Take a look at

Driving Heritage

Can you help?

There are so many images and items in the collection that need identification, so this is your chance to offer US some advice. Here are two photographs that we know were taken in Plymouth. Do you recognise the location? Can you tell us when they were taken? Do you have any memories of these views? Click on the images to enlarge them.

We would love to hear from you. A picture is only as good as its story. Replies to our Online Enquiry Form.

A History of the Constabulary and the Collection

Exeter City Police's first Motor Patrol Vehicle outside the Guildhall, Exeter in 1934.

If you would like to read about the history of Devon & Cornwall Constabulary and see some of the many images in the collection please click on the link below.
(link to PC Dell's History Section)

The collection, which has been known for many years as the Force Museum, began life in a room at Exeter City Police Headquarters in Waterbeer Street.

What we have now, however, is largely due to the efforts of Brian Estill, a dedicated police historian and collector. Following the amalgamation of Devon and Cornwall Constabularies in 1967 he continued to amass and curate the collection in his spare time and for a brief period acquired a room at Headquarters in Exeter for its display.

Devon Constabulary Police Sign

The loss of this space resulted in a long spell in the doldrums with temporary, emergency accommodation being granted in a warehouse at Marsh Barton. Here the Museum ceased to be a museum in everything but name, and here the collection was eventually stored for some 25 years.

In November 2006 Devon & Cornwall Constabulary granted the collection a wonderful new site at Okehampton and for the first time ever it has proper store rooms, offices and space for exhibitions. However, much work will be needed to allow the collection to be opened to the public.

The collection has never been formally catalogued and this is a huge undertaking we have just begun. It will take a long time but is essential if it is to be used and enjoyed by the communities of Devon and Cornwall.

Our new name of Heritage & Learning Resource has been chosen to reflect our new role within the Constabulary – to support the Constabulary’s work within the community and to assist schools in delivering key areas of the National Curriculum such as Citizenship, PHSE and history. To find out more on our work in this area go to our Exploration and Learning Site.