York Minster

The Minster Police

"Policemen are soldiers who act alone, soldiers are policemen who act in unison"

Herbert Spencer, 1851

The office of Minster Policeman derives from that of the Constable of the Liberty - a post which goes back into antiquity and was similar to that of Parish Constable. In 1285 the Minster Close was enclosed by a stone wall some 12 feet high, within this wall the Dean and Chapter were the law and, until 1839 had a Liberty of their own. This Liberty was called the Liberty of Saint Peter and Peter Prison and had its own Chief Constable, constables, coroners, magistrates, bailiffs, stewards and under-stewards.

Minster constables existed long before the great fire of 1829 but that fire, started by the insane Jonathan Martin late at night, was a turning point in the care of the building. At a chapter meeting on 6 March 1829, the Dean and Chapter decreed that 'Henceforward a watchman/constable shall be employed to keep watch every night in and about the cathedral' - one comment indicated that it was pity the last watchman had been dismissed some time before. The new watchman could have been one Thomas Marshall, although the first record of his name appears when the Liberty of St Peter and Peter Prison was abolished in 1839 and its jurisdiction passed to the civil Corporation. We know Marshall was employed by the Dean and Chapter until 1854 on a wage of fourty one pounds and twelve shillings per year.

The title of Minster Police first occurs in 1855 when William Gladin replaced Thomas Marshall. The fact that Gladin's name replaced Marshall's directly in the records suggests that the latter's post of Constable of the Liberty was identifiable with that of Gladin's post of Minster policeman. If such a conclusion can indeed be drawn, it means that the post of Minster Police officer precedes the establishment of Sir Robert Peel's modern day Police Constabulary. In fact, Sir Robert Peel is said to have examined the Minster Police before forming the British police force. It is little wonder he should have visited the Deanery at York as his sister was married to the then Dean, William Cockburn, and on some of those visits he would surely have observed the Minster police on duty.

Today, the Minster police watch over upwards of 2,000 people at any one time, dealing efficiently and effectively with whatever problems may arise. At night they patrol the streets around the base of the Minster, taking care of Minster property and keeping order, sometimes a dangerous and difficult job, requiring patience and good humour. Operating from a new police office which has recently opened off the North Choir Aisle marked by two old-fashioned truncheons hanging next to the door.

The current members of the Minster Police Force have among them a love of this magnificent cathedral, which is only matched by their obligation to duty. I think every Minster policeman understands that he is part of a unique and time-honoured body of men, who for hundreds of years have taken care of this great cathedral, and long may they continue to do so.

Adapted from an article by P.C John Key