Growing and adapting in the 20th Century

Pictorial records show from the late 19^th and into the 20^th century, their numbers increased at least back to four in number, as photographs show the three ceremonial maces, and the Town Sergeants staff being carried on various ceremonial occasions.

As the 20^th century progressed, and as the civic administration increased, so we saw the Town Sergeants take on more general duties around the civic offices. With the completion of the new Civic Centre, Guildhall, and Law Courts in 1930’s the number of Town Sergeants increased significantly

Their numbers were probably at a peak in the 1960s & 70s, when apart from their ceremonial duties, they were required to clean and prepare the civic buildings, including the Guildhall, deliver mail, move furniture, be in attendance at the Library and Art Gallery as well as various other tasks.

Up until the 1970s they also wore full regalia on all  ceremonial occasions.

 Today the Town Sergeants are 15 in number, and perform a variety of tasks including, reception duties, chauffeuring, security surveillance, confidential waste collection, small office moves, conference room and council chamber cleaning and preparation, and, most importantly of all, attendance on the Mayor and Councillors.

Civic Regalia & Ceremonial Duties

The Town Sergeants have always been directly involved in Civic Ceremonial occasions, and from the 18th century bearing the three maces – namely the Mayor’s Mace, the City (formally known as the Corporation) Mace, the Admiralty Oar, and up until 1835 the Admiralty Tipstaff. One other Mace or Staff was carried from the early 19th century up until the mid 20th century, but little is known about its history. However, from photographs taken it was probably the Town Sergeants staff. Also from the late 15th century they each had a small silver mace.

This mace is of silver gilt, and bears the Royal Arms and the arms
of the donor, Henry, Viscount Woodstock (M.P. for Southampton in 1708). The makers mark is that of Gabriel Sleath, and the hall mark
London 1707 - 8

The Mayor’s Mace

This mace is of silver parcel gilt and bears the Town Arms, the Town Rebus, and the arms of the Stanley family. The inscription reads:
William Stanley Esq., Second Mairolltie 1662

The Silver Oar of Admiralty

This oar is the badge of Southampton’s Admiralty Jurisdiction, granted to the town by Henry VI in 1451, The Town Arms, and the Town Rebus are inscribed on the blade, and the hall mark and maker are the same as the Corporation Mace.

The Town Sergeants Maces

There are four small maces in the Corporation Plate similar to that above. They are of silver parcel gilt on iron cores. The construction of a mace is mentioned in the Stewards Book for 1482 – 3, but it is not possible to ascertain which of the maces it refers

The Four Sergeants Maces

The first of the four maces is of Fifteenth century workmanship, bears the Royal Arms of Henry VII and is probably the oldest, though it has no hall marks.

The second mace is also of Fifteenth century workmanship, and bears the Royal Arms of James I, which were probably added in the early Seventeenth century.

The third mace is of a Fifteenth century pattern, but may be a Seventeenth century copy of the earlier maces. The base probably bore the Royal Arms but these are now missing.

The fourth mace may also be a Seventeenth century copy of the earlier maces, and it bears the Royal Arms of the Stuarts.

The Town Sergeants Staff

Other regalia worn by the Town Sergeants were silver badges (or scuttchins as they were known), two of which were originally worn by musicians during royal and civic receptions from the early 17th century. Two further badges were added in 1837, and were then worn by the Sergeants.

In The Southampton Mayor’s Book of 1606 – 1608, there is an entry (259) dated Friday 11th December 1607 in the afternoon. It records the delivery amongst other things, of two scuttchins of silver bearing the Town’s arms, namely three roses, and an H, and a tonne, weighing four ounces. The H and tonne are references to Hamtun, by which the town was sometimes referred to at the time.

Two of the four badges that still survive amongst the civic plate were probably made a generation after those recorded in 1607

A Musicians Badge (or Scuttchin)

The Admiralty Tipstaff

Admiralty
duties of the Mayor were abolished in 1835, the then Mayor took the Tipstaff
for himself as a “perk”. A descendant later used it as Admiral of the Medway when
Mayor of Rochester in 1914. It resided in Rochester Museum until 2008 and was returned to Southampton with the good will of the Museum,the Mayor and the people of Rochester.The Mayor of Southampton now holds the title of Honorary Admiral of the Port.

Ceremonial Duties

Mayor, Sheriff, Corporation members, and Town Sergeants in procession
at the Docks to meet General Botha, Premier of Transvaal – 13th April 1907

The procession on the occasion of Lieutenant Commander D.M.W. Beak, V.C.
receiving the Freedom of the Borough, April 2nd 1919

Town Sergeant Cleverley circa 1930

Mayor & Mayoress Councillor & Mrs Sanders welcoming other local Mayors to
a Civic Day in 1935. Town Sergeants & Messenger Boys can be seen on the back row
(note: Town Sergeant Cleverley can be seen far right)

Town Sergeant Cleverley leads a Civic Funeral procession into St Mary’s Church

(above centre) Dudley Bruce Lambert and two colleagues at
the opening of the Sports Centre, 28th May 1938

below) In procession with the Mayor & Mayoress Councillor & Mrs Prince

Once again Town Sergeant Dudley Lambert can be seen carrying the Town Sergeants Staff on the return of King George VI & Queen Elizabeth from a state visit to America and Canada – 22nd June 1939, being welcomed home at the Civic Centre

500 Year Shrievalty Celebrations in 1947, marking the charter of Henry VI
detaching Southampton from Hampshire, making it a separate county with its
own Sheriff. Mayor Frederick Smith and Sheriff Frank Dibben enjoy some
refreshment, whilst Town Sergeant Dudley Lambert looks on.

Taking the salute at Remembrance Day 1960

No not TR1’s Chauffeur, but Messenger Boy Colin Ryan circa 1963.
Later to become a Town Sergeant

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