Edwin Henchliffe

Edwin was born in Mackworth. His probable date of birth was 20th October, 1830, although he was not baptised until 13th November, 1831, at Mackworth Parish Church.

His parents were Richard Henchliffe and Hannah Henchliffe, nee Hodgekinson.

Richard was a descendant of Edward Hinchliffe, the vicar of Mackworth in the early 17th Century, although by the time Edwin was born, the family were generally occupied as farm labourers. Edwin had numerous siblings, including an older brother, William (Born 1823) who would prove important to his future.

In 1845, for reasons unclear, William left Derbyshire and joined ‘M’ Division of the London Metropolitan Police. He seems to have met a local girl, called Caroline, who is described as his wife, although no evidence of a marriage has yet come to light. This part of the force covered Southwark and Rotherhithe.

Six years later, Edwin joined him in London with a Derbyshire girl, Hannah Titterton, whom he married on 13th July, 1851, at St. John the Evangelist Church, Lambeth. On 17th December he also became a member of ‘M’ Division. No photograph exists of him, but he is described in the police records as being 5ft 7 ½ “tall, with brown hair, grey eyes and a ‘fair complexion’.

The family moved between various addresses in Southwark and Bermondsey, and had four children, Mary Ann, Edwin, William, Hannah and Jane. Jane eventually become Jane Holmes, the Landlady of ‘The Old Silk Mill’ pub, in Derby, and is also buried at Nottingham Road.

Southwark and Bermondsey were notoriously demanding areas for the police, and when Edwin left the force in May 1866, he is recorded as suffering a spinal injury, in service. The Met gave him an annual pension of £30.00 per annum, which although equivalent to £4,734.90, in a 2026 adjustment, was not enough to support his growing family. He found work as a miller, near the banks of the Thames, but by 1876, he had returned to Derby and founded a Hansom Cab business, initially at 3 Nottingham Road, and subsequently in addresses at Full Street, Burghley Street and Park Street .

Edwin and Hannah had three more children in Derby, John, Lizzie and Sarah. 

Hannah died in 1890. Edwin remarried, and lived with his second wife, Mary, at Park Street, until his death on 14th June1904. He left a modest but respectable estate, registered by probate, of £113, 9s,9d. (Approx. £17,911.72). Edwin is buried in Plot B1/44377

Numerous members of Edwin’s family and descendants are also buried at Nottingham Road, including his daughter Hannah Redfern (d.1941) grandson, Leonard Redfern (d.1957) and infant great-grand-daughter, Violet Lily Redfern (D.1941).

By way of a footnote, his brother, William, remained in the London Constabulary until 1870. By then, he was described as ‘greying’, with a large scar on his face, the third finger of his right hand ‘contracted’ and a wound on his right knee. He received a police pension and lived out his days in Gravesend.