Historic old Police headquarters under threat
The old police station and constabulary headquarters in Exchange Street is up for sale and under threat of demolition should developers decide to buy it. The buildings as a group are rare remaining examples in Aylesbury from the 1930’ building boom which was experienced in towns up and down the country. To understand their importance it is worth looking into their history.
On Tuesday 8 October 1935 the new Aylesbury police station and constabulary headquarters in Exchange Street was opened by Sir Walter Carlile, Chairman of the Bucks Standing Joint Committee. In his opening address he paid a high and well deserved tribute to the efficiency of the County police and said the problem Colonel T R P Warren, the Chief Constable had tackled had been a stiff one but the work had done spoke for itself.
After the opening ceremony the guests were able to witness the despatching of a message by the aid of the teleprinter from Sir Walter Carlile to the whole of the police in the county, in which he said that in no county in England did there exist a Poice Force more united, more efficient, more happy and contented or more loyal to its best traditions.
The buildings were erected at a total cost of £14,461 by Messrs Webster & Cannon the well known and reputable Aylesbury based builders and at that time one of the largest in southern England. The design was by C H Riley the County Architect and the buildings provided the police with modern and up to date facilities The Bucks Herald at the time said ‘they provided the police with modern and up to date buildings equipped with all the latest and scientific apparatus where police administration can be conducted in an efficient manner’
C H Riley had also designed the 1929 County Offices in Walton Street so it was not surprising that the new poice buildings harmonized with them in design and structure.
The new police buildings comprised of county constabulary headquarters and recreation club; Aylesbury local Police Station, with attached Inspector’s house and accommodation for four single constables; and superintendent’s house. It is interesting to note that the ground floor levels of the new buildings are identical with those of the basement of the County Offices so that it would be possible to link up the two buildings if required at any time in the future. The new buildings had been set back from the original frontage lines, and the corner angle splayed to assist street traffic. The elevations were faced with multicoloured Buckinghamshire bricks and re-constructed Portland Stone dressings, and the roofs are covered with Westmorland green slates, all to harmonise with the County Office elevations. The heating was by low-pressure hot water system, which served both main buildings, and a domestic hot water supply was provided, quite revolutionary at the time. Another major feature was 5 telephone lines connected to the local exchange.
The buildings today are now redundant and surplus to police needs. The site is up for sale and could be demolished to make way for a new office development. Another sad loss for Aylesbury’s 1930’s heritage.
Roger KingPrevious Features. Click Here