyvern lapel collar badge for women and senior ranks. It measures about 1.5cm x 1.5cm. Unusually, the method of fixing consists of two copper wires soldered to the reverse. These small badges are rare and hard to find since they are not easily identifiable as Police, let alone Somerset & Bath Constabulary. These were withdrawn following formation of Avon & Somerset Constabulary in 1974.

 Wyvern lapel badge worn by senior ranks and WPCs

 

Without locating the relevant archives, I can only speculate on what provision was made for the withdrawing and introduction of new badges on a practical level. This is the kind of detail which is of little interest to anyone other than collectors. I imagine that it was a requirement to hand in old badges which despite being redundant were still Police property. As such, I assume they were returned to the stores and subsequently destroyed or simply thrown away. It's a shame that in most cases there was not the foresight to recognise the historical interest of such items. No doubt most of those which survive were because the owners managed to keep them as souvenirs.

Somerset & Bath Constabulary senior officer wearing the Wyvern lapel badges

Somerset & Bath Constabulary Sergeant wearing the Wyvern lapel badges

Somerset & Bath Constabulary pin badge

Somerset & Bath Constabulary horse brass

Somerset & Bath Constabulary had their own 'branded' crockery. The makers stamp on both the cup and saucer reads 'Hargreaves, England'. Avon & Somerset Constabulary also had their own crockery, as did other Police Forces. Times have changed and I think it's unlikely Police Forces of today could justify having anything other than the cheapest plain crockery.

Somerset & Bath Constabulary tea cup and saucer

A matching pair of Somerset & Bath Constabulary bowls. These are by the same maker as the tea cup and saucer above - Hargreaves of Longton, England.

Here's something you don't see any more in the workplace. A reminder that ashtrays were once a common sight in offices. There was often someone who would smoke cigarettes at their desk. It was also not uncommon for a Police Officer to be smoking a cigarette whilst taking a statement from a member of the public at a Police station. Having a sneaky ciggy whilst on foot patrol was also a possibility.