Original British Comb Top West Mercia Constabulary Bobby Helmet – Formerly Part the Yeoman Warders Club Collection Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. Formerly part of the decoration of the Yeoman Warder’s Club at the Tower of London comes this contemporary (Circa 1990s-2000s) British Bobby Police Helmet is of the “Comb Top” variety. The traditional Bobby helmet was named after the creator of the British Police Force, SIR ROBERT PEEL, who became Prime Minister under Queen Victoria. The particular version seen here, known as a “Comb Top”, replaced the earlier “ball top” and “rose top” helmets used in many areas. The pattern features a pronounced ridge on the top of the helmet, which is capped off by a silvered fitting bearing a coat of arms.

The enameled silver type Helmet plate bears the Heraldic Shield of the County of West Mercia in the center. The circle inside the laureled oval reads WEST MERCIA CONSTABULARY, and the badge is surmounted by the correct “Queen’s Crown” for Queen Elizabeth II. Condition is quite good, and the helmet still retains the liner and both chin straps. A great collector’s item!

IMA recently acquired a collection of headgear from the Yeoman Warder’s (aka “Beefeaters”) Club located at the Tower of London. The club has a strict policy of allowing only members of the Yeoman Warders and their guests entry. It has become a tradition over the years for visiting guests with any current or prior military or police service to leave one of their pieces of headgear. Over the years this collection has grown to large, leaving the Warders to liquidate the collection to IMA! Making this quite the exclusive offering!

West Mercia Police formerly the West Mercia Constabulary, is the territorial police force responsible for policing the counties of Herefordshire, Shropshire (including Telford and Wrekin) and Worcestershire in England. The force area covers 2,868 square miles (7,430 km2) making it the fourth largest police area in England and Wales. The resident population of the area is 1.19 million Its name comes from the ancient kingdom of Mercia.

The force represents a diverse range of policing environments from densely populated urban areas on the edge of Birmingham as well as Telford, Shrewsbury, and Worcester, to sparsely populated rural areas, such as Herefordshire, which remains an important part of the force’s responsibility.

As of September 2017, the force has a workforce of 2,017 police officers, 223 police community support officers, 1541 police staff and 388 members of the special constabulary.

The force has its headquarters in the historical manor house and grounds of Hindlip Hall on the outskirts of Worcester. Its badge combines the heraldry of Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire.