History of the Mounted Branch of the Lancashire Constabulary

In 1890 he instructed superintendents to engage mounts from livery stables if scouts or mounted police were ever required.

When he retired in 1909, he was thanked for his invaluable work in forming a mounted detachment of two sergeants and 22 constables.

Two years later, an announcement was made that a mounted troop was to be established to perform regular mounted duties.

The troop of 50 men and fifty 52 horses was to be spread throughout the force area.

Two horses were to be stabled at Blackburn, Reedly, Church, Rochdale, Royton, Swinton, Bolton, Chorley and Skerton. Four more were to be stabled at Bury, Old Trafford, Leigh, Prescot and Seaforth with one at Wigan, three at Lower Ince and ten at Preston's Headquarters in Church Street.

The horses and the equipment were to be the property of the county. Mounted beats would be formed and daily patrols instituted. The mounted troop would be responsible for feeding and grooming the horses as well as for cleaning the stables, all as part of their normal duties.

A horse dealer from Thornton-le-Fylde, Mr John Gaskell, was given the task of buying suitable horses. He was paid a fee of £2 for every horse, was allowed third class railway fares and £1 a day when away from Preston buying horses for the force, as well as other out-of-pocket expenses.

He also offered to stable the horses at his own premises, try them out and see if they would make good police horses, at a rate of £1 per horse per week.

The first four horses were bought on 8 January 1912 and were called Diamond, Harry, David and Allen. The troop first became active in March of that year. The first officer in charge of the branch was Superintendent Thomas Blanchard.

A lot of the success of the Branch in the show ring was due to his expert supervision. His advice was often sought in Lancashire when mounted police work was needed for processions and the Preston Guild. He was also responsible for the recruiting, drilling and management of mounted and foot police throughout the county. Sadly he was killed on duty while returning from Aintree Races in November 1930.

During the early years, the headquarters of the Lancashire Constabulary Mounted Branch was in the County Mews Stables, otherwise known as "Hothersalls Horse Repository".

The years leading up to the First World War saw the newly-formed Mounted Branch heavily committed with rioting in Manchester, Wigan, Tyldesley and at Leigh.

An extra 20 mounted police were obtained from Liverpool City to reinforce the 41 mounted police from other parts of the county and a detachment was later sent to Liverpool City to help the force during the transport strike.

During the 1914-18 War a number of men volunteered or were recalled to join the colours, many joining the Military Mounted Police.

In the late 1920s and early 30s the police force and the Mounted Branch were engulfed in financial cutbacks which resulted in the number of horses being reduced. The authorised strength of the branch was 54 men and 50 horses but this was reduced to 37 men and 37 horses in 1927 by abolishing detachments at Skerton, Royton and Rochdale. The rank of superintendent was also substituted for that of inspector.

In October 1935 the County Council completed the purchase of a 143 acre estate in Hutton for the sum of £17,000. Known as "Holme Mead" it comprised an Edwardian villa with stables and several outbuildings. It is the present home of the Mounted Branch.

The first two mounted constables to be stationed at Holme Mead were PC Gordon Smith and PC Robert Cheal with horses Duke and Castle.

The Second World War saw many members of the Branch joining the armed forces. Horses and men were transferred from industrial areas to the Lake District were they patrolled prisoners of war camps. Three members of the Branch were killed while serving with the armed forces.

During the war years the strength of the branch was again reduced until only 24 horses remained. In 1945 and 1946 it was slowly built up until an establishment of 30 horses was reached. In the late summer of 1952 the establishment was again reduced to 24 with 16 horses distributed among the divisions, whilst eight remained at Hutton.

During the past 29 years the Branch has seen the amalgamation of 12 county boroughs within the county and Lancashire Constabulary became the largest provincial police force in the country.

This was followed in 1974 with local government reorganisation and the alteration of the county boundaries. The Mounted sections at Bury, Leigh and Stretford were transferred to the Greater Manchester Police whilst at the same time the Branch's connections with Grand National meetings at Aintree, race meetings at Haydock and Cartmel and mobile policing in the Lake District were severed.

For more information on the Lancashire Constabulary Mounted Police Division and their horses please visit their website http://www.lancashire.police.uk/mounted.html