Department of the Environment: Royal Parks Division, Royal Parks Constabulary Branch:...

AT 28

1835-1998

This series contains registered files relating to the protection and policing of the royal parks, including the functions and powers of the Royal Parks Constabulary, park keepers and gatekeepers.

The series contains some earlier files which were re-registered into the RPC series from the A and AD series; these were first raised in the nineteenth century and covered all aspects of royal parks administration. One piece (AT 28/5) dates from 1835; the remainder date from 1948.

For other files relating to the royal parks and the Royal Parks Constabulary, see WORK 16

RPC file series

Public Record(s)

English

• Department of the Environment, Royal Parks Division, 1970-1980
• Ministry of Public Building and Works, 1962-1970
• Ministry of Works, 1943-1962

36 file(s)

Open

From 1994 Department of the Environment

Series is accruing

In 1832, the Surveyor General of the Works was made responsible to Parliament for the maintenance of all royal parks and gardens. When the Office of Works was revived as a separate institution in 1851 its Commissioners took over from the Commissioners of Woods all duties relating to the maintenance of royal parks and gardens. The First Commissioner had specialised powers in connection with the regulation of certain commons and open spaces. Royal parks continued to be administered as a distinct unit within the Office of Works and its successors, headed by the Bailiff of the Royal Parks until 1970 when responsibilities passed to the Department of the Environment (DOE).

Responsibility for the Royal Parks Constabulary passed from the DOE to the Department of National Heritage in 1992, and subsequently became part of the Royal Parks Agency on its establishment in 1993.

The Park Keeping Force of the Royal Parks date back to 1872, when the park keepers were first given regulatory duties. The Parks Regulations Acts of 1872 and 1926 effectively gave them the duties and responsibilities of a police constable within the confines of each of the royal parks. The Parks Regulations (Amendment) Act 1972 enabled their title to be changed from park keeper to park constable.