Policing in Malpas

The former Broxton magistrates' courthouse and police station (2005)Change of Malpas Policeman

Rural Policing

Until 1857, local policing in rural Cheshire was the responsibility of parish or township constables, unpaid officials who were elected annually at Easter time. 

In 1857 they were superseded by the paid police officers of the newly formed Cheshire Constabulary, housed in special police houses and stations.  Their professional status and training resulted in a far more efficient policing operation than previously.  However, policing and the administration of justice still remained as fairly local affairs.

The impressive building of Ruabon red brick that stands close to Broxton roundabout is a reminder of those days.  Designed by the Cheshire County Architect, it was built in 1910 to house the Broxton Petty Sessions courthouse, and incorporated a police station which seems to have been built in the late 19th century.  

The Broxton Sessions, which were abolished in 1974 to become part of the new Chester division, covered over 80 townships in the area of the ancient Broxton Hundred, extending to the borders with Shropshire and Wales, and taking in townships around Chester.  Prior to the building of the Broxton courthouse the magistrates sat at the old Broxton Inn (later called the Egerton Arms, on the opposite side of the A.41 to the present Egerton Arms).  The police station itself was closed during the 1990s and the property has been converted for private residential use.

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The Malpas Churchwardens’ accounts for 1820 show a payment to builder Joseph Huxley: ‘ … for building a new lock up house in Malpas £74.18s.7d (£74.92½p)’. 
This was probably the building now known as ‘Bank Cottage’ in Old Hall Street, which still has its former police cell.

Prior to the constabulary being the guardians of the law where known as the "Special Eyes". Their powers included the ability to meter out instant on the spot punishment or take the offender to the magistrates court.

Special Eyes Team

A newspaper report of the passing of James Steen a former Special Eyes constable.

Within three years of the establishment of the Cheshire Constabulary, Malpas had acquired its first professional policemen, listed in a directory for 1860 as Sergeant Henry Foster and Constable(?) John Hall. 

Sergeant Foster may have lived first in Bank Cottage but by 1864 he was based at a new purpose- built police station, where the ‘Keep Left’ sign now stands at the junction of High Street and Chester Road. 

In 1914 Malpas police force had a staff of 12 Officers consisting of A resident Sergeant, 2 Resident Constables
and 9 Special constables and a dog (K9) there to sniff out the criminals.

Malpas Police Force 1914

Just before the second World War, the station on the corner of High Street and Chester Road was demolished and a replacement station and police house was built further up Chester Road.  

Since Malpas lost Dave Evans, its last resident police officer, in 2004 the property has been sold and is now a private dwelling.  Within the area of the Benefice there also survives a former police house at Hampton.

Like many public services, policing has had to adapt to the times.  We now have Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) operating in our area and we are not too far from the local police operations ‘hub’ at Dragon Hall, on the A.41 between Broxton and Handley. 

Sadly though, the days of the local ‘bobby on the beat’, with an intimate knowledge of the area he or she patrolled, have now passed.

Article originally written by David Hayns and amended to in May 2026 by Chris Whitehurst