PC Charles Carpenter

Historic photograph

This image is one of the first-known photographs of a serving Surrey Constabulary officer.

PC Charles Carpenter, who served between 1856 and 1859, was captured on camera in 1857,

He served the villages of Clandon, near Guildford, and would have earned a wage of around 18 shillings a week – 12p in today’s money.

PC Carpenter was blinded in one eye while on duty.

Officer injured

Robert Barlett, who has written an in-depth history of policing in Surrey, said the officer was injured when a stone was thrown during a Bonfire Night riot in 1857.

Mr Barlett quoted a report from the West Surrey Times, which appeared in print on November 7 of that year.

The report says that around 20 officers under the direct command of Captain Hastings were called to an incident at St Nicholas Church in Guildford.

As the evening wore on, fights broke out between members of the public and police, before a “mob” began throwing stones.

“Intelligent”

PC Carpenter, who was referred to as an “intelligent, inoffensive young man”, was seriously hurt in the brawl.

Despite the efforts of surgeon Mr H Taylor, he lost his left eye.

Members of the public were also injured, one of whom was struck by an officer and suffered a serious wound to his upper lip, while an older man required surgery.

There was further unrest in Guildford on Bonfire Night in the years afterwards. In 1863, ‘Guys’ attacked a magistrate’s house, demolishing a front wall with hammers and axes.

The last serious riot took place in 1865, when another police officer was almost killed.

Next