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The parochial 'force" was 80 strong in 1819. This included
Go watchmen, of whom 43 were attached to St.
Margaret's parish, with Knightshridge, and 23 to St. John's,
10 patroles, 4 beadles and a "Regulator." The wages of
the watchmen was 14s. per week in the winter, 12s. in the
summer; the regulator received 18s. and 17s. 6d. for the
respective seasons. The beadles in the home wards were
allowed £31 10s. 0d. per aun., at Knightshridge, £23 2s. 0d.
per annum. In 1824 the numerical strength of "the force"
had increased to 92 besides a 'wardour.'
An order passed by the Vestry at this time suggests that
'the watch ' had its weakness:—
Ordered that a Circular Notice be printed and distributed to the
several Victuallers within the Parishes warning them against
harbouring Patroles and Watchmen during the hours of
Watching and expressing the determinations of these Vestries
to enforce the Penalties which they are liable [to] in consequence
thereof.
The proceedings of the Vestry on one of the annual
'watch days' is here presented:—
Easter Tuesday, April the 26th, 1791.—This day being appointed
for a Yearly Meeting of the Vestries of the Parishes of St
Margaret and St John the Evangelist, Westminster, for putting
into Execution an Act of Parliament made in the Ninth Year
of His late Majesty Intituled an Act for the better regulating
the Nightly Watch and Bedels within the Parishes of St
Margaret and St John the Evangelist in the City of Westminster,
Also an Act of Parliament made in the Fourteenth
Year of His present Majesty Intituled an Act for the better
Regulation of the Nightly Watch and Bedels within the City
and Liberty of Westminster and parts adjacent and for other
purposes therein mentioned, and also of an Act of Parliament
passed in the Twenty sixth Year of His present Majesty's
Reign Intituled an Act for raising a competent Sum of Money
to defray the Expence of a proper Number of Watchmen
Patrols and Bedels within the said Parishes of St Margaret
and St John the Evangelist in the City of Westminster, The
Gentlemen now Present
Unanimously Agreed and Ordered
That 52 Watchmen be appointed for the Parishes of St Margaret
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