Police Constable 544 N

[Simon Wood]

Hi All,

Trawling through The Times in search of Abberline's early career, I found him mentioned in 1867, 1870, 1871 and 1872 as Police Sergeant 24Y [Highgate].

I then entered 24Y into the search engine and found "Police-sergeant 24Y" reported as ALBERTINE—10th September 1867.

I next entered ALBERTINE into The Times' search engine and found this report from 27th September 1864—just twenty months after ABBERLINE joined the Met.

Regards,

Simon



N Division is/was Islington

[Steve Filkin]

Abberline's beginning...?

Hi

I'm doing some research and wonder whether you can tell me where in Islington Abberline's first station was and where he used to patrol? I've searched for weeks and have had no joy!

Thanks

[Simon Wood]

Hi Steve,

'N' [Islington] Division's main police station was in Upper Street.

Regards,

Simon

[Steve Filkin]

That's brilliant, Simon, thanks! Can I be cheeky and ask another question? Would the bobbies have actually lived in the station, or in a station house?
Steve

[Monty]

Simon, Steve,

I note in the report that a Church was 'mentioned above'.

Any chance of revealing that Churchs name Simon? It may help Steve pinpoint a possible beat.

Cheers

Monty

[Simon Wood]

Hi Monty,

You're a born detective.

It was the Church of St. John the Baptist in Almorah Road, and there was a service in progress at the time.

Regards,

Simon

[Monty]

Cheers Simon,

Below is the Booth map of Almorah Road, the Church of St John the Baptist is on the junction with Cleveland Road.

[Monty]

Again Booths, showing the Police Station in Upper Street.

[Steve Filkin]

Thanks Monty

The maps are great. I'll have a trawl and see what else I can find out. But so far, I've not managed to find out an awful lot about policing in Islington in the 1860s!

Steve.

[Monty]

Steve,

Ive PMd you.

Maybe Rob, John or Colin (or anyone else) can post a map showing how close Almorah St was to the Police Station.

Monty

[Stephen Thomas]

A very nice find, Simon. Here's a modern map showing the location of the police station close to Highbury Corner at the junction of Upper Street and Florence Street. On the opposite corner is Islington Town Hall. It's possible, I suppose, that the actual building still exists though I doubt it. It's not too far from where I live so I'll check that out.

[Simon Wood]

Hi All,

Almorah Street is still there, about 1200 yards east [as the crow flies] of Upper Street. [Google Earth]

Regards,

Simon

[Stephen Thomas]

Police Station bottom left, Almorah Road bottom right.

[Stephen Thomas]

Here's the junction of Florence Street and Upper Street, Islington. Note those nice Victorian houses over the road.


Here's the Florence pub on Florence Street where our Freddie may have enjoyed a few jars as an off-duty constable in the 1860s.


And here's what was the actual Victorian police station building at the junction. Nice London Yellow bricks and the same design as the station at Kentish Town where Abberline worked in the 1870s.

[Stephen Thomas]

Here's The Police Station what was.