Law and order in Victorian Kelvedon Hatch.
Based in Kelvedon Hatch during the 1870s was one police constable of the Essex Constabulary. First it was Police Constable Davey and then Police Constable Archer. They lived with their families in Fox Hatch near the Swan Public House. They were responsible for dealing with offences in both Kelvedon Hatch and Doddinghurst.
It would seem from the lack of newspaper reports about crime in Kelvedon Hatch that it was a peaceful area, but of course not all crime was reported in the newspapers.
There was one notorious case of robbery committed upon George Littlechild of Pump House Farm. He was returning from High Ongar and as he neared home he was set upon by 'four rough-looking fellows' who knocked him to the ground and rifled through his pockets. Fortunately, Littlechild managed to open a clasp knife he had in his pocket and slashed one of the assailants across the throat with it. The others made off, but one was detained by a nearby cottager. The others were later arrested by the Ongar Police. (Essex Times 28/3/1879)
News from the past: Robbery at Kelvedon Hatch
On Whit Tuesday the cottage occupied by William Roast, labourer, at Kelvedon Hatch, was entered by way of the back window during the absence of the family, and a pair of dark plaid cloth trousers, a black coat, a waistcoat and a pair of woman's side spring boots, valued at a £1 were stolen.
Essex Times 21/6/1876
News from the past: Robbery at Kelvedon Hatch
A few nights since nine ferrets were stolen from the premises of Mr Malyon, beer house keeper, Kelvedon Hatch, and have not since been traced.
Essex Times 8/10/1875
The constables dealt with the occasion theft, drunkenness, poaching, and with the control of animals on the highway, or restricting their movements when there was an outbreak of foot and mouth disease.
News from the past: Highway Offence
Samuel Clark, haybinder, Doddinghurst, was summonsed for allowing his pony and ass to stray upon the highway in the parish of Kelvedon Hatch on the 20th April - The offence was proved by P.C. Davey. - Fined 1s for each animal, and 6s. 6d. costs.
Essex Times 3/5/1871
Poaching was often the subject of conflict between the landowners and the local labourers, occasionally it lead to violence. The poachers would normally poach away from their own parishes and were often doing it to supplement their meager incomes and feed their family.
News from the past: Ferreting rabbits
James Jarvis and Thomas Quilter, labourers of Kelvedon Hatch were charged with trespassing on land owned by Rev. E. J. Reeve, Stondon Massey [...] 24 rabbit holes were discovered to be blocked up. Fined 15s. each.
Essex Times 18/3/1876
Horse racing at the nearby Green Man P.H., Navestock Side, on the borders with Kelvedon Hatch, often attracted the 'rougher element'. There are reports of burglaries and it was noted 'never before had Navestock and Kelvedon Hatch been visited by such a gang of sharpers, welchers and pickpockets, as swarmed the course of this occasion'. (Essex Times 13/2/1878)