X. THE CHIEF AND OTHER CONSTABLES.
Watch and ward was kept in Dover by its Burgesses from time beyond which records rmi not to the contrary. Every Freeman liad to take his turn of duty as Constable in his own Ward, under Chief Wardsmen, who were called Alder men. Dover was divided into twenty-one Wards in ancient times, corresponding with the twenty-one ships that the combined Wards ox the Barony of Dover provided for the King's service. The earliest record of these Wards that we have seen is of the Reign of Henry VHL, and at that time there were twenty Wards, one, which was situated between the two mouths of the River Dour, having at that time been swept away by the sea. Those twenty Wards, which formed the beats of the Ward Constables at that time, were within the following limits : —
1. Biggin Ward: From I>adywell to Biggin Gate.
2. St. Mary's Ward: From Biggin Gate to the Market Bar.
3. Cannon's Ward: The Market Place and King Street.
4. Moryn's Ward : West side of river, opposite the Market.
5. Snargate Ward: The Bench and Snargate Street to Chapel Street.
6. Western Ward : Upper part of Queen Street, Cowgate and Chapel Place.
7. George's Ward: Lower part of Queen Street.
8. Nicholas Ward: Last side of Bench Street.
9. Boureman's Ward: Last Lane.
10. Mankin Ward : Bottom of St. James's Street, adjoining the river.
11. Shingle Ward: The Shore adjoining Townwall Street.
12. Ball's Ward: Woolcomber and Trevanion Streets.
13. Oxe's Ward: Under the Castle Cliff, outside Eastbrook Gate.
14. Halvenden Ward: St. James's Street about Fector's Place.
15. Wolve's Ward: Between Eastbrook and Westbrook.
16. Dereman's Ward: Under the Chff down Snargate Street.
17. Delf Ward: Alongside Eastbrook from Old St. James's Church.
18. Upmarket Ward: Laureston Place and Old Castle Hill.
19. Horsepole Ward: Each side of Ashen Tree Lane to St. James's New Church.
20. Castle Dane Ward : From St. James's New Church to Charlton boundary.
The watch in each of these Wards was set nightly by one or two sworn Wardsmen, called Aldemien of the Ward, and from two to five Constables in each Ward, according tc its size, the Freemen on watch each night, when the watch was properly kept, being about 100. As years passed the Wards were reduced in number and made larger, but the same system of keeping watch and ward by the Freemen, as a gratuitous public duty, was kept up until the year 1778, when the watching of the Town was undertaken by watchmen appointed and paid by the Dover Paving Commission. The watchmen were continued from 1778 to 1836, and then the present Police Force was established under the powers of the Municipal Corporations Act.
The Dover Police Force, originally consisting of one Inspector, three Sergeants, and twelve Constables, was first turned out for duty on the night of the 20th January, 1836. The first Chief of the Police, called an Inspector, Henry Crosoer, had fifteen men under him, the Police Station being a tower in Townwall Street. In 1S38 a new Police Station, with lock-up cells, was built at the back of the old Gaol in Queen Street. In December, 1841, Robert Correl, also called an Inspector, succeeded Henry Crosoer as Chief of the Police. He held the office until 1850, and in March of that year he was succeeded by John Rolf, to whom was given the title of Superintendent. He came from Walsall, in Staffordshire, and only remained for one year. Superintendent Coram, who had been a sergeant in the Metropolitan Police, succeeded Mr. Rolf, and he successfully superintended the Police for twenty years, resigning at the close of 1871. He was succeeded, in 187.7. l-y Superintendent T. O. Sanders, a native of Wickhambreaux, Kent, but who had also been a sergeant in the Metropolitan Police. He held his post with great credit for thirty years, the number of men under him having increased during his term from 27 to 57. Mr. Sanders was succeeded, in 1901, by H. N. K. Knott, who had entered in the Dover Police Force as a Constable, and risen to the rank of Chief Inspector. He was a worthy man, but, unfortunately, his health broke down, on which account he resigned in 1908, and he died in 19 10. He was succeeded, in 1908, by Inspector D. H. Fox, who also had commenced his career in the Dover PoHce Force. Both he and Mr. Knott were called Chief Constables, and that now seems to be the recognised title for the Head of the Police Force. Chief Constable Fox, holding office during the great European War, his post became a highly responsible one, the Borough of Dover being, under the Defence of the Realm Act, a part of the Dover Fortress, necessitating co-operation with the Military Commander of Dover under circumstances that have not previously existed since the Dover Police Force was established.