Police constable in Oldham/Hollinwood

[sid bird]

Hello,
My great grandfather lived in Hollinwood and was a police constable for at least 30 years.(1881-1901 census information). His name was Peter Whitehead, born 1855, died 1901. I cannot find him on Lancashire Police force records...is there any other way of finding out about him?
Thank you.

[Gibel]

Have you tried Oldham Borough’s own archives?

[PaulineJ]

Oldham had its own force.

https://british-police-history.uk/f/oldham-borough

[zetlander]

Hollinwood 'joins' Failsworth with Oldham - although he lived in Hollinwood he may have worked for Manchester Police - or other neighbouring towns -

[CaroleW]

Can't help with his service records but when he married Elizabeth Wolfenden in 1874 he was a labourer so joined the constabulary somewhere between 1874-1881

18.1.1874 St Matthew Chadderton

Peter & Elizabeth were both 21
His father was Ralph Whitehead - innkeeper & hers was James Wolfenden engineer

Transcript available on https://www.lan-opc.org.uk/

[heywood]

Censuses show him living in Hollins/Hollinwood when younger but as a Police Constable he was living in other areas of the town so he was probably in Oldham Borough Police.

You could try Greater Manchester Police Museum https://gmpmuseum.co.uk/ to see if there are records there or in other archives.

[sid bird]

Thank you very much everyone. I have emailed the police museum to ask how to access Oldham Borough Police records.

[bbart]

I don't know if this is your man, but if so, perhaps it might help narrow down the area he patrolled:

Cotton Factory Times 30 August 1895

There is an article of news from Oldham on page 5 about a customer at the Featherstall and Junction Inn on Featherstall-road North, who had a vein burst in his leg and was profusely bleeding.  The landlady called in Constable Peter Whitehead, who was also a member of the Ambulance Society.  The constable adminstered first aid pending the arrival of a Doctor.  The doctor later said the man would have died if not for the efforts of the Constable.

[heywood]

That’s a lovely tribute to find bbart.

I can’t find him in 1891 but in the 1901 census he is living just a few streets away from that pub so very local.