3-021-114 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Drilling special constables at Pearce's Riding-School, Queen's-Road, Paddington, [London], 1868. 'Since the announcement that special constables were to be sworn in to aid in the suppression of Fenian outrages, no fewer than seven justices of the peace have attended regularly at the Vestry Hall, Paddington, for the purpose of swearing in all persons who were desirous of preserving law and order. The total number of special constables already sworn in at the Vestry Hall was stated...to be 1636, inclusive of 740 men in the service of the Great Western and Metropolitan Railway Companies...The other special constables are told off into four divisions, all being under the superintendence of able and experienced military officers, who give their services in drilling the men every...evening at Pearce's Riding School, Queen's-road. The chief superintendent of the whole Paddington brigade of special constables is Major Mundy Pole, who attended the vestry meeting, with Colonel Ewart, of the Guards, and Colonel Wood, commanding officer of the Paddington volunteers, to explain these arrangements. The Paddington volunteer corps, 600 strong, have also been enrolled as special constables'. From "Illustrated London News", 1868.