NOVEMBER 2024

The Old Police Station, South Street

The old Police Station building in Ashby was built in 1862 for £2000 as a Victorian residential home and extended in 1879 to house a Police Station, which included a Magistrates room and accommodation for a superintendent and sergeant. Holding cells and a Courtroom were added at a later date.

When the Magistrates court was closed in 1989, cases were transferred to Coalville Police Station. Ashby Town Council also rented part of the building and the Town Clerk was based in a small office on the ground floor. Council meetings took place in the upstairs Chamber (formerly the Magistrates Court) until ATC moved to Legion House in 2009 (approx).

The Police Station in Ashby closed in 2012 and was refurbished to an excellent standard in 2014 following a £500,000 refurbishment by DBS to provide a modern, high specification office space.

Some of the legendary Inspectors, Superintendents, Beat officers who were based at the Police Station over the years, included Superintendent Wells Lockton (1910’s) Inspector Cyril Blundy and Inspector David Hall (1990’s) Popular Beat Officer PC Robert Jones secured sponsorship from local businesses to complete in the local triathlon (run/bike/swim) held at Hood Park Leisure Centre in the summer of 1986 (his on the job cycling and pounding the streets were ideal  event preparation).

Ex Beat Officer Mark Arjoo, who was stationed at the Police Station from 1994 to 2012 recalls a few stories from the period he worked there including a visit from former boxer Frank Bruno (he regularly trained at Springs) who casually strode into their enquiry office one day, holding a kitten who he found (while out running) who appeared lost and he wanted the police to find its owner.

On another occasion a local elderly lady telephoned the station to say she was concerned about a poor, nervous looking owl that was stuck half way up on a radio mast. The mast had been erected at the station to gain better signals and a plastic owl at been recently placed strategically on the mast to deter pigeons from depositing their droppings onto the police vehicles below!

The Black and White photograph below is of Mr John Jardine (wearing straw hat) Superintendent Wells Lockton (although at the time was a sergeant, judging by his uniform) with possibly his wife Betsey Lockton (on the right holding a dog).

The building is decorated to celebrate the Coronation of George V (in 1911).