Pictures John Hopkins
HUNDREDS of visitors stepped inside Warrington’s policing past yesterday as the Museum of Policing in Cheshire opened its doors for a special Heritage Open Day.
The popular event at Warrington Police Station in Arpley Street offered families and policing enthusiasts a rare opportunity to explore one of the town’s most fascinating – and unusual – heritage attractions.
Visitors were able to tour the museum and discover a remarkable collection charting the history of policing in Cheshire, from the earliest days of the force through to modern-day policing.
And there was plenty more than history on display.
The event featured an Armed Response Vehicle, police vehicles, police dogs and the Police Drone Unit, giving visitors the chance to see some of the equipment and technology used by officers today.
Inside the museum, visitors could step back in time through a collection of uniforms, policing equipment, photographs, documents and other fascinating artefacts.
The museum is housed within the Victorian cells of the working Warrington Police Station, making the experience particularly distinctive.
Among the exhibits are historic police uniforms and equipment, vehicles, investigative tools and displays charting the changing face of policing across Cheshire.
The museum’s volunteers were also on hand to share stories and explain the significance of the collection.
The event formed part of this year’s Heritage Open Days programme, which saw venues across Warrington opening their doors and showcasing the town’s rich and often surprising history.
The Museum of Policing in Cheshire is an independent registered charity operated by volunteers in partnership with Cheshire Constabulary.
It has become an important part of Warrington’s heritage scene and was recognised last year with the King’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award given to voluntary organisations and described as the equivalent of an MBE.
The museum preserves the story of policing in Cheshire from the 19th century through to the present day – but yesterday’s open day also demonstrated that its role is about far more than preserving old uniforms and equipment.
It provides a unique opportunity for today’s communities to meet serving officers, learn about modern policing and discover the people and stories behind the force’s long history.
For many visitors, however, the biggest attraction was simply the opportunity to walk through the old cells of the Victorian police station and see for themselves how dramatically policing has changed.
And with the museum normally operating by appointment because it remains inside a working police station, special open days such as yesterday’s provide a rare opportunity for the wider public to experience this remarkable piece of Warrington’s history.
The Museum of Policing in Cheshire continues to be run by volunteers and admission is free, with donations welcomed to support its work.
