P C Thomas Chubb
Police Constable in Ivybridge
Local Law & Order
P C Thomas Chubb
was born in 1852 at Bradworthy, a village in north Devon, famous for its old village square, the largest in the Westcountry.
Thomas served as a Police Constable in Ivybridge prior to 1891, arriving to the village with his wife, Ellen Elizabeth and two children Thomas Joseph and Ellen Elizabeth, who were both born at Tamerton Foliot.
Thomas Chubb and his family lived at 4, Highland Street. This served both as a home and lock-up, the latter comprising of two cells with barred windows. Village lock-ups were used for the temporary detention of local miscreants and the confinement of drunks, who once sober, were released. They were also used to hold individuals being brought before the local magistrate or Justice of the Peace.
The external barred windows at 4 Highland Street, a reminder of its former past.
In 1898, Thomas Chubb retired from the police force aged just 48. However, this was not unusual, the Local Government Board at the time commented “If early retirement appeared a disadvantage to the county it must be remembered that it was beneficial, in so far as the advantages offered secured them better men than they would otherwise obtain” and went on to describe Thomas as a ”first-class constable (merit class)”
Thomas was also well respected by the local community of Ivybridge. To mark his retirement from the local police force he was presented with a silver pocket watch, elaborately engraved with the wording “Presented to Thomas Chubb by the inhabitants of Ivybridge … as a mark of esteem”. This watch is now held within our own artefact depository.
Following his retirement from the police Thomas took up the position of postman in the village, living at various addresses in Ivybridge. Thomas Chubb retired from the post service in 1923. He was presented with an oak tray, a silver mounted brush and crumb tray and a fountain pen from his colleagues. Such was his popularity, he was also presented with an armchair, slipper box and walking stick from the residents of Ivybridge whom he had served for twenty years. A speech by the postmaster, Mr Frayling, described Thomas as a ‘true man and loyal comrade’.
Thomas Chubb died in 1930 aged 78, at that time living at 7 Keaton Road. A newspaper report documented a rather sad event surrounding his death. Shortly before, he had travelled back to Bradworthy to attend the funeral of his sister. However, during his stay he contracted an illness which unfortunately prevented him from attending the funeral and later he passed away at his sister-in-law’s house in Bradworthy.
The bearers at his funeral were members of the Devon Constabulary, his former employer, marking the high esteem Thomas was held in, given that he had retired from the force some 32 years previously. His obituary read “Deceased had done duty as police constable at Ivybridge for many years. He had been a keen sportsman”.
PC THOMAS CHUBB
Police Constable in Ivybridge
was born in 1852 at Bradworthy, a village in north Devon, famous for its old village square, the largest in the Westcountry.
Thomas served as a Police Constable in Ivybridge prior to 1891, arriving to the village with his wife, Ellen Elizabeth and two children Thomas Joseph and Ellen Elizabeth, who were both born at Tamerton Foliot.
Thomas Chubb and his family lived at 4, Highland Street. This served both as a home and lock-up, the latter comprising of two cells with barred windows. Village lock-ups were used for the temporary detention of local miscreants and the confinement of drunks, who once sober, were released. They were also used to hold individuals being brought before the local magistrate or Justice of the Peace.
The external barred windows at 4 Highland Street, a reminder of its former past.
In 1898, Thomas Chubb retired from the police force aged just 48. However, this was not unusual, the Local Government Board at the time commented “If early retirement appeared a disadvantage to the county it must be remembered that it was beneficial, in so far as the advantages offered secured them better men than they would otherwise obtain” and went on to describe Thomas as a ”first-class constable (merit class)”
Thomas was also well respected by the local community of Ivybridge. To mark his retirement from the local police force he was presented with a silver pocket watch, elaborately engraved with the wording “Presented to Thomas Chubb by the inhabitants of Ivybridge … as a mark of esteem”. This watch is now held within our own artefact depository.
Following his retirement from the police Thomas took up the position of postman in the village, living at various addresses in Ivybridge. Thomas Chubb retired from the post service in 1923. He was presented with an oak tray, a silver mounted brush and crumb tray and a fountain pen from his colleagues. Such was his popularity, he was also presented with an armchair, slipper box and walking stick from the residents of Ivybridge whom he had served for twenty years. A speech by the postmaster, Mr Frayling, described Thomas as a ‘true man and loyal comrade’.
Thomas Chubb died in 1930 aged 78, at that time living at 7 Keaton Road. A newspaper report documented a rather sad event surrounding his death. Shortly before, he had travelled back to Bradworthy to attend the funeral of his sister. However, during his stay he contracted an illness which unfortunately prevented him from attending the funeral and later he passed away at his sister-in-law’s house in Bradworthy.
