London Metropolitan Police (Bobbies/Peelers)

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Alexandra Little

Alexandra Little

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Hi,

I'm attempting to write a historical mystery set in Victorian London but I cannot find a comprehensive site/book on the London Metropolitan police (my main source being Sherlock Holmes, which as much as I love Holmes I don't like relying on other fiction for research). Does anyone know a good place to find info on them?

And while I'm writing this post, anyone know a reference book of extraordinary women throughout history (preferrably women in Victorian times)?

Thank you so much!
 
Selimthegrim

Selimthegrim

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The website of the Dictionary of Victorian London, located here: http://www.victorianlondon.org/

It's mostly a collection of period documents, very thorough, and I think a great place to start. I particularly enjoy the punch cartoon of the lady metropolitan police (I think it's under one of the women's equal rights sections).
 

pdr

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Check out...

the stickied resources at the top of this board. I placed several excellent Victorian resources there.
 

Evaine

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It might be worth getting in touch with the Commissioner's Reference Library at New Scotland Yard. They do deal with requests for information from the public - or at least, they did when I worked there!
(One of the FAQs in the 1980s was "Where can I find a real police box/Tardis?").
The Library did start out as Sir Robert Peel's private collection of books, so there's all sorts of things squirrelled away.
 
Alexandra Little

Alexandra Little

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Of course I manage to overlook the stickies (argh), and the Reference Library sounds interesting--once I get all the other sources covered I'll have to check them out.

Ooh, Tardis--brings into mind a certain Doctor...
 
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