In the Middle Ages the crudity of that force made it far more necessary than nowadays for the public will to express itself directly in the support of law.

The officers most commonly observed patroling the streets for the general security were the beadles, sergeants and petty constables, who as an executive group were entrusted with wide fields of duties.
Their main duty was the enforcement of all local regulations for the prevention and suppression of acts of violence.

This involved the pursuit and arrest of suspects and felons, following with hue and cry, and the keeping in safe custody of all prisoners until they were bailed or brought to trial.

The 'hue and cry' , which was so important for the possessing of witnesses, might be raised by a constable or householder, and to refuse to join in or to withdraw without permission was a punishable offence.

Once the hue had been raised, the ordinary man seems to have been bound to arrest on suspicion and to commit to prison in the absense of police.
In many instances fugitives successfully reached a church and claimed sanctuary, and then the tiresome business of watching over the lurking felon for 40 days began.

The city or town authorities were originally liable to be fined by the Crown if they allowed a criminal in sanctuary to escape, and were therefore anxious to disclaim their liability.

It was also the responsibility of the constables to keep a roster of the watchmen and to see they carried out their functions faithfully. A watch was kept from sunset to sunrise and the method of choosing the watch was usually by rows of houses according to the roster.

Small groups of watchers were stationed at particular points whilst the remainder questioned all night walkers. Night walkers who could give no sensible account of themselves were to be taken to the lock-up, or to an inn, until they could be examined by a Mayor or Bailiff. With the sounding of a bell at day break, the good men of the watch speedily withdrew.

It was the job of the constables to serve precepts, warrants and summonses when ordered.

They were further expected to make inquiries into offences which they suspected or which were brought to their notice by others, and to make presentments that might arise from them.

Finally they had to see that proper fire precautions were taken by all householders, and give alarm and render aid in any time of sudden calamity.

At the time of the Vestry Assemblies a major crime in rural areas was the stealing of corn from granaries. In The Life Of Snowden Dunhill of Spalding East Riding (1766 - 1838 ), published by Mr Pye Books, Howden, Snowden Dunhill gives us an account of his own criminal activities in the Market Weighton area.

'At this time I was master of two good horses and I had a numerous connection among servants and labourers. But what I found more useful was a secret understanding with two or three millers, by whose means I got rid of all the corn which I stole'.

Snowden Dunhill was never known to use violence or molest travellers and did not rob poor people. His home before he was transported to Botany Bay was Spalding Outsides, near Welham Bridge halfway between Sikes Farm and Ivy House. He gives us an account of a visitation from a constable and his party,

'….the party arrived at the door of the cottage and the constable gave me to understand that he had a justice's search warrant and that I was their prisoner. I submitted at once to be taken into custody and I was immediately secured. Some of the party then began to rummage every drawer and corner of the house, amongst the very voluble abuse of my wife'.

The Driffield Vestry minutes for September 21 1842, tells us that 15 persons were nominated to serve as constables in Great Driffield :
Thomas Wilkinson, cowkeeper; Richard Sproxton, tailor; Luke Varey, shoemaker; Henry Wood, shoemaker; George Escreet, gardener; Michael Farthing, gardener; John Jarrat, grocer and draper; Francis Cook Matthews, chemist and druggist; Mannel Kirkby, gentleman; John Hickson, stonemason; Matthew Potter, grocer and draper; Henry Adamson, joiner; George Baron, painter; Francis Dry, tailor and George Credland, grocer.

The following persons were appointed as constables to some of the rural parishes in our area in 1873:

Burton Agnes, Richard Lowish; Little Kelk, Robert Kirby; Rudston, Richard Coultas and Francis Deighton; Thwing and Octon, Jordan Bell and George Jefferson.

It had been recognised for some time that the elected constables were no longer able to deal effectively with the social problems in Driffield, and the local magistrates in 1834 had suggested that the inhabitants of Driffield should devise a means of providing themselves with an adequate police force.

Stephen Harrison in The History Of Driffield, tells us of the growing social problems of the time: 'In October, 1834, about 60 men fought a running battle through the streets of the town, which the parish constables were powerless to stop'.

• Wally Simpkin's latest local history book - Driffield And District Through The Times - is on sale at the Driffield Times offices on


• Mill Street, Driffield, at a price of £10.