Browse Sections

• Magazine 
• Food and drink

Hello, hello, hello ....

Angela Kelly
30/ 7/2008

STEP inside Greater Manchester Police Museum in Newton Street and you immediately go back to the city’s seedy past of gas lamps, ale houses and narrow alleys. It’s Life on Mars for everyone – which is particularly apt as the museum staff actively helped the BBC with 1973 authenticity for the popular TV series.

The listed building, once a bustling central police station, boasts many original Victorian fittings and furnishings. So perhaps it’s no wonder that the 8,000 or so people who visit it each year find a fascinating treasure trove of past law and order, and plenty of unlawful disorder.

For here are not only the places where criminals would swiftly find themselves but also amazing memorabilia from past cases and events that form an intrinsic part of Manchester’s history.

Newton Street police station was opened in 1879. The threat of disturbance by radical reform group the Chartists, coupled with the disorganised state of the police force, caused the Government to pass the Manchester Police Act of 1839. A new police force, based on London’s, came into being with a strength of 200 constables, soon increased to 357.

The force’s history is littered with achievements and personalities, perhaps none more colourful than Jerome Caminada, who rose through the ranks in the 19th century to become one of the greatest detectives Manchester had ever seen.

The force’s rich past is on view here as the museum was founded in 1981 and, for a time, half its building was still being used as a police station.

As a result, it’s easy to trace the path of prisoners as they were brought through its stern portals where the original high riot gates remain.

These unfortunates would have been taken into the Victorian charge office, just as forbidding in 2008 as it was more than 100 years ago with its high-polished counter benches and stern furnishings.

From here, they would go to the cells – dark, austere places with wooden beds and pillows. Outside them today, photographs of the men and women held there bring the cells to life again. The courtroom, too, is original although not at Newton Street but taken, piece by piece, from Denton police court and reassembled here. This – along with the cells and charge office – is a popular place for students of all ages producing video or film projects, and also provides a film set for professional TV productions.

Trainee police officers use it for roleplay, giving evidence under cross-examination, as do law students and others training to be expert witnesses. Charities regularly use the courtroom and cells for ‘jailbreak’ fundraising events.

More surprisingly, this part of the building has beautiful old stained glass windows, and creating similar artwork is part of the extensive programme of events organised for young visitors.

The museum has a curator, Duncan Brody, museum officer, Claire Mayle, and an enthusiastic team of around 20 volunteers who are all retired police officers.

"This means that they can also explain what equipment does and how it has changed," explained Duncan Brody. "They dress in period costume and help to bring history to life for visitors."

Certainly, as well as an attraction, the museum is a widely-used resource by schools, adult education groups, local history organisations, residents and community groups, overseas students learning English, refugees and asylum seekers, and also has regular requests for information about relatives for family trees.

There is so much of interest here it’s hard to know where to look next. There are uniforms through from very early coppers to the sort seen on TV’s Heartbeat, and from foot patrols to mounted police.

There are police cars and bikes, and the chance to try on helmets and uniforms – especially popular with youngsters – plus items from forces around the world.

This unusual, free museum not only bridges the knowledge gap between public and police, but it’s also a great place to visit for all ages. In fact, it’s quite an arresting sight!

Greater Manchester Police Museum is open on Tuesdays from 10.30am to 3.30pm. For details ring 0161 856 3287.