A forgotten foundation stone. That’s what started it all. Right here on this very spot stood Cloak Lane Police Station. A building that witnessed the ebb and flow of London life for nearly eighty years.
Cloak Lane Police Station wasn’t just any police station. It was one of six divisions in the City of London. Established in 1885 it served as a vital hub for law enforcement in a bustling part of the city. Think of the stories its walls could tell.
The construction itself wasn’t without controversy. Newspaper articles from 1885 expressed concern about the added cost to the city’s rates. An extra penny for a new police station. Imagine the conversations that must have ensued.
Cloak Lane Police Station wasn’t just about serious crimes. It also handled some unusual cases. Like the time an adder was found basking in the sun on Cannon Street. The reptile was apprehended and taken to the station. It became quite the spectacle. No one knows what happened to it after that.
The station was not untouched by war. During World War II a high explosive bomb damaged the roof and interior. Photos of the devastation remain in the London Picture Archive.
Financial crimes were a common feature of cases brought to Cloak Lane. One case involved a solicitor accused of fraud. He was apprehended on the Embankment then brought to Cloak Lane. Another arrest was made in the 1950s for a director accused of misusing company funds. The 1950s arrest report reads like something out of a film.
The Thames was a constant presence. Tragically some police officers lost their lives to the river. The dangers of the river were always present in the work of the officers. One policeman was tragically lost during a storm in 1924. His helmet was found but his body never recovered.
Cloak Lane Police Station also saw its share of unusual incidents. An attempted shooting in the Bank of England led to an arrest and a trip to Cloak Lane. The man’s mental state was questioned. A raid on an illegal betting club also ended at the station.
In 1914 the City of London police force was reorganized. Cloak Lane became D Division. The station stood until 1965. A final report mentioned a drunk driver being brought to Cloak Lane.
And there you have it. The story of Cloak Lane Police Station. A building that is gone but not forgotten. A reminder of the constant pulse of life in London. This foundation stone is all that remains of this crucial piece of London history.