Historically the Beadle was the parish constable and the pole was his symbol of office, as well as a useful weapon for chastising offenders!
Dorchester's Beadle Pole is 179.5 centimetres (5 feet 10¾ inches) long and is reputed to date back to the 13th century, although it is unlikely that it really does! It is of some age, though, as the drawing of the style and form of the town seal engraved on the silver head of it shows.
