Watchman's box

Stained wooden, freestanding shelter used by watchmen patrolling the Furnival's Inn area of Holborn. Above the door is painted in gold 'Furnvals Inn.' Above the right hand side window is painted in gold 'Watchman's box.' The entry door is divided horizontally and vertically into four partitions, the top two partitions each having a small circular window. The right side has a top half window with six panes of glass divided by wooden muntin or glazing bars.

Before the creation of the Metropolitan Police force in 1829, local parishes employed watchmen to patrol the streets at night and keep order. Public opinion of parish watchmen was not high; they were often lampooned in caricatures.

This watchman's box was located beside the entrance to Furnival's Inn in Holborn. It would have been used for shelter by local watchmen during their patrols. Furnival's Inn, originally an Inn of Chancery, provided rented accommodation during the 19th century. Charles Dickens leased rooms there in 1835. In his final work, The Mystery of Edwin Drood (1870), Furnival's Inn appears as a hotel - 'fire-proof, and specially watched and lighted' - where Mr Grewgious has words with the 'gate-porter'.