Constables in Penzance did not have it easy! Historical background and information on the origins, daily life and experiences of a member of the Penzance Constabulary will give you a window into what it was like for them.
Documentary on origins of British police force https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9P48YT61zII
Cornwall’s county-only police force remembered – BBC News
Penzance Constabulary for Real
Penzance Borough Police – Wikipedia
Policing 19th Century England. | Police history | Old Police Cells Museum
Profile of A Constable – PC James James Layout 1
Work-Life History of Constabulary
Article describing the the typical background of a constable: Spayer
A Policeman’s Lot 1872. – Victorian Police Stations
A Visitor’s Guide to Victorian England: LIFE AS A POLICE CONSTABLE IN LATE VICTORIAN LONDON
Bastardy and Baby Farming in Victorian England
Penzance Borough Police (1836 – 1947) | Devon and Cornwall Police
Penzance Borough Police – WikiVisually
Arrest Police Regulations – Victorian Crime and Punishment from E2BN
Prisoners by year – Victorian Crime and Punishment
Victorian Police Officers Only Had a Rattle to Defend Themselves With – Fact Fiend
19th Century Wood Fire Rattle Alarm ~ SOLD – YouTube
Saint Paul Police Historical Society — Police Rattles & Whistles
Sir Robert Peel and his ‘bobbies’
Surrey Constabulary: Part 1: Policing the Victorian Countryside: 1851-1901
Police angry at threat to drop Queen’s oath – Telegraph
Victorian rates of pay | Police history | Old Police Cells Museum
Daily Life in Victorian England – Sally Mitchell – Google Books
Arming the police | Police history | Old Police Cells Museum
Historical artifacts and information on insignia of uniforms Microsoft Word – CONX.doc
Tarantara
In 1879, Gilbert explained to Sullivan in a letter that the word “Tarantara” is a word the police use as a talisman to help them gather up courage. http://gsopera.com/lexicon/tarantara
However, this particular word has additional background to its meaning:
In Latin: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tantara
But wait… there’s more!
In Cornish, the word “Taran” means “sonic boom” or “thunder”. http://www.cornishdictionary.org.uk/browse?field_word_value=taran
In Celtic mythology, the god of thunder is known as Taranis. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taranis
This sculpture of Taranis (Jupiter with wheel and thunderbolt), Le Chatelet, Gourzon, Haute-Marne, France shows the figure holding a thunderbolt. The thunderbolt looks a lot like a police truncheon as an added bonus!
- Public Domain
- File:Taranis Jupiter with wheel and thunderbolt Le Chatelet Gourzon Haute Marne.jpg
- Created: Roman Gaul
Whatever the reason Gilbert chose to use “Tarantara” in his lyrics, it seems that the choice was multilayered.
Historic Pirates of Penzance 