In July 1872 the business of the County was being examined by a large gathering of Worthies at the commencement of the Exeter City Quarter Sessions, Mr Snow, the keeper of Exeter's Castle and its town-crier, had died and a new keeper needed to be appointed.
"In answer to Mr Coleridge as to the emoluments of the office, Sir J. DUCKWORTH said the fees as crier amounted to something under £37 a year, and the allowances as Castle keeper was £28 8s, besides which the County Court paid him £12 a year for cleaning the court for County Court purposes; besides that he had a house, candles, fire and garden."
It was a dream of a job! Three names were put forward including that of William Peter, "a policeman who had been in the force 14 years" and whose conduct had been exemplary. His proposers argued that it would be a good precedent to establish, and one that would do good to the police force- to know that when there were such vacancies, claims of long and good servitude on their part should be fully considered and recognised." William Peters was elected keeper of the Castle by a healthy majority and then was unanimously elected crier also. The Castle of Exeter had a new keeper. I hope he was happy living in his castle and dining by fire and candlelight at the City's expense.
Servitude is an odd word to have used here. My 1895 dictionary gives: servitude: the quality or condition of a slave; slavery, bondage. Well, I dare say police-service must feel like that sometimes.
What fun if the city of Exeter still had a Castle Keeper!
What fun if the city of Exeter still had a Castle!
Alas, we have sold our birthright for a mess of pottage!
Source: The Western Times, 5th July 1872.
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