Insurance Fire Brigades 1680–1929: The Birth of the British Fire Service 9780752445090

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INSURANCE FIRE BRIGADES 1680-19

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SG)es Geri eee

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BRIAN WRIGHI

INSURANCE FIRE BRIGADES 1 680-1929 OFTHEBRITISHFIRESERVICE

THEBIRTH

BRIANWRIGHT

TEMPUS

Thisbook is dedicatedto the manygenerationsof insurancefiremenwho,for almosttwo and a half centuries,performeda vitalrole in society,saving bothpropertyandlives,butwhoseworkis oftennot appreciated today.

Firstpublished 2008 Tempus Publishing

Cirencester Road,Chalford, Stroud,Gloucestershire, GL68PE www.thehistorypress.co.uk TempusPublishing isanimprintofThe HistoryPress © BrianWright,2008

TherightofBrianWrighttobeidentified astheAuthor ofthisworkhasbeenasserted inaccordance withthe

Copyrights, DesignsandPatentsAct1988. Allrightsreserved. No partofthisbookmaybereprinted or reproducedor utilisedin anyformor byanyelectronic, mechanical or othermeans,nowknownor hereafterinvented,

including photocopying andrecording, orinanyinformation storage orretrieval system, without thepermission inwriting fromthePublishers. BritishLibraryCataloguing in Publication Data. A cataloguerecordforthisbookisavailable fromtheBritishLibrary. ISBN978 O75244509 O

Typesetting andorigination byTheHistory Press Printed inGreatBritain

INSURANCE FIRE BRIGADES 1680-1929 THEBIRTHOFTHEBRITISHFIRESERVICE

CONTENTS

Acknowledgements TheRelative ValueofMoney BritishandIrishInsurance Companies Knownto Have Maintained FireBrigades Introduction IntheBeginning: BeforeInsurance TheFireOffices A SocialResponsibility TheInsuranceCompanyBrigades > TheInsuranceFiremen Regulations, PayandRewards Uniforms menFireEngines,StationsandHorses TheTypesofFireEnginesusedbyInsurance Brigades Equipment 10 Additional i)

Ww

An Oo

II ‘Fire,Fire!’ 12 WorkingTogether 1861-1865 13 TheLondonFireEngineEstablishment

14

AppendixOne Appendix Two Appendix Three

AppendixFour AppendixFive

TheLastDaysoftheInsurance Brigades A Fireman’s Bond Agreement betweentheWestminster Insurance CompanyanditsFiremen Instructions fortheFiremenandPortersof theLondonAssurance Company, 1752 Regulations fortheFiremenoftheYorkshire InsuranceCompany, 1829 Regulations fortheEnginesandFiremenBelonging to theCountyFireOfficein Provincial Towns,1833 FurtherReading Index

IO 12 19 27 39 $9 ad

84

107 121 133 145 161 ISI IQI 209 211 212

215 218 220 221

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank Avivaplc, the Chartered InsuranceInstitute,Brian Henham,Sheree

Leeds,NickyMcIntoshofLeamington SpaArtGallery&Museum,BrianSharp,andValerie Wrightforherpatiencewiththephotography. Alongwithallthelibrarians andarchivists who havekindlymadevariousdocuments anditemsavailable.

THERELATIVE VALUE OFMONEY

and coinageof pounds,shillings Pricesin thisworkhavebeenleftin the originalpre-decimal equivalent, modern a ndits to devisea tableof oldcoinage whileit ispossible penniesbecause, overthe last250years as the valueof the coinagechangedconsiderably thisis meaningless wouldseemto be 1750 in cost£56 which fire engine Sowhilea dueto a numberoffactors. 1750wouldhave in samemoney t hatthe takenintoaccount be hasto it verycheaptoday, eventhisdoesnothelpequatethevalueofthefireengine boughta modesthouse.However, terms,sincehouseshaverisenhugelyin valueoverthe lasttwentyyears,sothata in today’s Londonhousethatsoldfor£150in 1946would,in 2008,nowcostover£400,000. Before1971the poundsterlingwasdividedinto twentyshillings(20s)and240pennies mainunitsin oldcurrency a shillingwasdividedintotwelvepennies(12d).The while (240d), are: andtheirmodernequivalents

1farthing(4d)=justover0.1ofa newpenny 1halfpenny (4d)=justover0.2ofa newpenny I penny(1d)=justover0.4ofa newpenny Sixpence(6d)= 2/2newpence 1shilling(1s)= 5newpence Sovereign = onepound %guinea(2gn)= 10s6d= 52/2newpence Oneguinea(Ign)= 21s= £1.5p howmuch in understanding ofpricesatdifferentperiodscanalsobemisleading Comparison 1750s Inthe goods. ofother a ndthevalue to wages relation atthetimein an itemwasworth in while fireengine, l essthanthecostofa year, a waspaid£20-25 inLondon a shopassistant labourerwouldhavespent£16 13s8da yearon breador flour,£3 the 1790sanagricultural whiletheSunFireOfficeat thistimespent£9 13sonpole 8donmeatand17s4don candles; £25 15sforrepairingtheirbadgesand uniforms, axes,£4 ts 6donbuttonsforthe firemen’s £334 16s6don fourmonthswagesfortheirfiremenandporters.In 1805a finemarewould 2s6dabottle.Therelativevalueofitems havecostfortyguineasanda remedyforrheumatism onepoundsworthof continuedto change,andif youtakethepoundsterlingaspurchasing reduceditsvalue,so inflation whenwartime until1914 i ts value goodsin 1860,thisremained wentup anddown, thevalue this After 1919. in halfthegoods o nly bought have would thatit andby2000the 1860poundwouldhavebought£42 ofgoods.

BRITISHANDIRISHINSURANCE COMPANIES KNOWNTO HAVE MAINTAINED FIREBRIGADES

(Datesofindependent companyexistence, notdateswhentheyoperatedfirebrigades, andit isprobablethatsomeothersmallerinsurance companies alsooperatedfirebrigadesat some time.) AberdeenFire&LifeInsurance Company AlbionFire&LifeInsurance Company Alliance Assurance Company AtlasAssurance Company BathFireOffice BathSunFireOffice Berkshire, Gloucestershire &Provincial Life&FireInsurance Company Birmingham AllianceFireInsurance Company Birmingham FireOfficeCompany BristolCrownFireOffice

1825-89 1805-58 1824-1959 1808-1959 1767-1827 1776-1838 1824-31 1864-70 1805—67 1718—37

BristolUnion Fire& LifeInsuranceCompany

1818-44

BristolUniversal FireOffice BritishFireOffice British&IrishUnitedFireInsurance Company Caledonian Insurance Company Commercial FireInsurance CompanyofDublin CountyFireOffice DistrictFireInsurance Company DublinInsurance Company DundeeAssurance Company EagleFire&LifeInsurance Company EastKent&Canterbury EconomicFireAssurance Association EssexEconomicFireOffice Essex&SuffolkEquitableInsurance Society Finchingfield FireInsurance Society FireOffice, The(laterto becalledthePhenixFireOffice) Forfarshire &Perthshire FireInsurance Company Friendly Society, The

1774-78 1799-18 43 1804-43 1805-1957 1799-1827 1807-1906 1824-64 1782-1817 1782-1832 1807-1916 1824-28 1824-57 1802-1911 1802-29 1680-1722 1823-56 1683—c.1730

BritishandIrishInsurance Companies FriendlySocietyofEdinburgh GlobeInsurance Company GuardianFire&LifeAssurance Company Halifax, Bradford& KeighleyFireInsurance Company Handin HandFireOffice Hertfordshire, Cambridge & CountryFireOffice ImperialFireInsurance Company KentInsurance Company Lancashire Insurance Company LeedsFireOffice Leeds&Yorkshire Insurance Company Leicester FireOffice Liverpool FireOffice Liverpool &LondonFire&LifeInsurance Company Liverpool &London&GlobeFire&LifeInsurance Company LondonAssurance Corporation

Manchester Fire&LifeAssurance Company

Manchester FireOffice NationalAssurance CompanyofIreland NewBristolFireOffice Newcastle-upon-Tyne FireOffice NorthBritishInsurance Company NorthBritish&Mercantile Insurance Company NorthernAssurance Company NorwichGeneralAssurance Office NorwichUnionFireInsurance Society Nottinghamshire &Derbyshire Fire&LifeAssurance Company PhoenixAssurance Company ProtectorFireInsurance Company RoyalExchange Assurance Company RoyalFarmers& GeneralInsurance Company RoyalInsurance Company

9 1720-1847 1803-64 1821-1968 1846-53 1696-1905 1824-31 1803-1902 1802—I9OI 1852—I9OI

1777-82 1824-64

1834-43 1770-94

1847-64

1864-1919 1720-1965 1824-1904 1771-88 1822-1904 1769-1840 1783-1859 1809-62 1862-1959 1836-1968 1792-1821 1797— present

1835—69 1782-1984 1825-35 1720-1968 1840-88

1845—

Sussex County &General Fire&LifeAssurance Company UnionFireOffice

present 1780-1890 1824-78 1808-63 1836-90 1802-49 I710—~19S9 I800—04 1825-26 1825—c.1827 1714-1907

Worcester FireOffice

1863-68 1717-1906 1790-1835 1790-1818

SalopFireOffice ScottishUnionInsurance Company Sheffield FireOffice

Shropshire &NorthWales Assurance Company Suffolk FireOffice

SunFireOffice SunInsurance CompanyofDublin Surrey&Sussex& Southwark FireAssurance Company WestofEnglandFireInsurance Company WesternFireInsurance Company Westminster Insurance Office Wiltshire&WesternAssurance Society

1807-94

Yorkshire &LondonFire&LifeAssurance Company Yorkshire Fire&LifeInsurance Company

1838-44

1824-1967

INTRODUCTION

Thestoryofthefirebrigadeswhichwereoncemaintained bythefireinsurancecompanies isnot onlyfascinating andfullof surprises, but isalsoanimportantpartofBritain’s history. Thesefirebrigadesarecloselylinkedwiththe development andspreadof insurancewhich todayisoneofBritain’s mostimportantindustries. Thehistoryofthesebrigadeshasbeenvery muchneglected, whichissomewhat surprising whenit isrealisedthattheywerein existence forfarlongerthanany‘modern’ brigadehasbeenin operation. Thesubjectisusuallygiven somespaceinbooksdealingwiththehistoryofthefireservice,butin manycasestheyhave onlya chapteror lessdevotedto them,andeventhatoftencontainsinaccuracies whichhave a tendencyto beperpetuated. Manypeoplehaveheardoftheinsurancefirebrigades, butusuallyquotetheoft-repeated storythattheywouldjust standby andwatcha buildingburnif it wasuninsuredor not insuredwith their own company. This tale seemsto havearisenin the 1920sand_has stubbornlypersisted,despiteall the evidenceto indicatethat the insurancebrigadesdid not generallycarryout selective firefighting. Onlyon twooccasions didcompanybrigades confinetheirattentionexclusively to insuredproperty,andin bothcasesit wasdonein an attemptto makea localauthorityassumeresponsibility forfirefighting, a rolethatmanywere

reluctant toundertake foralongtime.

Mostinsurance companies hada reciprocal agreement sothatifa brigadeputouta firein apropertyinsuredbyanothercompany, thentheinsuringcompanywouldreimburse theone whosebrigadehadacted.Inthecaseofuninsured propertythecompanywouldtrytorecover the costsif theythoughtthe ownercouldaffordit,otherwiseit wouldbe writtenoffasan actofcharityandgoodpublicityfortheefficiency oftheirbrigade. Thecompanies generally provided theirfirebrigades withthemostmodernandup-to-dateapparatus, inmarkedcontrast to thatprovidedfortheparishbeadleto use.Amongtherecordsoftheinsurancecompanies canbefounddetailsofthepurchaseandintroduction ofthelatestfirefighting equipment, and onesurprisefindingwastheuseoftheswivelling hosecouplingbyaninsurancefirebrigade

abouttwenty yearsbeforeitisgenerally believed tohavebeeninvented!

Whencomparedto present-day equipment, theirapparatus lookswoefullyinadequate to

dealwithfireswhichoftenattained alarger sizethanwould occurtoday, sinceitinevitably took

theinsurance brigadesquitesometimetoreachthescene,allowing thefiretotakea firmhold. Twoofthebiggestproblems theinsurance brigadeshadto contendwithwerewatersupplies, whichwereofteninadequate, andtheproblems ofgettingenoughmento keepthemanually pumpedfireenginesgoingformanyhours,orevendaysata majorfire.However, thebrigades learnedto copewiththesituationand,overtheyears,gradually developed andperfectedtheir firefighting techniques. In 1833theLondoninsurance brigadesbeganto combineunderthe leadership ofJamesBraidwood wholaidthefoundation ofthemodernBritishFireService.

Introduction

II

Historical researchisoftena questionofpiecingtogethermanyfragments ofinformation

whichmakeuptantalising cluestolifeinthepast.While gathering material forthisbookthe

recordsoftheSunFireOffice,coveringtheyears1710to 1900, Committeeof Management weresystematically examinedandproduceda wealthofdetail,muchofit unexpected, about the company’s firebrigadeanddirectinvolvement withfirefighting. It wasonlypossibleto examinetherecordsofthiscompanyin greatdetaildueto boththe timefactorandbecause whichis whyso many moreof theirrecordssurvivewhencomparedto othercompanies,

inother andideasprevailed situations aretakenfromtheSun,butsimilar andexamples quotes companies whichmaintained theirownfirebrigades.

Whileworkingwiththesedocuments thenamesofthefiremenareencountered, andit is possibleto followtheircareersfromthedaytheywereaccepted, throughpromotions, with otheroccasional entriesuntilthedaytheyarerecordedashavingresigned orsometimes being ‘deceased’. Thismakesthemstandoutasindividuals, andevenfollowing thisveryfinalentry theirnamesmaystilloccurin therecordsif theirwidowsappliedto theinsurancecompany for financialhelp.Itemslikethisbringhomethe factthatthesewererealpeople,menwho andriskingtheirlivesto doit,butwhosenames job in society, avitally important weredoing anddeedslieburiedamongreamsof ancientpaper.Anextractfroma reporton the 1808 fireattheCoventGardenTheatre,published in TheCourier, sumsuptheinsurance firemen’s attitude: On theirarrivalwiththeir Themenof thePhoenixOfficeweretheprincipalsufferers. theyweremetbyMr.Kemble...He toldthem engineatthegreatdoorunderthePiazza, thattheroomsoftheShakespeare, immediately adjoining, wereusedasa warehouse to the

Theatreandwerefilledwith powder,oil,and otherveryinflammablematter,andentreated

—‘Wheredangeris,there answered themnotto runanyrisk.Thesebraveandboldfellows isourduty’andrushedforward.

Thispresentworkenablesthe evolutionandfoundationof the modernfireserviceto be fromthatdayin 1680whenthefirstfirebrigadesincetheRomanshadleftBritain appreciated wassetup,to the lastdayoftheinsurancebrigadesin the earlytwentiethcentury,by which firebrigades bymunicipal timetheirroleasa privatefirebrigadehadfinallybeensupplanted ratherthancommercial companies. fundedby theratepayers

CHAPTER ONE

INTHEBEGINNING: BEFOREINSURANCE

Forthousands ofyearsfirehasnotonlybroughtcomfortto mankindandenabledmanytypes oftechnological advances to occurbut,if firegetsoutofcontrol,it canbe oneofthemost terrifyingdangerswhichcanbe faced.Organised firefighting hasitsoriginsin the Roman period,sincethedevelopment ofcitiesconsisting ofrelatively largenumbersofcloselypacked buildings meantthattherewasa greatdangeroffiregettingoutofcontrol,andtheancient recordsshowthattheCityofRomewasdevastated byfiretimeaftertime. Totry andcombatthisproblemthe government in the timeof the Republic,(c.500-14

BC),employed bandsofslaves tofightfires; theFamilia Publica, astheywerecalled, werenot particularly efficient, anda reportwrittenabout300BCnotesthattheywereintroublefor

neglecting to patrolbetweenthewatchposts,andit wasalsoallegedthattheyhadbeenslow inarrivingatthesceneofafirewhichhadbrokenoutintheViaSacra.In21BCtheEmperor Augustus putfirefighting inthechargeofmagistrates (Aediles), andcreatedaforceof600men tobea permanent forceoffirefighters. However, inAD6,afteraparticularly disastrous firein theCity,theEmperordecidedthatamoreefficient bodywasrequiredandsosetuptheCorps ofVigils(Cohores Vigilum), whichwasto besosuccessful thatit wasto lastforover400years. Besidesfirefighting, theVigilswerealsoresponsible for policedutyat night,capturing runaway slaves andforkeepingwatchovertheclothesofbathersatthepublicbathstoprevent thembeingstolen.Fireprevention wasalsooneof theirdutiesandtheyhadthepowerto administer corporalpunishment bybeatingwithrodsanyonetheyconsidered to havebeen negligentwiththeirhousehold fire. Theyalsohadtherightto enter,byforceifnecessary, any

premises inwhichitwasbelieved thatfirehadbrokenout,a rightwhichwasonlygivento

modernBritishfirebrigadesunderSection87of the 1907PublicHealthActsAmendment Act(7Edward VI, c.53). Variousmembersof eachcohorthadspecialised functions, asisshownbythe titlesgiven to them,suchastheAquariiwhowereresponsible forwatersuppliesandthe organisation ofbucketchains,the Siphonarii whowereresponsible forthefireenginesandthe Uncinarius whoorganised theuseofthelargehooksonpoles(harpagones) whichwereusedtopulldown burningtimbersandroofing.Eachcohortalsohadfourdoctorsattachedto it.TheVigilshad attheirdisposal aswidearangeofequipment forfirefighting asanyearlynineteenth-century Britishfirebrigade.Amongthe itemsmentionedin contemporary literaturearepickaxes, fellingaxes,ladders,hooks,brooms,spongesand blankets.

Thelattermayhavebeendampedwithwaterandhungoveradjoiningareaswhichmight takefiredueto sparksandradiatedheat,andcouldalsohavebeenusedto breakthefallof peoplejumpingfromupperstories.Theyalsohadwickerworkmatsforbeatingoutflames andlargenumbersofbuckets.Whenpatrolling thestreetstheywererequiredto be correctly dressed(presumably insomeformofuniform), andto carryabucketandaxe.Oneofthemost

In theBeginning: BeforeInsurance

13

interestingitemsof equipmentwasthe siphos, a manuallyoperatedpumpwhichconsisted eachwithan inletvalveandan outletvalve,someof which of twopistonsandcylinders, incorporated an‘airchamber’, makingthemcapableofdelivering a continuous jet ofwater,a principlewhichwasnotrediscovered untiltheseventeenth century. CorpsofVigilswereformedatvariousotherplacesin theRomanEmpireandit ispossible wouldhavehadthem;a Roman (townswiththeirownlocalgovernment) thatallmunicipia It is knownthat in Hampshire. (Silchester) Atribatum fireenginehasbeenfoundat Calleva his rightto transferhisrankto theXX Legionwhenit was a centurionofVigilsexercised stationedat Chester,but the onlyotherreferenceto BritishVigilsis foundin the Notitia Dignitatum, alistofofficials, officersandmilitaryunitswiththeirrespective basesandcompiled, asfarastheBritishsectionisconcerned, in thelatefourthcentury. Thisshowsthata Numerus of Withthebreakdown in Durham. (Chester-le-Street), wasatthattimeat Concangium Vigilum andno d isappeared, of Vigils theCorps fifthcentury inBritainintheearly centralgovernment properformoforganised firefighting wasto beseeninBritainagainfora verylongtime.

ofthe buildings wooden thethatched to ragethrough firescontinued Asin Romantimes,

trainedto fight townsandcities,butnow,withoutanygroupspecifically Saxonandmedieval it,theyproveddevastating, andrecordsshowthatthesametownswereburnedon numerous occasions. Throughout theSaxon,Normanandmedieval periodthereisnoaccountofanyreal ofGodtheywerethoughtto andasfireswereoftenseenasa punishment firefighting, organised panicreignedandwhat offiresshowthatin general, descriptions Contemporary beinevitable.

andoftenunsuccessful. werebadlyorganised theflames therewereto combat littleattempts governing regulations weretakenbypassing to reducethedangeroffirespreading Attempts buildingmaterials, particularly in respectoftheuseoftilesandslateforroofinginsteadofthe werepassedin Londonin 1189andlaterby many thatch.Suchregulations veryhazardous thesewereoftenignored.Other butit isobviousthatdespitethegoodintentions otherplaces, actswerepassedrequiringownersof thelargerhousesto keeponeor twoladdersavailable, in dryweather,to placea barrelof waterbefore alongwithsomebucketsand,particularly theirdoors. equipmentwaspurchasedby eachparishor wardin Londonand firefighting Additional referred ofbucketsandthelargeironhookson poleswhichwerecommonly usuallyconsisted in the theywereoftenhoused items these t o easyaccess andto ensure to as‘preventers’, or ‘squirts’ s yringes brass large e arlier, andpossibly century, seventeenth church.Fromtheearly to propelwaterontotheflames,andthesewerealsokeptin thechurch. werepurchased Despiteliterallythousandsof piecesof legislationbeing passedconcerningbuilding equipment, of firefighting tradesandthe provisionandmaintenance hazardous regulations, firescontinuedto devastatethe townsand citiesof Britaindue to accident,arsonand civilwar.

pumpedfireengineshadlittleeffect,sincethey of primitivemanually Eventheintroduction wereonlycapableofthrowinganintermittent jet ofwater. afire whichwasto shock 1666,thereoccurredinLondon 2 September At2a.m.onSunday, and facilities firefighting Britain’s justhowinadequate people thenationandbringhometo in Pudding a baker of the premises in started Thefire were. forloss methodsofcompensation downtowardsthe riverThames. Lane,a narrowcobbledwaywhichslopedfromEastcheap Thebaker,Mr Farynor,wentto bedon Saturdaynightbut at 2 a.m.he waswokenup by whohadsmelledsmokeandtheyfoundthattheycouldnotgetdownthe stairs. hisassistant outof a garretwindowandontothe roofof Hewasforcedto usherhisfamilyandassistant havinga fearof heights,wouldnot followandso the adjoininghouse,buthis maidservant, perishedin theflames. fromthefirespreadto theStarInnbehindthebakerywherestrawandfoddercaughtfire. Sparks formed Churchwererungto soundthealarmandneighbours ThebellsofnearbyStClement’s premises. endangered from a nd furniture goods to remove hurried and t he fire tofight bucketchains was SirThomasBludworth, tolookseriousandsotheLordMayor, Thefirewasnowbeginning sentforfromhishouseon theothersideof theCity,andby3a.m.hehadarrivedonthescene.

T4

Insurance FireBrigades 1680—1929

Above:Fire at Becclesin Suffolk,1586,

showingthemaltwarehouse where thefirestartedwhicheventually destroyed mostofthetown.No organised systemoffirefighting existedat thistime,andhadnotdone sosincetheRomansleftBritainover 1,000yearsearlier. Right:A fireatTiverton,Devon showingthesimpleequipmentused at thattime.Bucketchainswere usedto bringwaterto thefire,while firehookswereusedto pullaway burningtimbersor even,asin this case,pulldownwholehousesto

createa firebreak. FromWoefull News fromtheWest-parts ofEngland, 1612, whichalsoincludedanaccountofan earlierfiretherein 1598whichhad alsodestroyed mostofthetown.

WOFVLL

NEVVESFROM THE ofEngland. Welt-parts BEING THELAMENTABLE Burning oftheTowneofTeuerton,in Deuon-bire,. vponthefiftofAugu/tlaft, 1612.

VVhereunto isannexed , theformerburningofthe aforefaid Towne, thethirdofAprill,1 598. *

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In theBeginning: Before Insurance

15

Above: Aleatherfirebucketofthe earlyeighteenth centurywitha narrowmouthdesigned tominimise

spills whenusedinabucket chain, usedbytheearlyinsurance company brigades astheirsimple manually pumpedfireengineswereunableto takewaterdirectlyintothem.

Left:Aseventeenth-century ‘squirtfire engine’ inuse.Suchdevices wereused bytheHandinHandFireOfficeand otherearlyinsurance brigades.

FireswerecommoninLondon, particularly inthepoorerareas, andnodoubtSirThomas hadseen manysuchfireswhichhadbeeneventually broughtundercontrolorhadsimplygoneoutandso, annoyed atbeingdragged fromhisbedatthathour,hemadeoneofthegreatest understatements ofalltime,‘Pish,Awomanmightpissit out’,andwiththatreturnedtohisbed! Thefire,however, soonspreadupPuddingLaneto itsjunctionwithThamesStreetwhere and hempandvarioustypesof fodderweresituated, brandy, oil,tallow, containing warehouses by8a.m.ontheSundayaround300houseswereonfire,including housesonLondonBridge itself,andthegreatwaterwheels underthebridgeweredestroyed causingthelossofapumped watersupplyto thesouthofthecity.Beforenoon,SirThomasBludworth, nowveryalarmed atthesizeoftheconflagration, orderedhousesaroundtheperimeterofthefireto be pulled the ownersof property downandthe sitesclearedto createa firebreak,butunderstandably objectedandbythe timeworkbeganthe firewastoonearandcrossedthe to be demolished uncompleted firebreaks. Thefewsimplefireenginesofthetimewerebroughttogetherbutwerenotofmuchuse of ‘Theengineshadno libertyto playforthenarrowness to aneye-witness, since,according theplaceandthecrowdofpeople,butsomeofthemweretumbleddownin theriver’.In the afternoonthe firespreadintothe betterclassdistrictsandtherewasa rushto removegoods to a placeofsafety, andtheKingandtheDukeofYorkwereroweddowntheriverto assess stretchedalongtheriverbankfromBotolphLane the extentof thefirewhich,by midnight, westwards almostto Queenhitheandnorthwards asfarasCannonStreet. a sixteenthofthe Citywason fireor hadbeenburnt,and Bydawnon Mondaymorning the situationwasnowso seriousthatthe Kingsetasidethe authorityof the LordMayor The Dukesetup fire andplacedhisbrother,the DukeofYork,in chargeofthe firefighting. soldiersunderan men,thirty a hundred by firemanned o f the postsaroundthe perimeter

16

Insurance FireBrigades 1680-1929

TheoriginalLudgatewith theoldStPaul’sCathedral stillunburntin thedistance

onthesecond dayofthe

GreatFireofLondon. Thousands ofpeoplewere made homelessand,because

fireinsurancewasnotto be inventedfor another

fourteenyears,manywere leftdestitute.

officer,andwiththreemagistrates to directthework.Onlynowdidrealco-ordinated efforts to fightthe firebegin.Thefirewasbeginningto spreadinlandfastandtherewaschaosas everybody triedto removetheirgoods,somepeoplehavingalreadymovedthemtwoorthree times.Despiteworkinghard,theeffortsto fightthefirewerenotwellorganised andwooden

watermains weredugupinthewrongplaces sothatmuchrantowasteandotherareaswere deprived oftheirwatersupplies. Bymidnight onMonday thefirewasfourtimesthesizeit

hadbeentwenty-four hoursearlier. Tuesday sawthespreadofthefireevenfastersincesparks andburningbrandswerecarriedhighintotheairin thehot updraughts to comedownin areasbehindthefirefightersanddemolition squads, socausingnewoutbreaks offire. ThewideststreetinLondonwasCheapside andit washopedthatthiscouldbeusedtocheck thenorthward spreadofthefire.However, thishopewasnotrealised sincethefireleaptthegap andcontinued itsinlandspread, eventually reaching thenorthernwallofthecity.Bynowoverhalf ofLondonwasinvolved andgunpowder wasbeingusedtoblowuphousestocreatefirebreaks, a tacticwhichworkedintheeasternsideofthecitywherethefirewaseventually checked onthe northsideofTowerStreet.However, in thewestthefirecouldnotbehalted. At8p.m.StPaul’s Cathedral caughtfire,andbynowthirtyfiveotherchurches, theRoyalExchange, theGuildhall andmanyoftheliverycompanies’ halls,hadbeenburnt,theareainvolved beingmorethantwice

thatburned onSunday andMonday together, withthefirenowpassed beyond thecitywall.

Whennightfelltheglareofthefirewassogreatthattheconstables andbeadleofHitchinin Hertfordshire, some30miles(48km)away, arousedthetownandorganised anall-nightwatch astheyfearedthataninvasion wasimminent. OnWednesday eveninga southerly windcame upandblewtheflamesbackonthemselves, andwhilegreatfireswerestillburningamongthe ruins,theflameshadfinallystoppedspreading. Eventually thefireswereputoutordieddown, andon Sunday9 September thefirstrainforweeksfellon theblackened ruinsofLondon, butthefirecontinuedto smoulder incellarsandwouldoccasionally breakoutlocally, thelast reportofsuchanoutbreakoccurringaslateas16March1667. Thecostofthefirewasenormous, with13,200housesin over400streetstotallydestroyed, alongwith eight-fourchurches,forty-fourcompanyliveryhallsand mostof the public buildings. Thefirehadconsumed 373acreswithinthecitywallsand63acresbeyondit,anarea whichmeasured roughlya mileanda halflong(1.6km)byhalfa mile(0.8km)at itswidest point.Beforethefire,Londonhadcontaineda tenthofthepopulation ofEnglandandmore thanhalfitswealth.Asa resultofthefire,over100,000peoplewerehomeless andcamping

withmakeshift tentsinthefieldssurrounding thecity,facinga winterwithoutenoughfood andwithtotallyinadequate shelter.Manypeoplehadlosteverything theyhadin thefireand soonthe debtors’ prisonsof the Ludgate, the Fleetandthe Marshalsea werefull,andmany

In theBeginning: Before Insurance

Above: Theareadestroyed bytheGreat FireofLondonin 1666.

Right: TheKingconsiders plansforthe

rebuilding of LondonaftertheGreatFire, butwhilepublicfirefighting equipment

wastobeprovided, suggestions forthe

provision ofa firebrigadewerenotacted

on.

17

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Insurance FireBrigades 1680-1929 aie

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Planforrebuilding LondonaftertheGreatFireon a newplandesignedbyChristopher Wren.It was approvedbytheKingandParliament butneverimplemented.

peoplewouldneverleavethemalive.Onlysixpeopleweredirectlykilledbythefire,butan unknownnumberdiedin thatfirstbleakwinterfollowing thedisaster. Thefirstfinancial estimate ofthelosswascompiled threeweeksafterthefireandamounted to £,7,370,000, butthiswasbeforea fullsurvey, andamoreaccurate assessment putthelossatalmost £,12,000,000, analmostunimaginable sumat thatdate.OnMonday10September theCouncil

ofStatemetwithaldermen, magistrates andprominent citizens todecide whattodonext.The firstdirective wastoorderthecitizens toclearthestreets andtheymadeeveryone responsible for

clearing theirownland.Merchants weregiventemporary sitesfromwhichtheycouldtradeand sogotthecommercial lifeofthecityunderway again, although notalltraders hadmanaged tosave theirstock.Moneyforthevictims pouredinfromreliefcommittees andprivateindividuals allover Britainandamounted toatotal of£10,611.

Various plansweresubmitted fortherebuilding ofLondon onacompletely newbasis, but

Parliament couldnotmakeupitsmindwhichplanto accept,beingnotonlyworriedabout the cost,but underpressurefor rebuildingto begin at once;on 5 February1667,a Rebuilding

ActwaspassedbyParliament. Londonwastoberebuiltontheoriginalstreetplanwithbuildings ontheiroldsitesasfaras possible, particularly publicbuildings, butthenewhousesweretoconformtolaiddownstandards, tobeofonlyfourtypes,andofbrickconstruction withfire-resisting partitionwallsandroofsof tileorslate. Therewereheavypenalties foranyonenotobeying theseregulations, andahousenot conforming to thestandards couldbe demolished. Furtherregulations werepassedconcerning theprovision ofbuckets, squirts, fireenginesandladders whileplugsweretobeputinthewater mainsto ensureeasyaccess. However, amongallthesenewideasandregulations, no provision wasmadefora bodyofmenspecifically trainedto fightfires,despitesucha suggestion having

beenmadebyseveral persons.

CHAPTER TWO

THE FIREOFFICES

Fromthe earlyseventeenth centurythe onlyformof compensation fora lossby firewas providedbya formof organised charityin which aletter or “Brief” concerningthe fireor othertragedywasreadout by priestsin the churches,anda collectionwastakenby the churchwardens aftertheserviceorlaterfromdoorto door.Whilethisprovidedsomedegree ofcompensation, in manycasesit didnot covertheloss,andthesystemwasopento much

abuse, butBriefswerenotfinally abolished until1828. London wasthecentreofEngland’s financial andcommercial life,andsonaturallyhada lot of enterprising businessmen within itswalls,soit isnot surprising to findthattheideaof insuranceagainstlossbyfireshould arisethere. In 1635a planfora fireinsuranceschemewassubmittedto the PrivyCouncil,andin 1638a betterthought-outplanwassubmittedto KingCharlesI fora patentfora schemeof fireinsurance, whichwasgrantedin October1638,butnothingmoreisheardaboutit and it probablydidnotcometofruition. Thenin 1666theGreatFireofLondonreallybrought for andtheprovisions facilities wereboththefirefighting hometopeoplejusthowinadequate 100,000 peoplewhohadlosthousesandgoodsin thefire,sincemorethana compensating Therewasagreatdealofmoneytobemadeintherebuilding peoplehadbeenmadehomeless. ofLondonandalargenumberofspeculative buildersbeganto supplyaccommodation forthe victimsofthefireandto replacethepublicbuildings andchurches. Amongthesebuilderswasayoungmanwhowasto gainlastingfameasthefounderoffire NicholasBarbonwasborn¢.1640andisbelievedto havebeenthesonofPraiseinsurance. GodBarbon, asectarianpreacherandmemberofthe‘Nominated Parliament’ setupbyOliver ofLeiden,receivedhisdoctorate in 1653.Nicolasstudiedphysicsat theUniversity Cromwell ofmedicineat Utrechtin 1661,andwasadmittedasan HonoraryFellowoftheCollegeof man,andhistalentsdidnot cleverandambitious in 1664.Hewasan enterprising, Physicians himtheopportunity F iregave o ftheGreat Theaftermath findanadequateoutletinmedicine. ofthepost-fire largest the oneof became ultimately andhe builder, to becomea speculative rather aspossible, as cheaply usually houses, f amily small erecting in specialised He builders. andhe hadtheideathata houseinsuredagainstfireunderanassignable thangrandbuildings, policywasworthmuchmorethananuninsuredone. Vincent,SamuelTookieandBenjaminBartletttojoin In 1680BarbonpersuadedSamuel himin a partnership to setupa fireinsurance company, knownsimplyasTheFireOffice. The firstnoticethata fireinsurancecompanywasaboutto beginappearedin TheTive on 7 May1680.The ideawasto providea landedfundof Intelligence Domestick Protestant £2,100perannumderivedfromthe groundrentsof buildingsthatBarbonhad erectedon camefrom firstcompetition Lane.TheFireOffice’s sitesjustoffthe Strandandin StMartin’s scheme startingsomeformof fireinsurance ofLondonwhichhaddiscussed the Corporation theGreatFire,buthadnotgotroundto doinganythingabout following on manyoccasions fromNovember scheme,theybeganto transactfireinsurance it until,spurredonbyBarbon’s

fromthe FireOfficein theformof a a response provoked Thisalmostimmediately 1681.

20

Insurance FireBrigades 1680—1929

Theemblem usedbythefirstfireinsurance company, latertobecalled thePhoenix FireOffice, founded byNicholas Barbon in1680. Itisprobable thatthiswasusedontheirfiremarks andthe badgesof theirfiremen,althoughno examples ofthesehavesurvived.

broadsheet pointingout,‘thatthegentlemenof the InsuranceOfficeat thebacksideof the RoyalExchange werethefirstinventors ofthedesign’, andthenwentonto accusetheCity Corporation ofundercutting themsincetheirrateswerenotadequateto beprofitable. The Cityschemewasnot successful andgenerally thoughtto be too risky,andsoon 17 November1682it wasterminatedandallthepeoplewhohadinsuredwiththemgottheir premiumsback.The FireOfficehadissuedfourteensharesin the originalscheme,but in December1683it wasre-established withadditional partners,twenty-oneshares,additional settledproperties andthecapacityto insureup to 10,000houses.However, thefundsofthe FireOffice,saidto be £50,000,werenotalltheyappearedto be,sincenot alltheproperty fromwhichgroundrentsweresupposed to be derivedhadactuallybeenbuilt! The FireOfficewasnotto remainwithoutcompetition forlong,since1683alsosawthe

launching ofascheme ofinsurance byWilliam HaleandHenrySpelman whichborethetitle

ofthe FriendlySocietyforSecuringHousesfromLossby Fire.Thishada differentbasisto the FireOfficesincethe twoinstigators of theschemewerepersonally liableforanylosses whichcouldnotbepaidoutofthesociety’s fundswithinfiftydays.Eachmemberpaid6s8d returnabledepositforeach£100of propertyinsuredandundertookto raiseup to 30sfor each£100theyhadinsuredto meetclaimsforlossbyothermembersifnecessary. Thepolicy holderspaidanannualpremiumof1s4dper£100insured, andtheSocietyestimated thatifit had20,000membersthecallon eachforlosseswouldonlybe2sodperyear.Despiteitstitle themembers, atleastin itsearlydays,donotseemto havereceivedanyprofits.

TheFireOffices

21

The FireOfficeat oncebegana vigorousbroadsheet attackagainstthe FriendlySociety whichissued1,000policiesin itsfirstyear.Amongmanyotherallegations the FireOffice pointedout thatthe FriendlySocietyhadno experienced firebrigade,indicatingthatthe FireOfficealreadyhadone,butthe FriendlySociety, in answerto thispoint,saidthat,‘they arenowsettingthemout,anddidsoProposefromtheBeginning; whichalthoughtheymay

beRawatthepresent, maysoonbecome aswellDisciplin’d astheothers.’ Nicholas Barbon lefttheFireOfficea fewyearsbeforehisdeathin 1698.In 1696a thirdfireinsurance scheme appeared whichusedtheunwieldytitleof‘TheContributors forInsuringHouses,Chambers or RoomsfromLossbyFirebyAmicable Contributionship’, butthiswassoonshortenedto the‘Amicable Contributors’ or morecommonlythe Handin HandFireOfficeaftertheir emblem,andthisnamewasadoptedastheirofficialtitleby 1706.Althougha mutualsociety

A leadfiremark(22x 23cm)datingto 1726oftheHandin HandFireOffice.Thiswouldoriginally havebeencolouredgold,witha blackpanelwithgoldnumbers,andindicatedwhichhousewas insured. Theydidnotactasa guideto theinsurancebrigades, astheyoftenremainedon thebuilding longafterthepolicylapsed,andthebrigadeswouldputoutallfiresanyway.

22

Insurance FireBrigades 1680-1929

liketheFriendlySociety, itsmembersparticipated bysharinganyprofitsderivedfrominterest

ontheoriginal deposits.

The Handin Handwasto be the mostsuccessful of the seventeenth centuryinsurance companies, andin factit continuedto transactfireinsurance independently until1905when it wastakenoverby the Commercial UnionAssurance Company. The FireOffice,which changeditsnameto thePhoenixFireOfficein 1705,ceasedto transactinsurance about1713

andwaswoundupearlyin1722, whiletheFriendly Society wasprobably woundupin1730. Alltheseearlyfireinsurance companies, although having a different basis, setupafirebrigade

andissuedfiremarksto theirpolicyholders.Firemarksweresmallmetalbadges,initiallyof lead,whichwereplacedon the frontof the buildingto showexactlywhichpropertywas insuredbeforeahousenumbering systemwasintroduced.The exception wastheCorporation of London’s schemewhichwasnot in existencelongenoughto purchaseanyfirefighting equipmentanddoesnotappearto haveusedfiremarks. The nextdevelopment in fireinsurancespringsfromthe activities of CharlesPovey,an enterprising Londonbusinessman who,in 1708,setupaninsurance planto cover‘Movables, Goods,Merchandizes andWaresfromLossby Fire’anywherein GreatBritain.Thiswasa riskyenterprisesincepreviously fireinsurance hadappliedonlyto buildings. Poveyranthis

scheme aloneuntilNovember 1708whenheappointed anumber ofpeopletohelpwiththe administration, buttheydidnotsupply anycapital, andinDecember heannounced thathe

wasforminga salvagecorpsto givehelpin removingthreatenedinsuredgoodsto a place ofsafety. Poveycarriedtheliabilities ofhisenterprisehimself, butby 1709hadbegunto get worriedaboutthewisdomofthis,asit wouldbe disastrous if severalsmallfiresoccurredin oneyearor a largeoneaffecteda numberof insuredpropertiesat once.He alsorequired

somereadymoneytofinance anotherscheme hewasinterested in,andsohedecided to sell

hisbusiness to a groupoftwenty-four businessmen whocalledthemselves the Companyof LondonInsurers.

TheFireOffices

23

Opposite: Policyheading,c.1700, ofthe Handin HandFireOffice,

showing oneoftheirfiremen holding a smallfirehookor

‘preventer’, witha fireenginein thebackground. Notethatthe waterisbeingcarriedto it in bucketsandit hasa swivelling

nozzle ratherthanafirehose.At

thistimetherewereonlythree insurancebrigadesin Britain,all . basedin London.

Right: AleadfiremarkoftheSun FireOffice(17x 14cm)dating

to 1716, whichwouldoriginally havebeenpaintedwitha gold sunon a bluebackground, with

thestamped policynumbers painted black.

whichtradedunderthenameoftheSunFireOffice,officially company, Thisnewinsurance on 7 April1710,andfor the firsttwentyyearsof its existencetransacted cameintoexistence most of its businessin the Londonarea,althoughit wasgraduallywideningits areaof in GreatBritain. operation, anditsintentionwasto insurehousesandgoodsanywhere it a goodrisk;forexamplea stone Thecompanywouldinsureabuildingif theyconsidered facilities orbrick-builthousewitha stoneor tileroofwouldbeasafer risk,eveniffirefighting propertyunderathatchedroofalthough intheareawerenotverygood,thanatimber-framed ifa numberofhigherriskproperties intheareamightbe better.However, facilities firefighting

income premium thepotential wouldbalance thecompany wantedto takeoutinsurance,

or settingupa againstthe potentialfireriskandconsiderwhethertheexpenseof supporting level. firebrigadewouldreducetheriskto anacceptable provincial and the problemsof organising Becauseof the difficultyof communication FireOffice the Union 1714 In London. and around w asin mostearlyfireinsurance brigades, householdgoodsandfurnitureonly,andtheydid not wasformedto insuremerchandise, InitiallytheUnionconductedbusinessonlyin the u ntil1805. insurance b uilding undertake itsareaofoperationto take buta fewyearslaterexpanded citiesofLondonandWestminster, London.TheUnioncreateda salvagecorpswho wereprovided in the districtssurrounding with badgesanda uniformalong‘withcartsfor the safeandspeedyremovalof goodsas InsuranceOffice, necessaryand convenient.1717sawthe foundationof theWestminster FireOffice, Hand in whichwasdueto a boardroomsplitamongtheDirectorsof theHand limited very hada TheWestminster company. someofwhomleftto starttheirowninsurance the until theUnitedKingdom t hroughout i nsurance areaofoperationanddidnotundertake earlynineteenthcentury. companytobe formedwastheBristolCrownFireOffice fireinsurance Thefirstprovincial

TheBristol London. cityoutside mostimportant wasthesecond atwhichtimeBristol in 1718, andgoods,but in itsfirstten yearsissuedonly ofbothbuildings Crownundertookinsurance

24

Insurance FireBrigades 1680—1929

Appeal, published in theGeneral Evening PostofLondon,

8 August 1747,

askingforcharitable contributions for

peoplewhohad suffered inafire thatdestroyed three

quartersof Honiton in Devonon 19and 20July1747.Despite fireinsurancebeing

invented overfifty

yearsearliermany peopledidnothave insurance. In this casetheestimated losswas£43,600but only£3,300worthof

property wasinsured. about350policiesa year,despitethe factthatit hadno competitionandappearsto have maintained afirebrigadefromitsfirstdays.Following a seriesoffiresinEdinburgh, Scotland’s firstfireinsurance company, theEdinburgh FriendlySociety, wasformedin 1720, butconfined itsbusinessto Edinburghandthesurrounding districtuntil1767whenit extendedcoverto therestofScotland. In 1721twoLondoncompanies, setupinitiallyto transactmarineinsurance, extendedtheir businessto embracefirerisks.The RoyalExchangeAssurance andthe LondonAssurance Corporationwerethelastfireinsurancecompanies to enterthefieldforforty-fiveyears,as in 1720the SouthSeaCompanycrashed,andmanyfraudulent joint stockcompanies were broughtto light,someof whichwereconcernedwithvariousinsuranceschemes. These fraudulent schemes becameknownas‘Bubbles’, andthisscandalresultedin thepassingofthe

Bubble Actwhichwasaimedatpreventing theraising ofcapital stockbymeans oftransferable shares. Although it onlyremained in forceuntilit wasrepealed in 1725, it seemsto have deterredthefoundation ofnewinsurancecompanies fora longtime.

TheFireOffices

25

ThefirstLondoninsurance companyto operateoutsidetheLondonareawastheSunFire Officewhoseaimwasto insurenationwide bytheuseofa networkofagents.Between1710 and1720theSunhadonlya fewcountryagents,andprogress wasslow,butthentheagency systembeganto expandrapidlysothatby 1730theyhadoverthirtyagents,morethanfifty in 1740,andby1786theyhad123agencies. Manyoftheseagentsappointed sub-agents inthe smallertownswithintheirdistrictssothatthecompanyhadverywiderepresentation, andit wastheearlyuseoftheagencysystemwhichwasto maketheSunFireOfficethelargestof theeighteenthcenturyinsurance companies. Atthistime,theSun’swideagencysystemwas in markedcontrastto thatof othercompanies. Forexample, theRoyalExchange hadonly fouragentsin 1734,althoughby 1780theyhadincreased the numberto sixty,andby 1800 theyhad200agents.Asthecompanies beganto gaina reasonable amountofinsurance in a particular townor areatheywouldconsidertheadvantages ofgivingfirefighting equipment

ordonations towards itspurchase, toanylocalvolunteer firefighting forceor,iftheyfeltit

justified, thecompany mightsetupandmaintaintheirownprivatepart-timefirebrigade.The agentsweresometimes supplied withequipment suchasbucketsorevenfireengines, whilein 1786thePortsmouth agentoftheSunwassuppliedwitha dozenfiremen’s ‘caps’ to bein his care‘forthetimebeing’,sotheypresumably intendedto setupa firebrigadethere. Following alonggapmoreinsurance companies werefoundedcommencing withtheBath

FireOfficein 1767, andoverthenextthirty-three yearssometwenty-two newinsurance

companies werefounded,manyin provincial townsandcitiessuchasShrewsbury, Worcester, Newcastleand Leeds.The majorityof these transactedbusinessin a limited area,but some,

suchas the PhoenixAssurance Company(1782)andthe BritishFireOffice(1799),both London-based, insurednationwide. ThefirstIrishinsurance companies alsoappearedduring thisperiod,beginningwiththeHibernianInsurance CompanyofDublinin 1771.Between 1800and 1825the rateof establishments increased, withanotherfifty-onenewcompanies appearing betweenthosedates.Themajorityofthesecompanies hadfirebrigades, andeven thesmallest provincial companies maintained oneor two,whilethosecompanies whichhad business nationwide formedthemin widelyseparated areaswheretheythoughtthecostwas justified. Theinsurance companies gavecarefulconsideration toanumberoffactorsbeforeestablishing a localfirebrigade,andthisis clearlyshownin a minuteof theRoyalInsurance Company whentheywerelookingat thepossible benefitsofestablishing a brigadeat Birmingham in 1863,andnodoubtmostinsurance companies wouldlookatthesetypesofquestions: Thecommittee proceeded to takeintoconsideration thedesirableness ofestablishing a fire brigadeinthetowninconnection withthecompany andthelocalmanager submitted the following questions:1. Willthe establishment of the firebrigadein connection withthe officeaddto the popularity ofthecompany andleadtoincreased business? 2. DotheCommittee thinkthattheirfriendswillbemorereadyto supportthecompany inconsequence? 3. Istheestablishment of aVolunteer Brigadepossible to be carriedoutentirelyon the voluntary principle, eachmemberto furnishhisownequipment andto givehisservice atalltimeswhenrequired? 4. AretheCommittee oftheopinionthatthepublicwillreceive theannouncement ofthe formation oftheCorpswithsatisfaction, anddotheyconsider thatthepresentmoment issuitable fortheattempt?

26

Insurance FireBrigades 1680—1929

5. Totakeintoconsideration themostconvenient siteforanenginestation; theprobable expense ofaccommodation fortheresident attendant. 6. Toconsider thebestmeansofannouncing to thepublictheformation of theCorps, identifying themovement entirelywiththeRoyalinsurance Co.,andbeingoriginated byit. Theimportance ofmaintaining firebrigades toacompany isexemplified bytheNorwichUnion FireInsurance Societywhichwasfoundedin 1797andbeganto setupfirebrigadesoutside

Norwich in 1800. By1821theymaintained a totaloftwenty-five brigades inthefollowing

places:Aberdeen,Baldock,Birmingham,Bristol, Burnley,Bury St Edmunds,Cambridge, Canterbury,Darlington,Dartford,Dublin,Edinburgh,Exeter,Helston,Kidderminster,Leeds, Liverpool,London, Ludlow,Maidstone,Manchester,Norwich, Swansea,Whitchurch and

Wooton-under-Edge, whilethe valueof allthe variousfireenginesandotherequipment belongingto thecompanywasestimated to be nearly£4,000.Thefoundation ofprovincial

insurance companies, alongwiththeexistence oftheagency system, helped tospread theidea

offireinsurance throughoutthe country,andin itswakeinsurancecompanybrigadeswere foundedthroughout Britain. Bytheendoftheeighteenth centurytheSun,RoyalExchange andPhoenixhadallbecome verysuccessful, andformedthe‘bigthree’oftheinsurance business, but thenewprovincial companies wereprovingtroublesome astheywereofferingcompetitive ratesto insurers. The olderestablished companies wereforcedtobecomemorecompetitive, andbetween1820and 1850beganto getrid oftheirsmallercompetitors bythesimpleexpedientofbuyingthem up.Sincemanyof thesesmallcompanies hadfirebrigadesthe companywhichtookthem overhadto decidewhatto do withthem.In somecasestheycontinuedto maintainthem, presumably givingthe mennewuniforms, but wheretheyalreadymaintained a brigadein the areatheywoulddisbandthe brigadeof the companytheyhadtakenoverandwould

sometimes givethempensions, asdidtheSunFireOfficewhenittookovertheBristol Fire

Officeanditsbrigadein 1843,whilesurplusfirefighting equipmentwasusuallyputto good usein Onewayor another. In 1782theSuntookovertheLeedsFireOfficeandpaidthemfiftyguineasfortheirfire engineandapparatus whichtheythenpresented tothepeopleofLeeds,asanexercise ingood willtowardsthe citizens. Astimewenton the companies beganto shareinformation ofall sorts,including surveys andrisktables,andthiseventually ledto a moreorlesscommontariff forfireinsurance particularly forvarioustypesofindustrial risk.Thisideaofco-operation led to thesharingoffirefighting facilities onoccasion, andeventually ledto thepoolingofmany ofLondon’s insurance brigadesto formtheLondonFireEngineEstablishment. Therewaslittleoverseas businesstransacted duringthe eighteenthcentury,andthe only fireinsurancecompanyto do so to anyextentwasthe PhoenixAssurance Companywho insuredthepropertyofEnglishmerchants abroadasearlyas1782,theyearoftheirfoundation, andby 1787theyhad appointedagentsin France,GermanyandPortugal,andbeganto transactbusiness in the UnitedStatesin 1804.However, the majorityof Britishcompanies didnot enterthe overseas marketuntilafter1840,but thenfolloweda rapidexpansion in fire insuranceabroad.Towardsthe end of the nineteenthcenturya numberof highly specialised insurance companies wereestablished to transact business inalimitedsphere,asfor exampletheEcclesiastical Buildings FireOfficefoundedin 1895to insureChurchproperty, butthesecompanies generally didnotmaintaintheirownfirebrigades.

CHAPTER THREE

ASOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Fromtheveryfirstdaysoftheirfoundation, andparticularly duringtheeighteenth and

nineteenthcenturies, thefireinsurance companies tookona rangeofroleswhichtodaywould be considered theresponsibility ofvariouscivilauthorities. Theseactivities werenotpurely altruisticbut reflectedthe interestsof the companyin protectingtheirinsuredpropertyby preventing firesor extinguishing themasquicklyandefficiently aspossible, so minimising theirlosses.Thecompanies therefore regarded anything whichhadabearingonfirefighting or fireprevention asfallingwithintheirsphereofinfluence bothdirectlyandindirectly, especially astheyconsidered thefacilities provided bythegovernment andlocalauthorities tobetotally inadequate orevennon-existent inmanycases.Unfortunately, thefactthatthecompanies did shoulderresponsibility forfirefighting meantthatmanylocalauthorities werereluctantto do so,andthecompanies continuedto bearthemainresponsibility forfirefighting inBritainfor wellover150years. Themostobviousandperhapsthemostvaluable contribution madebythefireinsurance companies to thereductionoffiredamage, wastheprovision ofthefirebrigadeswhichthey maintained, andthesewillbe dealtwithin subsequent chapters, but thereweremanyways in whichtheymadelessobviouscontributions. IntheearlyeighteenthcenturyonlytheSun FireOfficewasinsuringpropertyoutsideLondonbutsuppliedlittleor nothingin theway offirefighting equipmentto theprovinces atthistime.TheSunminutesfor31October1722 showthatthe companyhadreceived a lettersignedby manypeopleat Brentwood, Essex, askingthecompanyto supplythemwitha fireengineandbuckets.TheSunrepliedto Mr Jefferies, theBrentwood apothecary whohadwrittentheletter,statingthat: the Officecannot complytherewithin regardthatnotwithstanding theirinsurance’s in mostoftheGreatTownsin theKingdom theyhaveasyetmadenosuchallowance. And shouldtheynowcomplyit wouldconsequently bringtoogreatanincrease ofcharges to thisOffice. However, in 1725theHandin HandFireOfficeorderedthata dozenfirehookswereto be handedoverto an‘honestperson’atBrentford, Chelsea, Deptford, Greenwich, Hammersmith, KingstonandRichmond,andthe Sunalsobeganto donateitemsof equipmentaboutthis date,andit wassoonrealisedthat the insurancecompanies werenowmostlywillingto makecontributions. Fromthenon thecompanyrecordsshownumerousentriesconcerning applications forassistance fromcities,towns,villages andeven,occasionally, individuals from alloverthe country.Mostcompanies werewillingto supportlocaleffortsat firefighting andeithersubscribed moneytowardsthepurchaseofequipment, or provideditemssuchas buckets,firehooks,lengthsof hose and evensometimesfire engines.

28

Insurance FireBrigades 1680-1929

In 1762the Sunprovidedone dozenbucketsandfirehooks,alsocalled‘preventers’ to Cullomptonin Devonas the townhadjust purchaseda newfireengine.At firstthese contributions werequitesmall,asmightbe expectedfromcompanies witha relatively small amountofbusiness andcapital,andthecontributions wereonlyforthcoming ifthecompany considered themjustified,but therewasan addedincentiveto giveif a rivalcompanyhad alreadysubscribed. Thesizeofthedonationwasdetermined bytheamountofbusiness and numberofriskswhichthecompany hadinthearea,aswasclearlystatedinaprospectus dating

tothelateeighteenth century issued bythePhoenix Assurance Company:

ThisOffice,desirousas far as Possible to providefor the SafetyandComfortof the Inhabitants, willsubscribe towardsthe purchasing or repairingof Engines,and other Implements forextinguishing Fires,inProportion totheNumberofInsurance’s obtained in anyCityorTown. The SalopFireOffice,in June1807,grantedmoneyto Newport,SouthWales,towardsthe purchase ofa fireenginewhichwasequivalent to theamountofoneyear’s premiums fromthe town.TheagentoftheRoyalExchange Assurance atBishops Waltham, Essex, puthiscompany inanawkward positionin 1826when,a weekafterhisrequestfora contribution towards afire

engine wasrefused bythecommittee astheydidnothaveenough business inthearea, heinformed

themthathe hadalreadypromised something beforeputtingin the request! Thecommittee thereforedecidedthatto avoidembarrassment theywouldhaveto makesomecontribution, theagentforputtingthemin andsotheydecidedtheywouldgive£10,nodoubtadmonishing even thisposition. Ifthenumberofriskswashighthecompany wouldmakelargerdonations,

supplying complete fireengines. These machines weredivided intoclasses ormodels according to size,andthecompanies wouldsupplyan engineofan appropriate sizefortheamountof risktheyhadinthearea.Theengineswereoftenputinthechargeofthecompany’s agentwho recruited localvolunteers, andsometimes thedistinction betweenaninsurance company brigade anda volunteer brigadesupported byinsurance companies isveryfine.

A SocialResponsibility

29

Opposite: Largeeighteenth-century fire hooks,30ft(9.1m)long,atWestLavington,

Wiltshire. Usedtopulloffthatchor

demolishhousesto createfirebreaks, insurancecompanies oftencontributed to thecostofor suppliedthistypeof firefighting equipmentto townsand villagesalloverBritain.

Right: Carved stonefigures oftwo

eighteenth-century insurancefiremen andfireengine,approximately 120cmtall. Originallysituatedovertheporchof 166 The Parade,LeamingtonSpa,Warwickshire,

it waslatermovedto itspresentlocation,

1-2Euston Place. Itwasprobably

commissioned byaninsuranceagentin the town, who were often instrumentalin

startinginsurancebrigadesin theprovinces.

such whendonatinganengine,thecompanywouldimposeconditions, Onsomeoccasions, bytheSunFireOfficethata‘3rdsizeengine’wouldbesuppliedbythemif asthe stipulation thetowncouncilboughtanotherofthesamesize. the NorwichUnionFireInsuranceSociety,whenit supplieda fireengineto Similarly

forthe shouldfinda ‘standing’ madeit clearthatthelocalauthority in 1849, Gloucester

of the engineat the machineandappointa memberof the townpoliceas superintendent usualsalaryfor sucha position.On at leastone occasiona companydida straightforward swopof a fireengine,asfor examplewhenthe SunFireOfficegavea fourthsizeengine, costing£67 1s8dto the Cityof Oxfordin lieuof theiroldone,whichwasin thecompany’s whichseemsto havebeentheiroriginalintention. but wasnot worthrepairing, possession Thesamecompanyalsothoughtit worthwhileto givea lengthof hoseto CharlesRiches in Surreyin 1778so he couldfix it to hiswellandwaterpumpin caseof a of Streatham feltthat somelocalauthorities subscriptions fireoccurring.Evenwiththe helpof occasional at Sheffield b rigade volunteer and engine The parish runninga brigadewastoo expensive. Companyfrom1800,but by 1805thetown werepartlysupportedby the PhoenixAssurance worriedaboutits runningcoststo askthe Phoenixnot onlyto councilweresufficiently the service,but alsoto paythe wagesof the men.It is continueitssupportformaintaining in 1807the towncouncil unclearifthePhoenixcompliedwiththisrequest,butsignificantly FireOffice,whoundertookto keep itsenginesto theDirectorsoftheBirmingham presented themin goodrepairandsupplythemento workthem.In returnthe councilagreedto try andencourage theinhabitants ofSheffield to insurewiththatcompany. fireenginesin variouspartsof the countrygrewwiththespread Thepracticeofproviding but of the agencysystemin the eighteenthcentury,andthe engineswerequiteexpensive, alongwith Suchactions, companies. bythe ‘ investment’ a worthwhile considered obviously of localvolunteerbrigades,meantthatby the end of the eighteenth the encouragement a city,townor largevillagein the centurytheSunwasableto claimthattherewasscarcely equipmentfromoneinsurance countrythathadnot receiveda contributionof firefighting had companyor another.Fromthe endof theeighteenthcenturysomeofthe contributions

30

Insurance FireBrigades 1680—1929

becamemoresubstantial, partlyduetoa risein thepriceoffireengines, butalsobecausethe companies wereencouraging morelogicalandcomplexschemesoffirefighting. In Glasgow in 1823,theAtlasAssurance Company, GlobeInsuranceCompany, ImperialFireInsurance Company,NorwichUnion FireInsuranceSocietyand PhoenixAssuranceCompanyall agreedjointlyto guaranteeto reimbursethe cityfor expensesin sendingtheirmunicipal firebrigadeto attendfiresin insuredpropertybeyondtheconfinesofthecity.TheGlasgow enginesnormallyonlyoperatedwithinthe cityboundarysinceit wassupportedby a rate leviedoninhabitants ofthecityonly,anunusualarrangement atthisearlydate.Theinsurance

companies obviously hadmoreconfidence intheGlasgow brigade then,thantheymusthave hadthirteen yearsbefore, whenontheKing’s Birthday, 4June1810, arocketentered theattic

windowofa drygoodswarehouse settingbalesofcottonon fire.Fireenginesin thecharge ofthe Glasgow Policesoonarrived,butthepoliceweresaidto be sodrunktheycouldnot operatetheenginesproperlyandthebuildingwastotallydestroyed, alossthatcosttheNorth BritishInsurance Company£6,46318s3d. Engineswerealsosuppliedforuseoverseas, butnotin verylargenumbers,asmostBritish insurancecompanieshad relatively littleor no fireinsuranceabroaduntilafterthe midnineteenthcentury.However,the AllianceAssuranceCompanyshippeda fireengineto Montrealin Canadato be placedunderthemanagement oftheiragenttherein 1826.They sentotherenginesto HongKong,MelbourneandSingapore, andallocatedmoneyto the FireClub ofToronto,a volunteerbrigade,for the purchaseof uniforms,fire hooks and other

equipment. Whilethemajorityofthelargerfireinsurance companies werepreparedto make contributions towardsfirefighting equipment, onenotableexceptionto thiswasthe Union

FireOfficewhichwasfounded in 1714. Theywouldonlyinsuregoodsandnotbuildings

until1805,andtheyregardedtheirmaininterestasbeingtheremovalof goodsnotfighting fires.Thisattitudewasclearlystatedin 1779whenthe companyinformeda Mr Nunnthat ‘theofficeneversupplyparishesorparticular personswithbucketsor engines.’ However, this changedin 1806whentheyformedtheirownfirebrigadeandbeganto takea muchmore activeinterestin firefighting andprevention. Naturallythecompanies werealsointerested in thesupplyofwater,whichin manyplaces wasquitelimited,withevena largeportandcitylikeLiverpool nothavinganypublicwater supplyat alluntil1811, sinceit allcamefromprivatewellsor wassoldfromwatercarts.The LiverpoolFireOfficeoffereda rewardofhalfa guineato thefirstwatercartto arriveat the sceneof a fire,sincewithoutwateritsbrigadecouldnot put itsenginesintooperation.In 1815theEagleFireandLifeInsurance Companypresented a numberofbucketstoYarmouth,

Norfolk, specifically toprocure waterastherewasnosupply easily available. Companies might

alsoprovidewatercartsorpaymenttowardstheprovisionoffireplugsin waterpipes,or for the generalrepairandmaintenance of watersupplies. Forexamplethe SunFireOfficein 1807considered it hadenoughbusinessin Oxfordto subscribetwentyguineastowardsthe repairofthedilapidated water-works there,buttheymadeit quiteclearthatthiswasnot to be regardedasa permanentarrangement, althoughtheywerewillingto consideroccasional helpto keepit running. An interestingsurvivingreminderof the activeinterestof the insurancecompanies in supplying watercanbeseenonthenorthsideofCornhill, neartheRoyalExchange inLondon. There,onthesiteofa welloriginally sunkbyHenryWallis, MayorofLondon,in 1282,stands apumpwhichwassetuptosupplywatertothenearbyinhabitants, butwasstrategically placed fortheuseoffirebrigades whenfirefighting inthevicinity. Aninscription onthepumprecords that: Thewellwasdiscovered, muchenlarged, andthispumperectedin theYear1799bythe Contributions oftheBankofEngland, theEastIndiaCo.,theneighbouring FireOffices, togetherwiththeBankers andTraders oftheWardofCornhill.

Aturncock, withhisstopcock keysoverhisshoulder, prepares tobeata childwhohasremoved afire

plugallowingwaterto run to waste.Anillustration c.1820. Manyinsurancecompanies wouldmakea contributionto thecostofprovidinganadequatewatersupplyin varioustowns.

On eachof the upperpanelsof the pumpis the emblemof the contributinginsurance companies: theLondonAssurance, RoyalExchange Assurance, PhoenixAssurance Company andSunFireOffice.Thispumpwasprovidedto protectthe largebuildingsin the area, althoughit is ratherironicthatthe buildingnextto whereit stands,the RoyalExchange, wastotallydestroyed byfireon 10January1838becausethewaterfrozein thefireengines. Morerecently, in 1870,theSuncontributed £5 towardsthecostofestablishing a ‘telegraphic communication’betweenthe Police-FireStationand the water-worksat Dover,Kent.

Anotheraspectofinsurance company interestinfireprevention wastheenforcement ofthe variouspiecesoflegislation whichhadbeenpassedonthissubject. Oneofthemostimportant oftheseconcerned LondonandwaspassedunderanActofQueenAnnein 1707.Itstatedthat churchwardens weretoseethattherewerestopcocks andfireplugsonthewaterpipestoallow accessto thesupply, thata signwasputon thefrontofanyhousewhichhadonein frontof it andthattheywereto beresponsible fortheirmaintenance. Theyalsohadto ensurethatin eachparishtherewaskepta largefireengine,a handengine(‘squirt’) andhadto: provide, keepandmaintain OneLeatherPipeandSocketofthesamesizeasthePlugor FireCocktotheintenttheSocketmaybeputintothePipetoconvey theWatercleanand withoutLossorhelpofBucketintotheEngine.

32

InsuranceFireBrigades1680—1929

Churchwardens whodefaulted weretobefined£10.Thefollowing yearthisActwasamended

sothatiftwoparishesunited,engineswereto beprovidedasifforoneparish,butifa parish wasverylargeit wasleftto the discretion of the churchwardens andaldermento decideif the numberof enginesshouldbe increasedin proportionto itssize.Buildingregulations, similarto thosepassed justaftertheGreatFire,werelaiddownin 1708,andthesestatedthat allnewhouseswereto havebrickor stonepartywallsextendingat least18in(45cm)above theroofwithfrontandbackwallsofbrickor stoneextendingto atleast2/ft (76cm)above thegarretfloor. TheHandin HandFireOffice,oftenworkingin conjunction withtheUnionFireOffice, wasparticularly activein enforcingboththe 1707and 1708Actswhichwereto remainin force,withminoramendments, untilthenineteenthcentury.In 1716ajointadvertisement by thesetwocompanies statedthat: TheDirectors oftheHandinHandOfficeforhousesandoftheUnionOfficeforgoodsdo givenoticethat,indischarge ofthetrustreposed inthem,theythinkthemselves obliged to prosecute allsuchchurchwardens andothersconcerned ashavenotprovided andkeptfitfor useengines, firecocks,plugsetc.pursuant to theActsofthe6thand7thReignofherlate Majesty QueenAnne,forthebetterpreventing mischief’s happening byfire;andwillgiveall encouragement tosuchpersons whoshalldiscover anydefaulters therein. TheUnion,referringbackto previously publishedadvertisements likethatabove,in 1719 promisedto paya rewardof40sto anyoneprosecuting churchwardens whoneglectedtheir

dutyinrespect oftheActs.Thefollowing yeartheyannounced intheDailyCourant that

theyhadjustpaidarewardof40stoWilliamSmithforhisprosecution ofthechurchwardens ofStJohnBaptistandStAntholinswhohaddefaultedundertheActs,andtheyreaffirmed thattheywerestillwillingto offera rewardto anypersonprosecuting churchwardens. The HandinHandcontinuedthispracticeofencouraging individuals to bringprosecutions and, followinga fairlylargefirenearLondonBridgein 1725,theytookan evenmoreactive part,whentheyinstructedtwoof theirstaffto go to the parishesadjoiningthe sceneof the fireandcheckon the provisions of firefighting equipment,fireplugsandstopcocks, andreportthe situationto the company. Fromthenon the company’s minutesregularly noteresolutions to prosecutealldefaultersandrecordthatmembersof staffweresentto inspectfacilities in variousparishes. Asa reminderoftheirdutythe companyhadextracts fromtheActprintedandcirculatedto allchurchwardens in Londonin 1730,andrepeated the exerciseagaintwo yearslater;most companieshad a similarattitudeconcerning churchwardens andthe 1707Act. TheActsof QueenAnneexcludedthe provinces, andso the townandparishcouncils hadno legalobligation to providefireenginesandotherequipment, althoughmostpassed theirownregulations concerning theirprovision, 1nsomecasesproviding considerably better facilities thantheLondonchurchwardens. Thebuildingregulations passedin 1708werealso ofinterestto theinsurance companies, sincebuildings whichwererelatively fireproof werea goodriskto insureandhelpedtopreventfirespreading. In 1719theUnionFireOffice,again actingwiththeHandin HandFireOffice,decidedto prosecute theownerofa timber-built dwellinghouseandworkshoperectedin Blackfriars whichdidnotconformto thebuilding regulations, sincetheyregardedit asa dangerto severalnearbytimberyardswhichwere insuredwiththeUnion. Overtheyearsvariouscompanies continued toprosecute ownersofpropertywhichflouted thebuildingregulations, forexample, the Handin Handundertookan investigation in the citiesofLondonandWestminster in 1733to uncoverbreachesoftheActswhichconcerned thestorageofgunpowder, andtheyresolvedto prosecuteanyoffenders. Anotherpartofthe 1708Building Actrelatedto servants settinghouseson firethroughcarelessness, andin 1765 theUnionFireOfficehadpartoftheActprintedon a sheetandsenta copyoutwitheach

A SocialResponsibility

33

A beadletakestheparishengineto a firein orderto claima rewardforbeingamongthefirstthreeto arrive.Theyoftenfailedto maintainfirefighting equipmentor markfireplugsastheywererequired to dobylaw,andtheinsurancecompanies sometimes prosecuted themforfailingto fulfiltheirduty.A drawingbyW.H.Pyne,1805.

insurance policysuggesting it washungupin thekitchenor servants’ hall.Othercompanies continuedto printanddistributethisextractor itslaterslightlyamendedversionuntilwell intothenineteenthcentury. Thisstatesthat: Whereas FireoftenhappenbytheNegligence andCarelessness ofServants, beit therefore enacted,

Thatif anyMenial,or otherSERVANT or SERVANTS, throughNEGLIGENCE or CARELESSNESS, shallfire,or causeto be fired,anyDwelling-house or Outhouse, or Housesor otherBuildings, withinthe Kingdomof GreatBritain,suchServantor Servants, beingthereoflawfully convicted bytheOathofOneor morecredible Witness orWitnesses, madebeforeTwoormoreofHisMajesty’s Justices ofthePeace,shallforfeit andpaythesumofONEHUNDREDPOUNDSuntotheChurchwardens orOverseers ofsuchParishwheresuchFireshallhappen;to be distributed amongstthesufferers by suchFire,in suchProportions asto thesaidChurchwardens shallseemjust:Andin case ofDefaultorRefusalto paythesameimmediately aftersuchconviction, thesamebeing lawfully demanded bythesaidChurchwardens, thatthen,andin suchcase,suchServant or Servants shall,byWarrantundertheHandsandSealsofTwoor moreofHisMajesty's Justicesof the Peace,be committedto the COMMON GAOL,or Houseof Correction,

asthesaidJusticesthinkfit,forthespaceofEIGHTEEN MONTHS, thereto bekeptto hardLabour. **Youarerequested tocausetheabove(Extract fromthe BuildingAct,14thGeo III.c.78-84)

tobeaffixed insomeconspicuous Place,in ViewofyourServants. Companygaveten guineasto the cityof Hulltowardsitsapplication ThePhoenixAssurance centurytheAtlas a firewatch,whilein the mid-nineteenth for establishing to Parliament Railway. Gravesend o f the support in Companyjoinedin petitioningParliament Assurance andengines f romthe obviously t houghtit mightbe of usefortransporting f iremen They

Insurance FireBrigades 1680-1929

34

OLDBATH FIRE-OFFIC

DS

SHER

RHE om

OHO

OSUU

ABSTRACT of the Claufein the A&of Parliamentof the : SixthYearof QueenANN,withRefpeél to SERVANTS33

carelefsly feltingFiretoHoufes.

Ww.

i:

Fires often happen by the :

Negligence and Careleffnefs of Servants;#

therefore,if any menialor other Servantor Ser- 3

vants,throughNegligence, orCareleffnefs, fhall£

fire,or caufeto be fired,anyDwelling-Houfe, # Out-Houle,or Houfes,fuchServantor Servants4

being thereoflawfullyconvicted,by the

Oath of one or more credibleWitneffes,made before two or more Justicesof the Peace,fhall #

forfeitandpaytheSumof ONEHUNDRED

POUNDS to theChurchwardens of fuchParifh wherefuchFirefhallhappen,to bedeftributed % amongtheSufferers byfuchFire,in fuchPro-%

portions astothefaidChurchwardens fhallfeem juft:andin Cafeof Defaultor Refufal topay the fameimmediatelyafterfuchConviction,the

famebeinglawfullydemandedby the faid thatthen,andin fuchCafe,fuch Churchwardens, Servantor Servantsfhall,by Warrantunderthe

Hand of twoor more Jufticesof the Peace, be i committed to fome Workhoufe,or Houle of 3: -

Correétion,as the faidJufticesfhallthinkfit, for the Spaceof E1cureenMonrus,thereto bekept to hardLabour.

“* «*

. * ~ * * ** »*

(ar Youare defiredto put this up in fomepublic Partof the Houne. MNAZSARL, PRINTER.

CHEAPSSTREET.

Extractfromthe 1707FireActwhichmanyinsurancecompanies hadprintedanddistributedto their policyholders. Thesewereto be displayed in thekitchenor servantsquartersto remindthemofthe penaltiesofsettingfireto buildings(iftheycouldread!),buthowmanyservantscouldpaya fineof 4,100?Thesewereproducedup to themid-nineteenth century.

A SocialResponsibility

as

to havefires,oftenona largescale.Duringtheeighteenth cityto an areaknownfrequently for moneyfrom receivedapplications andnineteenthcenturiesthe fireinsurancecompanies whohadinventeditemswhichtheyconsidered wouldbe of interestto them. individuals Oneof theearliestrecordsof an inventionbeingofferedto a company(thewrongcompany asit turnedout!),is foundin the recordsoftheUnionFireOfficedated1719whena person andusefulto allthe offeredto them‘asecretwhichhe thinkswillbe veryadvantageous

which,when ofminerals a mixture Thesecretwasapparently oftheFireOffices’. Societies

withplainwater, flamesmuchfasterthanwaspossible extinguished addedto water,supposedly thecompanydecidedthatsinceit didnot involveitselfwith butafteramonth’sconsideration it wouldnot‘invest’ in theformula. firefighting thatEdward theUniondidnotturnawayallinventors, asin 1774they“Ordered However,

thelives havea gratuity of£1 1sodforproducing hismachine thebettertopreserve Beavess someformofescape, ofpersons andtheireffects whenafirehappens’. Thiswaspresumably mayhaveinfluenced thecompanyfavourably. In theearlynineteenth andthesavingof‘effects’ Corporation paidvarioussmallsumsofmoneytoJohnDavis centurytheLondonAssurance firesanda forinventingandbuildinga newfireescape,a deviceto helpin extinguishing

theynotonly theBoard, whichsoimpressed of fireengines, to securethewheels linchpin firebythecompany’s be adopted thatit should butrecommended votedhimfiveguineas inventors forsumsofmoneyfromhopeful requests received Mostcompanies enginemaker. Fireofficersof and,in manycases,feltit worthwhileto givethemsomeencouragement. theythought to inventions subscribed to have brigadesalsoseemoccasionally the insurance Hisname Hawkins. W illiam Foreman Company Assurance Phoenix asdidthe worthwhile, of to a bookletpublishedin 1786fora PlanandDescription appearson thelistof subscribers

whichwasinvented FireandHouse-Breaking, against toactasa Preservative calculated a Machine

systemof cordswhichwere consistedof a complicated byWilliamHamlet.The‘machine’ windowsand doors,which,when stretchedor connectedto or ran alongsidefireplaces, severedbyfire,wouldsetalarmbellsringingsothathelpwouldbe summoned. processes, the useofsaferindustrial encouraged Inmorerecenttimesinsurancecompanies a safer published Assurance theLondon farbackas1756, As butthisisnota newdevelopment.

over,andthiswasmade ofitboiling thedanger pitchandtarwhichavoided ofboiling method

An insurancecompanywasalsoinstrumental to anyone,notjust itspolicyholders. available in theproductionofthefirstdetailedmapofLondon,whichincludedthe numberofevery Thismap,at a scaleof26into the houseandbuildingthenstandinginthe cityanditssuburbs. andfromthemiddleofHyde toKennington mile,coveredanareafromHighburysouthwards

workon Hestarted Horwood. andwasmadebyRichard to theIsleofDogs, Parkeastwards

includingKingGeorgeIII,he it in 1792,butby 1798,despitesupportfrommanysubscribers the Phoenix Tohelphimout andpublishing. ranout of moneyto completetheengraving engraved. already thesixplates of thesecurity on CompanylentHorwood£500 Assurance for gratitude his show andto was published, the fullwork when in 1799 the loan He repaid he inscribedthe map: thehelpgivento himbythecompany,

TotheTrustees andDirectors ofthePhoenix Fire-Office. ThisworkisMostRespectfully Dedicated byTheirmuchObligedObedient Humble Servant,R. Horwood.

Mr (nowOslo)inNorway, CompanyatChristiania Assurance In 1835theagentoftheAlliance would t hathe o f thecompany theDirectors a ndinformed a fireescape invented Thomason, himfromcoming, it.TheBoardtriedto discourage liketo cometo Englandto demonstrate ofhisescape buthe arrivedafewmonthslaterandsotheyhelpedhimarrangedemonstrations to buyonefor theirownbrigade,asit waslikelyto bringtheinventionto andalsoresolved somewerefound intothecauseof fireswerecompleted, publicnotice.Wheninvestigations

30

Insurance FireBrigades 1680-1929

to havebeenstarteddeliberately, andso the insurancecompanies naturallydideverything theycouldto discourage thisandbringthearsonists tojustice.Rewardswereofferedforthe apprehension andconviction ofthoseresponsible, anddetailspublished inthenewspapers. For instancetheDailyCourant of8April1720carriedthefollowing advertisement: HandinHandFireOffice. TheDirectors havingreceived information thatthelatedreadful FireatStCatharine’s was occasioned bythesolenotorious carelessness ofoneJohnHilliar, thenservant toHumphrey Parsons, Esq.,doherebypromise a rewardof10Guineas toanypersonorpersons whoshall discover andsecure JohnHilliar, soashebeconvicted ofthesaidcrime,tobepaidbytheir ClerkattheirOfficeonSnowHill;towhichplaceallpersons aredesired torepairwhohave anydemand upontheOfficeontheaccount ofthesaidFire,andhavenotalready madetheir Claims andreceived satisfaction fortheirLosses. In 1722theSunwasofferinga rewardof£50 to anyonereportingarsonists, andby1726they hadraisedthe rewardto £100,althoughno referencehasbeenfoundof thisrewardbeing paid,butthecompanies wouldpaythecostsofanyoneprosecuting anarsonist. TheSundid thisin 1770whentheypaid£100to the churchwardens of St ClementDanestowardsthe expenses ofprosecuting JamesGrieve,a pawnbroker, forarson,andothersumswerepaidout occasionally towardssuchprosecutions. At the beginningof the nineteenthcenturythree companies jointlyissuedthefollowing noticeto theirpolicyholders: ONE HUNDREDPOUNDSREWARD London, June 24,1802

AsthereisReasontosuspect thatmanyFires havebeenoccasioned bythewilfulAttempts of evil-minded Persons, theGovernor andCompany oftheRoyal-Exchange Assurance, theManagers of the SunFire-Office,andthe Directorsof

PhoenixFire-Office, doherebyoffera REWARD of OneHundredPounds TobepaidontheConviction ofanyPerson, who shall,withintheTermof OneYearfromthe Date

hereof,havewilfully andmaliciously beenthe Occasion ofanyFire,whichshallhavehappened inanyPartofGREATBRITAIN. Thisrewardwillbepaidbyeitherofthe

saidOffices,overandaboveall Parliamentary, Parochial,or anyother, Rewardswhatever.

BytheActofthe9thofGEORGEI.Chap.22,it is enacted That,ifanyPersonorPersons shall wilfully andmaliciously setFiretoanyHOUSE, BARN, or OUT-HOUSE, or to any HOVEL, COCK, MOW, or STACK

ofCORN,STRAW, HAYorWOOD,theyshallbeadjudged guiltyofFELONY, andshallsufferDEATHwithout BenefitofClergy.

A SocialResponsibility

37

In theperiod1830-50therewasa lot ofsocialunrestin ruralareasdueto theintroduction

ofagricultural machinery puttingmanylabourers outofwork.In1850 theSunpublished a

circularconcerning incendiarism whichit distributed to itsagentsinBedfordshire, Berkshire, Cambridgeshire,Essex, Hertfordshire,Huntingdonshire,Norfolk, Northamptonshire and

Suffolk. The companies tookan interestin the outcomeof the trialsof arsonists, andthe recordsof the SunforAugust1790showthattheypaid£10 7stowardsthe expensesof prosecuting a ‘ladwhosetFiretoMr.Garland’s Houseandwasfoundguiltyandconvicted to

beleftforexecution’ Thesamecompany records alsonotethatinAugust 1850, Charles Swyer hadbeensentencedto sevenyears’transportation forsettingfireto farmingstockofMrE. Head ofThorncombein Dorset,which wasinsuredwith them.

Oneoftheproblems theinsurance brigadeshadduringandimmediately following afire waspeoplepilferingitems,andit wasnot unknownfor someindividuals to assistin the

removal ofendangered goodsandthenjustcarrythemoff!TheSunpaidRogerEvans, a

linendraperofWapping, £30 16stowardstheexpenses heincurredinbringingaprosecution againstJohnandElizabeth Astile,andJohnMosely, whohadstolengoodsfromhimduring a firein November1782.In LondontheBowStreetRunnersattendedmanyfiresandtried to preventlooting,andminutesof the Sundated29April1790notea paymentof eight guineasto theofficersofBowStreettowardstheirexpenses in issuinghandbillsconcerning

plundering whichoccurred atafireinOxford Road.FromthenontheSunmadea donation oftwelve guineas totheBowStreetRunners everyyearuntilabout1808 whenitwasreduced to six,andthiscontinuedto bepaidannuallyuntilabout1822. Thecontributions ofequipment, or moneytowardsitspurchase, continuedthroughout the nineteenthcentury, althoughafter1850it becomerareforfireenginesto be donated,andthe companies normally provided onlya smallpieceofequipment suchasa hoseor contributed a

proportion ofthecostoflarger items. Sometimes theactual money waswithheld untiltherest

wasraisedorothercompanies agreedtomakeupthebalance. Duringthenineteenth centurythe insurance companies alsobeganto contribute towards thecostofrepairsto equipment, usually fireengines, butoftenwitha conditionattached. Forexample, theSungave£5 towards repairs offireenginesatWooten-under-Edge in 1854, provided theinhabitants paidforitsmaintenance themselves. Towards theendofthe nineteenthcentury, withtheestablishment ofmanylocal volunteer firebrigades, thecompanies beganto subscribe moneytowardsthebuildingofnew enginehousesandproviding uniformsforthesevolunteerfiremen, andtheyalsohelpedwith therunningcosts,butthiswasusuallyconditional on no chargebeingmadeto thecompany by the newbrigadeforputtingout firesin propertyinsuredbythem.A somewhat unusual contribution wasmadebytheSuninAugust1866whentheygave£5 towards theformation of aburialfundforthevolunteer firebrigadeatManchester. Companies might,onoccasion, even makedonations to individuals whoowned afire engine,usually foruseata factory, sincethese wouldoftenbeusedto fightfiresininsuredpropertyoutsidetheindustrial premises.

THE COST OF FIREFIGHTING By maintaining their own firebrigadesthe insurancecompaniestook a directrole in firefighting, andthiscostthemagreatdealofmoney, andeventually itbecamemorethanthey felttheycouldor shouldbear.Duringthesecondhalfofthenineteenthcenturytheybegan to withdrawfromfightingfiresthemselves, andhandedtheresponsibility overto government andmunicipal authorities, or volunteerbrigades. Theexpenses forfirefighting fellintotwo maincategories: thoseincurredin maintaining theirownbrigades,andthoseinvolvedin givingdirectsupportto thefirefighting effortsofothers. Lookingat therecordsoftheSunFireOfficesomeideacanbe gainedofhowmuchthis involvement actually cost.Thiscompany maintained itsownbrigadeinLondonfrom1710until 31December1832, whenitjoinedtheLondonFireEngineEstablishment, anamalgamation of

38

Insurance FireBrigades 1680-1929

a numberofinsurance brigades. Theapproximate totalcostofmaintaining theSun’sLondon firebrigadebetween1710and1832canbebrokendownin thefollowing way: [ITEM

COST

Wages: Attendance atfires Wages: Callto alarms Compensation &medicaltreatment

£100,000 £10,000 £1, 100—-1,200

Uniforms Silverbadges

£,23,000—26,000 £,1,200-1,400

Engines: Purchase, repairs,drawingetc. Poleaxesandpreventers

£, 70,000-73,000 £, 450-500

Total

£,205,750—212,100

Between1794and1806thecompanymaintained ajointfirepatrolwithtwoothercompanies (seep.161—2), anenterprise whichcosttheSunabout£16,000,whilefrom1806to 1824they maintained it aloneandthewages,rent,uniforms, coal,candlesandotherincidental expenses ofthepatrolthenincurreda totalrunningcostto theSunduringitsexistenceof£30,000. Thiswasin additionto thetotalrunningcostsoftheirLondonfirebrigadeasshownabove. Therewerealsoexpensesfora widerangeof items,servicesandrewardsconnectedwith firefighting, andtheseareas diverseas annualcontributions to the BowStreetRunners,

payment ofvolunteers topumpthefireengines, andhaving boards madeandpainted toput onthefiremen’s houses sotheycouldbequickly identified. Therewerealsopayments totheir

firemenforinjuriesreceived, pensionsandgiftsor pensionsto the widowsof firemenand porters.Between1833and1865theSunpaidatleast£95,000towardstherunningcostsofthe LondonFireEngineEstablishment andfurthersumsfromtimeto timeonspecialitemssuch asa contribution towardsa newfloatingfireengineor purchaseoftheleaseofa firestation. Thesecondcategoryof expenses arosefromthe directencouragement of othersto fight fires,andthiswasexpressed ingiftsofequipment suchaspreventers, hoseandoccasionally fire engines.Themostcommonpieceoffirefighting equipment to bedistributed bytheSunwas the firebucket,andmoredetailsof thesecanbe foundin ChapterTen.However,between1730

and1832theyorderedapproximately 14,000buckets, anddistributed about10,000tovarious partsofthecountry,therestbeingusedbytheirbrigades, whichcostthembetween£700-

£800,andallthesenumerous itemshavetobeaddedtothedirectcostsoffirefighting by

thecompany. Thewillingness ofaninsurance companyto investmoneyin directfirefighting wasdetermined bytheamountofbusiness in theareato whichtheydonatedequipmentor money. TheSunallowedanaverageof 3percentoftheirpremiumincometo be spenton direct firefighting, a figurewhichwasonlyexceededduringtheperiodinwhichtheymaintained a firepatrol.Intheyearthepatrolwassetup,1794,theexpenditure roseto over§percentof premiumincome,andcontinuedto exceed4 percentduringtheperiodthatthepatrolwas maintained asajointventure.However, whenthesharedpatrolagreementwasdissolved in 1806andtheSunranitspatrolalone,thefirefighting expenses againreturnedto 3 percent ofpremiumincome.It wouldthereforeappearthatthe Sunallocateda specificamountof premiumincometo firefighting andonlyexceededthiswhenmaintaining afire patrolinthe hopeof significantly reducingtheirlossratio,a hopewhichwasprobablynotjustified.It is likelythatotherinsurancecompanies hada similarsetlimitto theamountofmoneymade available forfirefighting.

CHAPTER FOUR

THEINSURANCE COMPANY BRIGADES

The earliestfireinsurancebrigadewasformedby the firstfireinsurancecompany, the

Fire Office,in 1680,the year of its foundation,but within a few yearstwo rival insurance

companies hadbeenestablished, bothof whichalsoestablished firebrigades.Sofromthe

veryfirstdaysoffireinsurance afirebrigade wasseenasanasset, because having a bandof

mentrainedandequippedforfirefighting couldpreventor reducethe lossthe insurance companymightsufferif its insuredpropertywasinvolvedin a fire.One of the first advertisements bytheFireOffice,published in 1680,presentsthereasonswhypeopleshould insuretheirhousesfromlossbyfire,andstatedthatthecompanymaintained a bandofmen fire.NicholasBarbon, andpreventing in extinguishing whowereproficientandexperienced

a of maintaining thenwenton to pointouttheadvantages thefounderof thecompany,

trainedfirebrigadebyaskingpeopleto comparethemwith‘oldandexperienced soldiers’ asagainst‘rawandunexperienced men’.Thisfirstfireinsurancebrigadeisbelievedto have beensuppliedwithsomesortof uniformanda distinguishing badgefromtheirveryfirst days. In 1690,ThomasDeLaunepublished a neweditionofhisbookAngliae Metropolis or The Present StateofLondon, inwhichhementionsthe‘Insurance OfficeforHouses’, analternative namefortheFireOffice,andsaysthatsometenyearsafteritsfoundation it hadinsuredmore than 7,300houses;and afterdiscussingits ratesof insuranceand the amount of its funds,goes

onto statethat:

Theyhavea greatmanyServants inliverywithbadges, whoarewatermen, andotherlusty persons dwelling inseveral partsoftheCity,whoarealways tobereadywhenanysudden fireshappen, whichareverylaborious inanddextrous atquenching, notsticking incasesof necessity toexposethemselves toverygreathazards intheirattempts. DanielDefoementionsthe then existinginsurancecompaniesin his EssayuponProjects a setoflusty in 1697,‘OnebenefitI cannotomit,thatif anyfirehappentheyhave published veryactiveanddiligentin helpingputoutfire’In 1698theold watermen, generally fellows, of a servantdrying royalpalaceofWhitehallhada firewhichwascausedbythe carelessness in the linenin frontof an open grate,whichcaughtfire and soonspreadto furnishings to sent theirbrigades room,beforequicklygettingout of control.Theinsurancecompanies in r esulting them, beyond proved it but combatthefire,althoughthepalacewasnotinsured, t o b elonging houses nearby 150 thelossof and palace o f the almostthecompletedestruction including o f people a number of deaths the caused It also and nobility. court o fthe members andifsothis a watermanwhowashelpingto fightthefire.He wasalmostcertainlya fireman, istheearliestsurviving recordofthedeathofaninsurance fireman.

40

Insurance FireBrigades 1680—1929 ange

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Receiptissuedin 1890for£4 10s6dforpaymentreceivedbythejointfirebrigadeoftheSalopFire OfficeandShropshire &NorthWalesAssurance CompanyfromtheAlliance Assurance Company forputtingouta firein a buildinginsuredwiththeAlliance.TheAlliancewasto takeoverboth companies laterthatyear,andthebrigade,basedin Shrewsbury, Shropshire, wasrenamedtheAlliance CompanyFireBrigade,andwasdisbanded in 1918.

Formanyyearsit hasbeena commonbeliefthatinsurance firebrigadeswouldonlyfight firesinpropertyinsuredbytheirowncompany, butit isquiteclearthatfromthefirstdaysof theirexistence, evenwhentherewereonlythreeinsurance brigades, theywererequiredby theircompanies toattendallfiresandendeavour toputthemout.Sincebydoingsotheygave a goodimpression to bystanders andsomight,indirectly, generatenewbusiness, especially ifa particular company’s brigadewasfirstonthesceneorparticularly efficientin extinguishing a fire.Theyhadreciprocal arrangements forreimbursing abrigadeputtingouta fireinproperty insuredbyanothercompany, buton thesceneofa fireit wasnot alwaysclearif a property

wasinsured andwithwhichcompany, orwhether itwasinsured atall.

It didnotmakesenseto leavea firein uninsured propertyto burnsinceit couldendanger or destroyinsuredpropertyandbe so muchmoredifficultto dealwith,althoughinsured buildings werealmostalwaysgivenpriority.Manycompanies, untilwellintothenineteenth century, placeda metalbadge,knownasa firemark,onbuildings to showit wasinsured,but thesequicklybecamesimplya formof advertising anddidnot necessarily indicatethata policywasstillin force.

TheInsurance Company Brigades

Al

CopperfiremarkoftheProtectorFireInsuranceCompany(23x 19cm),datingto 1825-35, designed byRobertSmirkeR.A.,whoalsodesignedthecompany’s policyheadingsandthebadgesforits firemen.Onlythreecompanies featuredfiremenon theirfiremarks,theothersbeingtheBristol Universal FireOffice(1774-78) andtheBirmingham FireOffice(1805-67).

Thisconceptof fightingallfiresis clearlyembodiedin a minuteof theWestminster Fire

Officedated1718,whichstates, ‘ThattheWatermendo repairto allfiresthat shallcometo their

knowledge, andgivethebestoftheirassistance to extinguish thesame’TheUnionFireOffice to theirporters(theydidnot fightfiresuntiltheyformeda brigadein alsogaveinstructions whathouseswereon 1806)thatonhearinganalarmtheywereto makeinquiriesto discover fireor endangered andto removegoodsfromthem.Theygavepriorityto insuredproperties, but if thereprovedto be no insurancetheywereto offertheirservicesto thepeoplemost andto hirecartsto quicklyremovethegoodsto suchplacesofsafetyastheirowners exposed, directed,soprovidinga goodpracticaldemonstration of the advantage of havinginsurance. Thispracticeofhelpingallaffected byfirewasa generalruleamongtheinsurance companies, whetherit waswiththeir althoughthe brigadesweremostinterestedin insuredproperty, owncompanyor another. Thecompanies feltit necessary to occasionally advertise this,asdid theAlbionInsuranceCompanyin 1809,whentheyissueda noticepointingout whythey considered it unnecessary to putfiremarksonbuildings, andwhichwentonto state:

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Insurance FireBrigades 1680—1929

Thatthecompany truststhatitsconductandcharacter aresufficiently popularto remove thenecessity ofanysuchspecies ofadvertisement; andasthefiremenoftheCompany are enjoined torendertheutmostassistance toallwhoneedit... Thepossession ofafirebrigadewasalsoanincentive togetpeopletoinsurewiththecompany since,in theeventofa fire,theycouldexpectthehelpofthesemento savetheirpropertyand goods,although, strictlyspeaking, thesavingofliveswasofsecondary importance. TheRoyal Exchange Assurance hadalreadyorganised, ‘several enginesand56firemen— viz., 14watermen to worktheengines,21otherwatermenprovidedwithproperinstruments to extinguish fires, andalso21portershavingpropermaterials forremovinggoods...,beforetheywereofficially grantedachartertoenablethemtoundertake fireinsurance. Thisenabledthemtoadvertise the possession ofa firebrigadein theirfirstadvertisement forfireinsurance in May1721. Theinsurance brigadeswerewellequippedandoftensuppliedwiththelatestfirefighting equipment, inmarkedcontrasttothatsupplied bymunicipal authorities andtheparishes which

was,inmanycases, yearsoutofdateandpoorlymaintained. Thefirstinsurance firebrigades

wereformedin London,andthesealways remainedthemostprestigious, atleastasfarasthe Londoninsurance companies wereconcerned. Insurance brigadeswerealsomorenumerous in Londonthanothercitiesowingto thefactthatsomeofthemostexpensive insuredproperty wassituatedthere,andit wasby farthelargestcityin Britain.Althoughthe rebuiltcityof Londonhadlessconstructional hazardsthanbeforetheGreatFireof 1666,thanksto thepostfirebuildingregulations whichcontrolled boththe designofhouseandthematerials which couldbeusedintheirconstruction, it wasstilldenselyoccupied. Outsidetheareaburntinthe GreatFiremanyancienthousesbuiltoftimberstillremained andsurvived intotheeighteenth andnineteenthcenturies, despitethefactthatdomesticlightingwasbycandlesor oillamps, andlatergas,whileheatingandcookingwerecarriedouton openfires. Therewaslittleor‘nocontrolon thestorageofdangerous goodsandhazardous tradessuch asbakers,potters,candlemakersandsoon,andscattered throughoutLondonwerea variety ofsmallindustrial premises; whilethebanksoftheriverThameswerepackedwithwarehouses

containing alargevariety offlammable materials. Theriskoffire,andtherefore largelosses tothe

insurance companies, wasveryhigh,whichexplains why,by1808,therewereoverfiftyinsurance companyfireenginesin London,allwellmaintained andoperatedbytrainedandexperienced men.The insurancecompanies duringthe eighteenthandnineteenthcenturiesoftenmade up theshortcomings ofparishandmunicipal brigadesbothin andoutsideLondon,byeither donatingequipment orgivingmoneyto improve theirfacilities orkeepthemrunning,butonly iftheythoughttheamountofbusiness orpotentialbusiness in theareajustifiedit. The fireinsurancebrigadecouldconsistof part-timeor full-timefiremen,or a mixture of both,andwouldbe providedwith uniforms,firefighting equipmentand a fireengine housebyonecompany. Themenwouldbe subjectto therulesofconductlaiddownbythe company(seeAppendices 3-5),andwouldbepaidforattendance atfires,andsometimes also paidaretainingfee.A firebrigadesupportedbyinsurance companies wouldusuallyonlyhave part-timefiremen,anditsuniforms,andequipmentwouldbe suppliedbyseveralinsurance companies to whichit hadappliedforhelp,whilesomeof itsfundswouldalsocomefrom the parish,localauthorityor voluntarydonations.It wouldfollowruleslaiddownby the parishor towncouncil,althoughaninsurancecompanycontributing a lot to sucha brigade regardeditselfashavingthe rightto havea sayin howit wasorganisedandrun.If a local authoritydidhaveaneffective firefighting force,andtherewereseveralinBritainwhodidin thelateeighteenthandearlynineteenthcentury,thentheinsurance companies werereluctant to contributeto theirmaintenance, andmightevenwithdrawtheirownbrigadeifamunicipal onebecamereallyefficient, astheydidinManchester in 1832. Thishadtheunfortunate effect ofdiscouraging manyparishandlocalauthorities fromimproving theirfirefighting provision asit wouldcostthemmoney,andmostconsidered it thedutyoffireinsurance companies to providefirebrigades.

TheInsurance Company Brigades

43

Thebeadle arrives withtheparishfireengine. Mostpeopleplaced littlereliance ontheusefulness oftheparishenginesandcalledtheinsurancebrigadesfirst.NotetheSunfiremarkon thewall.A

cartoon byGeorge Cruickshank. Oneofthefactorswhichcausedtheinsurancecompanies considerable annoyance at fires wastheroleoftheparishfireengines,particularly in London,wherethe 1707FireActwas meantto ensurethateachparishnotonlyhadto possess a fireenginebutkeepit in working order.However, despitethis,manyoftheparishengineswerenotadequately lookedafter,and theinsurancecompanies wouldsometimes prosecutechurchwardens, or encourage othersto doso,whodidnotcarryouttheirresponsibilities. The 1707Actpaida rewardto anyparishenginewhicharrivedat the sceneof a fire first,secondor third.This provedto be gallingto the insurancecompanieswho had

44

Insurance FireBrigades 1680—1929

efficient,well-maintained,modern fire engines,but which were in many casesbeaten to

the sceneof the fireby localparishengineswhichwereoldfashionedandancient,even in the earlyeighteenthcentury,andin manycasesweresobadlymaintainedthattheydid notworkatall!However, theywerestillableto claimtherewardforbeingoneofthefirst threefireenginesto arrive.Formanyyearsthe parishenginescontinuedto turn out to

firesbutoftenjustgotinthewayandcaused confusion. In 1708theActwasextended (7

Anne,c.17)sotherewardcouldbe claimedbyanyfireenginesotheinsurancecompanies werenoweligibleforthereward.Thiscontinuedto bepaidin Londonuntilwellintothe nineteenthcentury. Someparishfireenginesduringthenineteenthcenturywerein thechargeofwomenor evenchildren, andoneenginewasfoundto havebeenbrickedupbehinda blacksmith’s shop sothatif it hadbeenneededit wouldhavebeennecessary to demolishpartof thewall.In Birmingham in theearlynineteenthcenturytheparishengineevenbecamealocalspectacle. Atthattimethereweretwoinsurance companybrigadesin thattown,butthemunicipal fire enginewasthenabout100yearsoldandin the chargeof a streetscavenger namedDester. Whenthefirealarmwassoundedtheinsurance brigadeengineswouldraceeachotherdown NewStreetanddisappear intothedistance, butthe crowdsliningthe streetwouldwaitfor

another twentyminutes orsobeforethecrywentup,‘HerecomesDester!’, anditwassaid thathe nevergotto thesceneofa firein timeto actuallygethisengineworking! Thestate ofmanyparishenginesandtheirperformance, witha fewrareexceptions, wasdescribedby CharlesDickensin Sketches byBoz,published in 1836: Theengineisunderthecontroloftheparishbeadle, whosegravity hasneverbeendisturbed inanycasethathascomeunderourobservation, exceptwhentheservices ofthatparticularly usefulmachine, a parishfire-engine, arerequired: thenindeedallisbustle. Twolittleboys runto thebeadleasfastastheirlegswillcarrythemandreportfromtheirownpersonal observation thatsomeneighbouring chimney isonfire;theengineishastilygotout,anda plentiful supplyofboysbeingobtained, andharnessed toit withropes,awaytheyrattleover thepavement, thebeadlerunning—wedonotexaggerate —runningattheside,untilthey arriveatsomehouse,smelling strongly ofsoot,atthedoorofwhichthebeadleknockswith considerable gravityforhalf-an-hour. Noattention beingpaidtothesemanualapplications, andtheturncockhavingturnedon thewater,theengineturnsoffadmidst theshoutsoftheboys;it pullsuponcemoreatthe workhouse, andthebeadle‘pullsup’theunfortunate householder nextdayfortheamountof hislegalreward. Weneversawaparishengineataregularfirebutonce.Itcameupingallant style—threemilesandahalfinanhouratleast;therewasacapital supplyofwater,anditwas firstonthespot.Bangwentthepumps—thepeoplecheered —thebeadleperspired profusely; butit wasunfortunately discovered, justastheyweregoingtoputthefireout,thatnobody understood theprocess bywhichboysanda manhadexhausted themselves inpumping for twentyminutes, withoutproducing theslightest effect.

Inmanycasesit wasleftto thecompany’s agentto establish a provincial brigade.Forexample theSunFireOffice,on 9January1754,ordered: Thattwodozenbuckets besenttotheagentatManchester fortheuseoftheOffice&that theAgenttheredoappointEightpersons to assistatallFires&Alarms inthattown&that herewardthemfortheirtrouble&labourastheirservicemaymerit. The insurancecompanieswerealwaysvery consciousof the return they weregetting fromtheirbrigades,andwouldreduceor disbandthemif theyconsidered thatthe costof maintaining thembeganto getdisproportionate to theamountofinsuredpropertytheyhad in the area.Localinsurancecompanies, somelimitingthemselves to onlyonetownor city

TheInsurance Company Brigades

45

Afireman andporteroftheSunFireOfficeshownonapolicyheading. Thefireman wearsthe

uniformwornbythebrigadefromabout1730,whiletheporter(Salvage man)isshownwithhis badgewornon a chainwithhissalvage bagon hisshoulder. Alsodepictedisa Newsham-style fire engineanda varietyoffirefighting equipment, includinga cudgelforcrowd control.Versions ofthis sceneappearedon Sunpoliciesfrom1710to the 1930s.

anditsimmediateenvirons,wouldestablish localbrigadeswherethe largercompanies did not considerit worthwhile, or evensubscribeto themunicipalone.In thisway,by thelate eighteenthcentury,therewerequitea lotofinsurance brigadesscatteredaboutthecountry. The companies haddecidedpreferences in the typeof mentheyfavouredfortheirfire brigades.The Londoncompaniesrecruitedfromthe Thameswatermenwho provided a water-taxiserviceto pointsup anddownthe riverandferriedpeoplefromone bank to anotherusingsmallboatsknownaswherries.Therewerelargenumbersof watermen operatingon the Thames,sinceLondonBridgewasthe only crossingpoint until the

eighteenth century. AminuteoftheSundated14May1718records thatit was,‘Ordered ThomasLongfiremanbe dismissed fromthe serviceof thisOfficehavinglosthisemploy asa watermanon theThames.Thismaymeanthatif a watermanlosthisjob he could not continueasa fireman,althoughhe mayhavelosthiswaterman’s licensedueto some misdemeanour whichmeantthe companyno longerwishedto employhim.Thesemen accounts,theywerestrong,generally werepreferredbecause,accordingto contemporary reliableandnot afraidofdanger. Astheywereself-employed, theycouldeasilyleaveto attendthe sceneof a fire,making themidealfor employment aspart-timefiremen;full-timemenwerenot appointeduntil Betweenfaresthewatermencouldbe foundeasily century. towardstheendofthe eighteenth

incommon Company, Assurance ThePhoenix attheriverstepsforpassengers. astheywaited

withthe otherLondoncompanies, employedwatermenandrequired,‘thatallthe firemen belongingto thisofficedohavetheofficeemblemspaintedon theBackboards oftheirBoat attheofficeexpense’ Twoyearslateranotherminuterecords, ‘thattheForemanbe desiredto

46

Insurance FireBrigades 1680-1929

reportonWednesday next,whetherallthemenmakeuseofpaintedBackboards intheirboats agreeable tothecompany’s Directors’ Althoughtherearenorecordsofothercompanies doing this,theymaywellalsohaveutilisedthesefloatingadvertisements. Insurancecompanies outsideLondonalsohaddecidedpreferences asto the typeof men theylikedto employ. TheYorkshire Fire& LifeInsurance Companystatedin 1821thatthey considered, ‘Joiners, Bricklayers etc.werethemostsuitabletypeofpersonfortheirfirebrigade’ ThisviewwasinitiallysharedbyJamesBraidwood, Superintendent oftheLondonFireEngine Establishment who,on takingupthatpost,statedthathepreferredskilledcarpenters, masons andslaterswhichhe hadpreviously employed whenhe commanded a part-timebrigadein Edinburgh. However, helaterdecidedthatforhisnewfull-timeinsurance brigade,ex-seamen

wouldbemoresuitable, ‘astheyaretaughttoobeyorders, andthenightanddaywatches and

theuncertainty oftheoccupation aremoresimilarto theirformerhabitsthanthoseofother menofthesamerankin life’ TheImperialInsurance Company, towardstheendofthenineteenthcentury,preferredto haveinitsprovincial brigades atleasta fewex-artillery men,sincetheirexperience withhorses wasusefulwhenhandlingthehorse-drawn fireengines.Thecompanies alsoinsistedon other qualifications besidesbeinga watermanor in someotherpreferredtrade.The Sunrequired its firemento havenot onlycompletedtheirapprenticeship asa waterman,but to havea minimumheightof sft 7in(1.7m),althoughothercompanies acceptedshortermen.While the Sundidnot specifyage,othercompanies preferredtheirmento be belowthirtyyears old,althoughoncea memberofthebrigadetheycouldservefora longtime.Firemenwere alsoappointedbycompanies in differentways.In May1783the Committeeof thePhoenix Assurance Companydinedat theTorrington Armsto choosetwentyfiremenandsixporters

byinterviewing them,whilein 1808, whentheDirectors oftheAtlas Assurance decided to

establish a firebrigade,thecaptainwasnominated bythepresidentofthecommittee, thetwo engineersbythechairmanandthefiremenbytheremaining Directors. TheDirectorsoftheGuardian Assurance Companyhelda ballotto appointtheirfiremen on30November1821.The positions available wereforaforeman, whowastobeinchargeof thefiremen,a deputyforeman, twelvefiremen,seven‘extrafiremen’, twomessengers andtwo ‘inferiormessengers’ or porters.Piecesofpaper,eachbearingthenameoftheposition,were foldedupandplacedin a glass,andeachDirectordrewoneout,andthenonewasdrawnfor eachabsentmember.EachDirectorcouldthennominatea personforthepositionwhichhe haddrawn,butthiswasnotquiteasrandomasit seemsastheappointments weresubjectto fourconditions: 1. Thattheyshallparadebeforeandpassexamination oftheCourt[ofDirectors]. 2. ThattheCourtshalljudgeoftheirrespective qualification. 3. Thattheresidence ofthefiremenshallbeindifferent partsofLondon. 4. Thattheyshallbeingoodhealth,andthatnooneshallexceedtheageofthirty.

ItwasfurtheragreedthattheDirectorwhorecommended thepersonwhoseappointment was confirmedwasto be responsible forthe silverbadgegivento the fireman.Futurevacancies for firemenwerenominatedby one memberof the committee,eachtakingit in turns alphabetically, theappointment beingsubjectto approval bytherestoftheDirectors. Thepositionoffiremanwasverydesirable, asnotonlydidthemoneytheygotsupplement theirincomeaswatermen,but theyalsogot exemptionfromimpressment into the army andnavy.Oncea manhadbeenappointed,he wasrequiredto supplytworeferences and a bond.Nearlyall the firemenappointedby the LondonAssuranceCorporationchose publicansor vintnersto vouchforthem,whichgivessomeideaof theirsociallife!Bonds

TheInsurance Company Brigades

47

wereusuallyforthe sumof £100,andwereprovidedby eithertwobondsmenor by the manhimselfandtwo‘respectable citizens’whowouldstandsuretyforhis‘goodconduct andfaithfuldischargeofthe trustreposedin him’,asthe EagleInsuranceCompanyput it in 1807.Uniformswerenot supplieduntiltheircharactershadbeenexaminedandbonds drawnup (seeAppendixOne).The firemanthensignedan agreementwiththe company

(seeAppendix Twoforanexample).

Not allapplicants wereconsidered to be suitable,andamongthosewhowerenot even allowedto applyfora vacancyin thebrigadeoftheLondonAssurance Corporationin 1750 wasRichard Birth,Junior,whosefatherwasalreadya fireman.RichardJr wasinformedthat the‘Corporation wouldnotgivetwocoatsinthesamefamily, andthereforehemustwaituntil hisfatherwasdead.’However, Richard Birth,Jr,neverdidmanagetojoin thebrigadeashis

fatherremained amember ofthecompany brigade foranother thirty-three years! However,

othercompanies hadnoobjectiontomembersofthesamefamilyservingintheirbrigade,and in manycasesbeinga memberofaninsurancebrigadebecamea familytradition.Oncethe firemanhadbeenofficially appointed, thecompanyclerkwouldregisterhisnameandother detailsattheAdmiralty, sinceunderanActof 1707(6Anne,c.58)upto thirtyfiremenofeach company wereexemptfromimpressment, whichclearlyshowsthehighesteeminwhichthese

menwereheld.The relevant partoftheActreads:

Andwhereas theseveral Insurance Officesforinsuringhousesagainst lossbyfire,retainin theirseveral Services, andgiveCoatsandBadgesuntowatermen forserviceandassistance in extinguishing offires,whoarealways readyata call,andareprovided withvarioussorts of Poles,Hooks,HatchetsandseveralotherInstrumentsandThings,at the chargeof the said

respective Insurance Offices, fortheExtinguishing of Fires;whichWatermen byCustom andSkillventuremuchfurther,andgivegreaterhelpthananyotherPersonsnotusedto comeintoDanger;Andwhereasit hathbeenfoundby frequentExperience, thatsuch Watermen areofgreatUseandservicewhenever anyfirehappens; beit furtherenactedby theAuthority aforesaid, Thatthewatermen fortheTimebeingbelonging toeachinsurance office,withinthe Citiesof LondonandWestminster, andlimitsthereof,not exceedingthirty

foreachOffice, shallbefreefrombeingimpressed, orliabletobecompelled togotoSeaor ServeasMarines, or asSoldiers atLand,theirNamesandPlacesofAbodebeingregistered andenteredwiththeSecretary orotherOfficeroftheAdmiralty Office. It wasthefiremenapproaching theirDirectorswhichledto the Handin HandFireOffice andtwoothercompanies meeting,in February1707,tojointlypetitionParliament forthe inclusionofanexemptionclauseforfiremen.Following thepassingoftheActeachfireman wasgivenan exemptioncertificateto showhe wasregisteredat theAdmiralty. The exact wordingof thesedocuments, oftenreferredto by thefiremenas‘protectors’, variedslightly betweencompanies, butwasbroadlysimilarto thatusedbytheKentFireInsurance Company in theearlynineteenthcentury: KENTFIREINSURANCEPRINCIPALOFFICE.

Thisisthecertify—To allPressMasters, Constables andOthers, ThattheBearer................+4 pivenSPRcies ceilcg IN iaconpacvcicrn veRUBU PUCSOTE TRIE BEarcsciccorinernmncmrcmieomndans aWaterman, hasbeenappointed aFireman totheKentFireInsurance Company andthatthe CUATRUS OPCNI cere tees isRegistered intheBooksoftheLordsCommissioners of theAdmiralty, forthe purposeof ProtectionagainstbeingImpressed, or liableto be compelled togotoSea,ortoserveasa Marine, orasaSoldieronland,pursuant totheActs ofParliament. ByOrderoftheBoardofDirectors.

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Insurance FireBrigades 1680-1929

TherecordsoftheSunshowthatin 1726thenewlyelectedfiremenhadto paythecompany solicitor10s6dfor makingout theirsecuritybondsand‘protectors’. Thisexemptionfrom impressment wasoneofthereasonswhythepositionoffiremanwassopopular,butonlyup to thirtyfiremenfromeachcompanygotthisprotection, soanymembersabovethisnumber presumably hadtotaketheirchanceswiththepressgangslikeanyothermemberofthepublic. Themenwererequiredto carrytheir‘protectors’ withthemat alltimes,asisclearfromthe Instructions forFiremen, issuedbytheLondonAssurance: TheFiremen toweartheirbadgesandhavetheircertificate always aboutthemtodistinguish them;andif anyhappento be pressedforwantthereof,thechargethatshalltherebybe occasioned,suchfiremenshallbear.

Fromthisitisclearthatexemptfiremendidsometimes getcaughtbythepressgangsandtheir companywouldhaveto getthemreleased bypayinga legalfee.Oneincidentthatmayhave a bearingon the questionof exemptioncertificates, is thatwhenthe crewof HMSBounty mutiniedin 1789andsettledonPitcairnIsland,therewasa firemanaboardcompletewithhis uniform.Hemayeitherhavebeencaughtwithouthiscertificate andfailedto geta message to hiscompany, or,morelikely,wasan additionalfireman,one of the thirty-onepluswho werenoteligiblefora‘protector’. The UnionFireOfficealsomanagedto getexemptionforits‘firemen’, asis clearfrom a companyminutedated1725whichrecordsthat twenty-four‘firemen’ be registeredat theAdmiralty, althoughat thisdatethe Uniononlyinsuredgoods,not buildings, andthey statedon manyoccasions thattheyhadno interestin firefighting but onlyin the removal ofendangered goods,sotheir‘firemen’ wereactuallyportersor salvagemen.However, their rolewasregardedassufficiently importantto be allowedexemptionfromimpressment. Most insurancecompaniesin the eighteenthandearlynineteenthcenturiesemployedbetween eightandtenporters,andwhilesomecompanies providedthemwithuniformsin thesame

colourastheirfiremen, othersonlygavethemabadge, usually wornonachainaround their

neck.The porterswererequiredto workcloselywiththe firemenand even,if necessary, assisting withfirefighting, andthefiremenwouldhelptheportersto removegoodsandload themontowagons.MostLondonporterswerenot watermen,andtheiraddresses areaway fromtheriver,withtwoor threeworkingatthecompany’s officein variouscapacities. ThenumberofmenintheLondon-based insurance brigades variedthroughtheirhistory. Most startedoffwithafewandbuiltuptheirnumbers astheirbusiness andareaofoperation grew.For example, theWestminster Insurance Officeontheirfoundation in 1717chosetwelvefiremenwith sixmenonareservelistasreplacements. In1752theyincreased thenumbertotwenty-four, andin 1762raisedthenumbertothirty,themaximum numberwhichcouldberegistered forexemption fromimpressment. In 1770theyincreased thenumbersagain,butastheycouldnotberegistered

forexemption theywerecalled Supernumeraries. TheSunFireOffice hadthirtyfiremen and twenty porters intheirLondon brigade, butintheGordon Riotsof1780 theywereallowed to

increase thenumberoffiremenbytenwiththepermission oftheAdmiralty, whichsuggests that theseextramenweregiventemporary impressment exemption certificates. In 1791a furtherfourteen‘assistant firemen’ wereappointedbytheSun,andby 1805they

hada totaloffifty-five, atwhichpointtheDirectors ordered thatnonewmenweretobe recruited untiltheirnumbers hadfallentofifty. By1808thecompany foundthatthenumber offiremenhadfallento thirty‘bycasualties’, andthattherewerefourteenassistant firemen. TheDirectorsrecommended thattheassistants be dismissed andthestrengthofthebrigade

broughtup to thirty-five,a number,‘whichtheyconsiderasan efficientestablishment, without

anyassistant firemen.In 1826,whenthe Sunwasrunninga joint brigadewithtwoother insurancecompanies, theSunfurtherreduceditsfiremento twenty-five. Whentherewererelatively fewinsurance companies inLondon,thebrigades theymaintained hadto be quitelargesoa sufficient numberofmenwereavailable to provideadequatefire

TheInsurance Company Brigades

49

coverforthecity.Forexample, in 1797theRoyalExchange Assurance Corporation hadforty

firemen andtenporters, whilethePhoenix Assurance Company inthesameyearhadthirtyfourfiremen, fivesupernumerary firemen andsixporters. Atthatdatethereweresixinsurance

companies withbrigadesin London,sothetotalnumberoffiremenavailable wouldbeabout 240.Asmorecompanies werefoundedandbegantheirownfirebrigades, thenumberofmen employed byeachbeganto be reduced,sothatby 1830,whenthereweresixteeninsurance brigadesinLondon,thetotalnumberoffiremenwasonly270.Intheprovinces, the 1707Act

didnotapply, soinsurance firebrigades didnotneedtorestrict themselves tothirtymen,but

in practicethesebrigadesnumberedlessthanthirty,evenin thelargercitiessuchasBristol, Liverpool andYork,althoughtherewereexceptions. Insurancecompanies maintained brigadesin bothlargetownsandcitiesaswellasmuch smallerplacesif theyfelttheamountofbusinesstheydidtherejustifiedit.Forexample, the NorwichUnionFireInsurance Society, foundedin 1797had,by1821,established firebrigades in thefollowing places: Aberdeen Baldock Birmingham _ Bristol BuryStEdmunds Cambridge =Canterbury Darlington Dublin Edinburgh Exeter Helston

Leeds

Manchester

Liverpool London Norwich

Swansea

Ludlow

Burnley Dartford Kidderminster

Maidstone

Whitchurch Wotton-under-Edge

The firstbrigadesetup by the NorwichUnionwasin the cityof Norwich.Thefiremen’s uniformsweregreenandred,withredshoulderwingsto thejacketswhichhadsilverbuttons

andasilver armbadge, whilea low-crowned hatandleather bootsfinished theuniform. They

hadthreemanualfireengines,a hosecart,jointedladdersanda quantityof leatherbuckets. Oneofthemanualengineswasverysmallandwasconveyed onacart, pulledbya singlehorse, andwhenthealarmoffirewasgiven,a message wassentto themanwhohadthekeysto the fireenginehouse,wholivedinSurreyStreetnotfarfromthecompany office.Hewouldrushto theenginehouse,whichwasalmostopposite theoffice, unlockthedoorsandthengetthehorses. Duringthedaya clerkfromthecompany wouldgoroundto eachfiremanandinformhimof thefire,whileatnightoneofthecitywatchmen calledeachmanfromhishousewhich,tomake themmoreeasilyidentifiable, hadaboardoverthedoorwiththeword‘Fireman’ onit. Thefirsttwofiremento arrivewereimmediately dispatched to thesceneofthefirewith thesmallmanualenginewhichcouldbe takenupnarrowpassages, intocourtyards andeven throughhousesto reachfiresat therear.It couldbe quicklygotto workand,in manycases,

itwasabletodealeffectively withafiresothatthelargerengines, whentheyarrived, were

notrequiredto gointoaction. TheuniformofalltheNorwichUnionbrigadeswassimilarto thatwornbytheirNorwich brigade,andgreatemphasis wasplacedonalltheirfireenginesarrivingfirstata fire,although thiswassomething alltheinsurance brigadeswouldstrivefor.Theywereveryproudoftheir

reputation forarriving first,andthisisoftenmentioned inaccounts offires,andtheywould

defendit againstanydetractors. Forexample, theBirmingham Gazette reportedthedestruction of theTheatreRoyalin Birmingham on 6January1820,andcreditedthe NorwichUnion fireenginewithbeingthefirston thescene.However, in thefollowing week’seditionthere wasa letterfromthe Secretary oftheBirmingham FireOfficeCompanyclaimingthattheir fireenginewasthefirstto arrive,andwasatworkforseveralminutesbeforeanyotherengine arrived.Mr Lovel,theBirmingham agentof the NorwichUnion,obviously knewthatthis letterwasgoingto be published, andmanagedto geta letterin thatsameeditiondisputing theclaimoftheBirmingham FireOffice,andwenton to pointoutthat: It mustbewellknownto allwhoattendedthefirethattheNorwichUnionEnginetook thepostofhonourandutility, viz.facingthecentreoftheShakespeare Tavern, andI cannot

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InsuranceFireBrigades1680—1929

thinkthattheconductors ofanyenginearrivingbeforetheNorwichUnionwouldhave beensodeficient injudgement orresolution asto neglectthispost,andtakeupa position oflessdanger, honourandutility. The NorwichUnionbrigadein Norwichwasamalgamated withthe municipal police—fire brigadeabout1855, andupuntiltheendofthenineteenth centurya boardhunginthefirestation

atNorwich Guildhall, detailing alltheequipment handed overtothecitybrigade anditsvalue. Thecompany provided helmets forthepolice-fire brigade, bearing acrestintheformofalarge

lion,asdidtheWestofEnglandInsurance Company forthePlymouth brigade(seep.97).

RANKS Asin the modernfirebrigade,therewerea numberof differentranks,withvaryingtitles, andsomemenhadspecialised dutiesforwhichtheyreceiveda slightlyhigherretainingfee orpay.

Foreman

The leaderof the brigadewasthe foreman,a necessarily strongcharactersincehe hadto ensurethatthefiremeninhisbrigadeobeyedthecompany’s rules.Healsohadalargenumber of otherduties,themostimportantofwhichwasto directthe effortsof thefiremenwhen

fighting afire.Itwastheforeman whowasresponsible forgetting volunteers tooperate the manual fireengines, supplying themwithbeerandhanding outpumpers’ tokens ortickets so

theycouldclaima payment.He hadto beliteratesincehe hadto dealwithpaperwork such asrecordingwhowaspresentatfiresandparades, notinghowlongeachmanwaspresentand writereportsaboutthe fireanditspossiblecause.Someideaof thefullextentof hisduties canbe seenin ChapterEleven.

Intheearlyeighteenth centurytheforeman wasalsoresponsible forthemaintenance of

the fireengines,a dutylaterdevolvedto the engineer. TheWestminster Insuranceofficein the 1720srequiredtheirforemento oiltheleatherhoseaswellastrainingthefiremenin the useoftheengine,butatthisearlydatetheirbrigadewasquitesmall. Alternative titlesforthis rankweresuperintendent, supervisor or firemaster,butin thesecondhalfofthenineteenth centurythetermcaptaincameintogeneralusein deferenceto EyreMasseyShaw,thehead

oftheLondonFireEngineEstablishment from1861to 1866andthenchiefofficerofthe

Metropolitan FireBrigadefrom1866to 1891.Hewasa captainintheNorthCorkRifles,and continuedto usethistitlewhenheadinghisfirebrigade,andthisfashionledto theheadof almosteveryfirebrigadeinEnglandbeingknownascaptain(althougha numberofScottish brigadescontinuedto usethetitleFireMaster).

DeputyForeman

Thisofficeractedassecondin commandto theforeman,andwasexpectedto carryouthis dutiesin hisabsence, andwouldtakea leadingpartin directingfirefighting. Somecompanies,

forexample theEagleInsurance Company, required thedeputyforeman to be brigade engineer, whiletheSunFireOfficeseemsto havemadehimresponsible forthefloatingfire enginestheyhadon theriverThames.

Engineer

Mostcompanies, particularly afterthemid-eighteenth century,appointeda personwhowas specifically responsible fortheday-to-day maintenance ofthefireengineandensuringit was

TheInsurance Company Brigades

SI

cleanedandin workingorderafterit hadbeenused,althoughrepairsto themachines were

usually carriedoutbythefire-engine manufacturers. Insomebrigades theengineer would actasdeputyto thebrigadeforeman.

FireEngineDriver

Many,if not all,eighteenth-and earlynineteenth-century insurancebrigadesin London

employed civilian drivers fromtheinnsorliverystables fromwhomtheyhiredthehorses. ThesituationislessclearoncetheLondoninsurance brigadeshadamalgamated in 1833and usedfull-timefiremen,whenit seemsthatsomewereappointedandtrainedspecifically as fireenginedrivers.Intheprovinces it wasusuallya firemanwhodrovetheengines, although someseemto haveemployed civiliandrivers,particularly in provincial cities.

TheTurncock

Somebrigadesappointeda manwhohadresponsibility forwatersupplies. He hadto know thepositionofallthefireplugsor hydrants, andwassuppliedwitha keybythelocalwater company sohecouldturnonthewaterinthemainswhenrequiredsince,inmanycases, water

wasonlyavailable foracertainnumber ofhourseachdayandnotatallduringthenight.In someareasthebrigade wouldnotbeprovided witha keytothemainsandwouldhaveto sendforthewatercompany’s turncockto makethewateravailable.

TheFiremen

The firemenhad variousspecificdutieswhenfirefighting, rangingfromsecuringwater supplies topumpingtheengines, althoughthesediffered greatlyfromonebrigadeto another. Whiletheirresponsibility wasto fightfiresin insuredproperty, it wasoftenunclearwhile tacklingafireifaparticular propertywasinsuredandwithwhichcompany, sotheywoulddeal withallfires,andtheresponsibility fordealingwithinsurance claims, reimbursements orbills to ownersweredealtwithoncethefirewasextinguished andthepropertymadesafe.

Thefiremen wereeachgivenanumber whichtheyworeontheiruniform. Theforeman

wasnumberone,andhisdeputynumbertwo,andtherewasusuallyasystemwherebytheman presentatthefirewiththelowestnumbertookchargeuntila firemanwitha lowernumber appeared. Astheyachieved promotiontheyweregivenlowernumbersastheyfellvacant,so allthemengradually movedupwards, althoughtheycouldbe demotedfora misdemeanour, whentheywouldbe givena highernumber.

Supernumeraries

Supernumeraries, sometimes alsoreferredto as‘assistant firemen’and‘additional firemen’, weremembersof the insurancebrigadesabovethe numberof thirty,andwhowerenot entitledto exemption fromimpressment underthe 1707ActofQueenAnne,andtheyoften didnothavea fulluniform,or evenanyuniformatall. Theexactstatusofthesemenisnot veryclearandvariedamongdifferentbrigades, but quiteoftenthe supernumerary firemen hadtherightto becomea registered firemanwhena vacancyoccurredif theywerejudged

tobesuitable.

Someideaof theirrole,at leastin the caseof onebrigade,canbe seenin therecordsof theYorkshire Insurance Companywhichhadforty-fouruniformed firemenfrom1824,butin May1829theydecidedto appointanothersixtymenwhowereto turnupat firesandwho agreedto workforandsupplywateronlyto the enginesof thatcompany. Thereasonfor appointing themwasto preventfraud,asisclearfromtheirrecords:

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Insurance FireBrigades 1680—1929

Thatno assistance in casesof Firewillbe requiredfromindividuals not immediately appointed bytheYorkshire Insurance Office,no oneshallreceiveanyrewardunderthe pretence ofhavingworkedatorfortheYorkshire Engine.

Porters (orSalvage Men)

Manycompanies, particularly in London,employeda numberof men to act as porters or salvagemen,whosejob wasto removeendangered insuredgoodsto a placeof safety suggested bytheowneror to theinsurancecompany’s ownstoragedepot,andworkclosely withthefiremenduringfirefighting. Becausetheyusedcartsfortheremovalofthegoods theywerealsosometimes referredto ascarriersor carmen.Theporterswerein chargeof the foremanof the portersandwererequired,likethe firemen,to providereferences and bonds.TheLondoncompanies generally provideduniformsfortheirporters,althoughsome provincial insurancecompanies seemto haveonlygiventhem a badge. TheNorwichUnionInsurance Societysetupaformofsalvage corpsatExeterinDevonas isclearfromarecordofanannualmeetingofthesociety’s membersinthatcityin November 1818.It wasnotedthattheagenttherereportedthat,‘alargeenginewasbuildingin London

onthemostimproved construction’, whosearrival wassoonexpected, andthatthecompany

hadpaidto havefireplugsinsertedin thecity’swaterpipesto aidfirefighting. It wenton to notethat: Theagentalsoreportedthatin consequence of thelossoccasioned by theftsat Fires,a Societyhadbeenformed,consisting of30highlyrespectable youngmen,to becalledThe ExeterSociety forProtection ofProperty incaseofFire,whowouldbesupplied withevery requisite bytheNorwichUnionSociety, andwhohadkindlyandvoluntarily undertaken to superintendthe protectionof Propertyandmanagementof the meansofextinguishing Fires, for the Citygenerally, andnot exclusively for the Society.

OtherDuties

Thedutiesofthevariousmembersofthebrigadewereclearlyspecified inruleslaiddownby thecompany, andwereoftencoupledto aseriesofrewards andfines(seeChapterSixandthe Appendices), butquiteoftensomemembershaddutiesin additionto firefighting, andit was not uncommonforfirebrigadesto be calleduponto perform a varietyofnon-firefighting

roles.Amongthepeoplewhoperformed special dutieswasThomas Mason, a fireman of theWestminster FireOffice, whoalsoactedasofficemessenger andwasresponsible for

delivering firemarksandinsurance policiestohouseholders duringthe1730s; in 1807Thomas Woolaston, an EagleInsuranceCompanyfireman,alsoactedas messenger and caretaker. Sometimes membersofthebrigadeswerecalleduponto performspecialduties.In 1831the

Directors oftheAlliance Assurance Company discussed thepossibility ofarsoninaproperty theyinsured,sinceMessrsLeaf,SonsandColeofOldChange,London,hadheardthatsome weavers fromSpitalfields intendedto destroytheirbuilding. TheDirectorstherefore, ‘resolved ifit appearsexpedient, uponconsultation withotheroffices, thatoneofthefiremenbeplaced fora timeduringthenightin theirPremises —andalsoin thoseofJamesMorrisonandCo. in ForeStreet,whoarerepresented to havereceivedNoticesto a similareffect.’ Thecompanies wouldalsosometimes sendfiremento advisepeopleabouttheirpotential firerisks,althoughononeoccasionthisleadto anembarrassing lossfora company. In 1825 Mr Hewitt, a trunk maker,of Lord Street,Liverpool,‘appliedto the ManchesterInsurance Office,in that town,for a fireman,to ascertainwhencethe smellof burning which prevailed

in hispremisesproceeded,A firemanvisitedhisshop,examinedit andconcludedthatit wassafe.Asa matterof coursehe recommended thatMr Hewittinsurehisgoodswith hiscompany, a suggestion thatMr Hewittpromptlytook,but almostbeforethe ink was

TheInsurance Company Brigades

53

dry on the policythe buildingburnt downandthe companyhad to payout £200.As enrolled a disciplined bodyof men,the firemenand porterswere,in timesof necessity, on suchoccasionsas electionswhen as specialconstablesand assistedthe constabulary andwereoftenusedforgeneralcrowdcontrolduringvarious riotingwasnot uncommon, Somecompaniesarmedtheirfiremenwithtruncheonsandcudgels, occasions. ceremonial providedwith Corporationfiremenwere,atleastoccasionally, whilethe LondonAssurance reasonsthanactualcrowdcontrol.Cudgels swords,althoughprobablymoreforceremonial equipmenton the engravedheadingsof the Sun areclearlyshownamongthe firefighting andothercompanypolicies(seep.47). lenttheiruniformedfiremenforcrowdcontrol ManyoftheLondoninsurancecompanies dayprocession heldeveryNovember. On 11November1795 aletter duringtheLordMayor's fromtheLordMayorthanking wasreadto theBoardof DirectorsoftheLondonAssurance dayin preserving thepeace the companyforallowingitsfiremento ‘assiston LordMayor’s in the City?On 3 January1798a gratuitywaspaidto the firemenand porters‘fortheir whileon 21June to St.Paul’son the 19thDecember’, procession at HisMajesty’s attendance thanked theDirectors o ftheLondon Assurance “fortheassistance 1799the LordMayoragain

to actwiththeConstables itsfiremen in allowing bytheCorporation afforded soreadily duringthetimeHisMajestyinspectedthevolunteers.’ wasbeginningto seethesenumerouscalls However, by thistimethe LondonAssurance andwhen,on the29 October1800,the on itsfirefighting personnelasratheranimposition at the LordMayorrequestedthe companyto haveitsfiremenswornin as‘extraconstables’ nextparadetheDirectors: . resolved thatasthebusiness oftheFiremen isparticularly tobeinconstant readiness to attendfiresimmediately upontheirbreaking out,in andnearthemetropolis, andit being inthepoweroftheLordMayorto nominate andappointasmanyotherpersons ashemay theirmenas of employment t hatthe i t appears day, theabove acton to judgenecessary ofthepeaceoftheCity:andhavingfoundit to thepreservation isnotnecessary constables theymustrequest andevilsto theCorporation, withmanyinconveniences to be attended hisLordship willdispense withtheirattendance. ofthe yeartheLordMayoragainrequestedthe attendance Despitethisletter,thefollowing theprevious of sendthemayora copy firemen,andtheDirectorsorderedthatthesecretary and minuteon the subject,andinformhimthat it was‘theernestwishof the Governor's present on the o f theirmen withtheattendance DirectorsthathisLordshipwoulddispense October1802sawyetanotherrequestfromtheLordMayorto usethecompany’s occasion’ firemen,andwasdealtwithby theDirectorsin the samewayasthepreviousyear.However, continuedto providefiremenforceremonial duties. otherinsurance companies waselectedLordMayor Company, oftheAtlasAssurance Smith,a Director In1818Christopher itsfiremenasanescortto themayor's provided thecompany ofLondon,andon thisoccasion wasomitted sincethatyeartheusualpageant coach,whichgaveatouchofcolourtotheoccasion, On 15June1825,firemenof the Charlotte. asa markofrespectbecauseof thedeathofPrincess to wereinvitedby theLordMayor,a Directorofthecompany, Company Assurance Guardian o pened wasfinally which Bridge, London bepresentat thelayingofthefirststoneof the‘new’ For wereratherunusual. performed dutieswhichthebrigades Someof theadditional in 1831. H ouse, Mansion the down wash t o fireengine its u sed Company Insurance theYorkshire example, thattheholderofthepost butitjustsohappened homeoftheLordMayorofLondon, theofficial gottheideaastheenginehad Heprobably aDirectoroftheYorkshire! thatyearwasJamesBarber, officebuildingthere. beenuseda fewmonthsearliertowashdowntheYorkshire’s by aninsurancebrigadewasa stage ‘extra’tasksundertaken Probablyoneof thestrangest In 1822theDirectorsoftheEagleInsuranceCompanyreceiveda requestfrom appearance. engineandeightfiremen of theOperaHouse,London,to havethecompany’s themanagers

54

Insurance FireBrigades 1680-1929

appearat an entertainment heldfor the benefitof the‘distressed Irish’,a requestthatwas granted.Between13Juneand8July1886theNorwichUnionInsuranceSocietybrigadeat Worcester wateredPitchcroftRacecourseforthe drillsof theWorcester Yeomanry. Another dutythatthefiremenwererequiredto undertake, thistimeonbehalfoftheircompanies, were theDaysofMarching. The companieswereveryawareof the advertising valueof theirbrightlyuniformed firemenandlostno opportunityto bringthemto the noticeof the public,and one of the mostnotablewaysof doingthiswasbyholdinga paradein whichallthefiremenand porters,in fulluniform,tookpart.Theywereledbytheirforeman,usuallycarryinga mace bearingthe companyemblem,madeof silverforthe Londonbrigadesandbrassor gilded woodin thecaseofprovincial brigades. The firemenof theWestminster InsuranceOfficemadetheirfirstpublicappearance on 23July1719,the dayaftertheyfirstgot theiruniforms,andthe menwerepaid1s6dfor attending. Fromthenontheyparadedthestreetsongeneralmeetingdays,andfrom1720were accompanied bya band,witheachmannowbeingpaid2s6d.TheUnionFireOfficeheld paradesofitsportersonthedayofitsGeneralMeeting,andcontinuedto dosowellintothe nineteenthcentury.Onereference intheminutesoftheUniongivesdetailsoftheroutetaken on theirDayofMarching, whenit orderedthat: TheFiremen andPortersdowalkthroughthePrincipall StreetsofLondonandWestminster andattendtheGeneralMeeting—onethousand proposals to be delivered bythePorters the daytheywalkthestreets—andagreedthattwotrumpetsbe allowedthePortersin theirmarch,andthatthePortersmarchbefromBlacksmith’s HallintoFrydayStreet,down WatlingStreetthroughthe southsideof St.Paul’sChurchyard, FleetStreet,Strandand theHayMarkettupMonmouthStreet,Holbourne, NewgateStreet,Cheapside, Cornhill,

AninsurancefirebrigademarchingdownFishStreetHill,London,to publicisetheircompany. An illustration fromThePennyMagazine oftheSociety fortheDiffusion ofUseful Knowledge, 11March1837.

TheInsurance Company Brigades

55

The thepublic. to impress ofMarching’ ‘Days alsohadregular firebrigades insurance Provincial Devon inExeter, marchpasttheirheadquarters Company Insurance oftheWestofEngland brigade

about1850.Behindthefiremencanbe seentheirtwolargemanualfireengines,eachflyinga banner.

late march, readyfortheirpublicity atGloucester brigade Society UnionInsurance TheNorwich Notethehand-drawn hoseandequipment cart. nineteenth century.

50

Insurance FireBrigades 1680-1929

Thesilvermarchingmaceof theUnionFire Office.

Thegilded wooden marching maceofa

provincial brigadeoftheSunFireOffice.Late eighteenthcenturyor earlynineteenthcentury

century.

TheInsurance Company Brigades

57

Leaden-hallStreetthroughAldgate,theMinories,overTowerHillintoThamesStreet,thence

thenearest waytoSt.Margarett’s Hill,fromthencetoThames Street, andsototheHallagain tobetherebythreeo’clock.

Thisroutetookthemonajourneyof7%miles(12km). Attheendofthemarchit wasusual

toprovide refreshments anddrinkforthemen,although ononeoccasion itmusthavebeen abittooliberal asasubsequent minuteoftheUnionnotedthat‘theForemen ofthePorters

appeared withtheconsentoftheBoardforhisandtherestof thePortersbeingin drinkon thedayofthelastGeneralMeeting,’ ThefiremenoftheRoyalExchange Assurance heldtheirfirstDayofMarching on2August 1721,lessthanthreemonthsafterthecompanyhadbegunfireinsurance, andcontinuedthis practiceeachyear.Theirparadein 1752includednotonlythe firemenandportersbut also

thecarmen employed tocarryawayrescued insured goodstoa placeofsafety. ThePhoenix Assurance firemenmarchedfourtimesa yearalonga routewhichcoveredabout10miles accompanied by a band,andwererequiredto salutewhenpassingthe officeof another insurancecompany. In 1785theymarchedto publicisethe openingof a newbranchoffice in theWestEnd,takingin allthewell-known squaresin theneighbourhood andmaking‘a

standattheKing’s Palace’ (StJames’s Palace), beforefinishing witha mealata Paddington hotel.Aparade arranged forthe22March1785 through Westminster andadjoining areashad to be hastilyabandoned whenthemenhadto rushoffto fighta fire,butthemusicians still demanded thatthecompanypaythem26sforturningup! InJuly1789oneoftheportersof the LondonAssurance wasdismissed fordrinkingtoo freelyat a post-march dinner,whichcostthecompany11s3deachforthefourforemenand :

? ‘ a

Wee ee.

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oA. theyFE f ,

gat* ol

——¢ ae 4} — a 2¢Z hode-

on en

ee.

oo Ona

eeraneenstnaPessinngtain ttc seme

a Satan:

Sais tc ais

Bill,July1778,fora dinnerof theDirectorsof the LondonAssurance whichcameto £27 3s9dincluding £1 2s6dspenton dinnerfortwelveservants. The firemenwouldhavehadtheirdinnerat aninnafterthey

hadcompleted theirDayofMarching.

a

&

st re

sinter. an

ML

@

Fd o

58

Insurance FireBrigades 1680-1929

gseachforthefiremenandporters.ThefiremenoftheSunFireOfficeparadedtwicea year

between1720-40,four timesa yearfrom 1741and annuallyfrom 1761.Daysof Marchingwere

alsoheldbythefirebrigadesofprovincial insurance companies, andbybrigadesmaintained byLondoninsurance companies atvariousplacesaroundBritain,andsuchpublicitymarches continuedtobehelduntilwellintothenineteenthcentury.TheFreeman’s JournalofOctober 1811describes theparadeoftheRoyalExchange Assurance firementhroughDublin.There weretwofireengines, thefirstonedrawnbytwohorsesandcarryingtwelvefiremendressed in theirpea-green jacketsandplushbreechesandwaistcoats. The menon thisenginehad

twobugles, andwhentheyarrived intheyardofDublinCastletheyplayed ‘GodSavethe King’ totheViceroy andhisfamily. Thewholeprocession ‘wasfollowed byanastonished and

admiringmultitude’ The Liverpool brigadeof the NorwichUnionInsuranceSocietycarrieda largesilkflag whenmarchingbearingthe words‘NorwichUnion’,whilein Birmingham the firemenof thedifferent insurance brigadesin thatcityattendedtheceremony ofproclaiming theannual fairsat Whitsuntideand Michaelmas,and would walk on each side of the procession,each

carryinga smallaxepaintedwiththeemblemoftheircompany. Theprocession washeaded bya fewfiremencarryinghighlypolishedhosebranchesdecoratedwithbunchesofflowers. Birmingham seemsto haveregardedits firemenhighly,as at the openingof St George’s ChurchinTowerStreetin 1820.Thegrandprocession of ecclesiastical andcivicdignitaries wereheadedbytwofiremenoftheNorwichUnion,withtwomorebringinguptherearand therestofthefiremenwalkingoneachside.

CHAPTER FIVE

THEINSURANCE FIREMEN

Whenengaged inhistorical research certainpeoplestandout,butthesetendtobepersons notable fortheiractionsorpositions, andsotheirnamesarepreserved inthehistorybooks.Oftenlittleis

known ofthevastmajority of‘common people’, manyofwhommayhaveperformed important

or evenvitalrolesin society. Examination of therecordsof theoldinsurance companies will disclose entriesconcerning themenwhomadeuptheirfirebrigades. Therecords oftheLondonbasedcompanies tendtobemoreintactandaccessible thanthoseoftheearlyprovincial insurance companies, sothatthereismoreinformationon Londonbrigadesthanothers,but no doubtsimilar

eventsandproblems wereexperienced byallinsurance companies whomaintained afirebrigade

atonetimeoranother. Theimpression gained fromtherecords isthattheseearlyfiremen, mostly

drawnfromtheThameswatermen inthecaseofLondon, wereastrongandbravebunchofmen, loyalto andproudoftheircompanies anddedicated tofirefighting despiteitsinherentrisks. Theyweretoughandsometimes difficultto handle,butwerekeptin checkforthemost partbytheirforemenwhowereatleastashardy. Thebiggestfaultofthesemenseemsto have beentheirlikingforstrongdrinkwhichoftenledthemintotroubleofonesortor another, althoughthecompanies quiteoftenshoweda certainamountoflatitudein theirbehaviour sincetheymadeallowances forthetypeofmenin theirbrigades. Sometimes therecordsonlytellpartofa storyandit isnotpossibleto workout exactly whathappened. Anexampleof thisisfoundin the SunFireOfficeminutesof 1810when WilliamCostellow, thebrigadeforeman,madea complaintagainstWilliamBonner,oneof thefiremen,andsotheDirectors: Resolved ThatWm.Bonnershallberequired tomakea suitable Apology forhisunwarranted conduct, whichApology shallbeinwritinginorderthatit maybeshewntoeveryFireman &thatheshallforfeitros6dtothefundraisedforthesupportofsickFiremen. Bonner,however, wasnotco-operative sincetwoweekslatera minutenotes: Mr.HubertSuperintendent of Firemen, reportedthatWm.Bonnerhadnot madethe Apology requiredofhim&thathehadneglected to attenda Firein hisDistrictthisday. Resolved —ThatWm.Bonnerbe suspended fromallDutyfromthisday& thathe be directed to attendthenextCommittee ofManagement. Thishe did with a writtenapology,andhe seemsto havebeenveryfortunatesinceit was,‘Resolved —Thathe be allowedto returnto hisDuty’Unfortunately it hasnot been possibleto findout whathe haddone,whyhe hadto apologiseto hiscolleagues, or how he managedto convincethe Directorshe shouldnotbe dismissed!

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Insurance FireBrigades 1680—1929

MrMorris,thelastsurvivingmemberoftheHand in HandFireOfficebrigade,wearinghisold uniformmanyyearsafterit wasamalgamated into theLondonFireEngineEstablishment.

Sometimes littlesnippetsofinformation aboutthemenappear,forexamplea footnotein a Sunminutedated13December1832showsthatThomasStagg,oneoftheirfiremenwhohad servedforthirty-sixyears,wouldhavebeenmadean engineerexceptforthefacthe could notreadorwrite.Whiletheirmisdemeanours areofinterestorevensometimes amusing, care mustbe takento balancetheseagainsttheirgoodpoints,sincethemajorityoffiremen,who

carried outtheirdutiesbravely andwellindangerous anddifficult conditions, donotgetany

specialmention.Oneoftheproblems duringtheearlyeighteenthcenturywasthattherules governing thefiremenandporterswereinadequate andallowedthementoomuchfreedom, butthesegradually changedasruleswererevisedandredrawn, andsoevolved intoregulations coveringall likelycircumstances (seeChapterSix and Appendices). Froma systematic examination oftherecordsit appearsthatthelevelofmisbehaviour wasnotabnormally high andthatwhenit didoccurtheinquiriesandpunishments werefair.Givenbelowarestories or entriesfrominsurance companyrecordswhichallowa glimpseofthecharacters ofthese menwithboththeirfaultsandtheirredeeming features.

EXTRACTS FROMTHEINSURANCE COMPANY RECORDS CONCERNING THEIRFIREMEN SunFireOffice, 1714

Oneof thefirstproblemsencountered concernedthemen’ssilverbadgeswhichtheywere oftentemptedto pawn.Asearlyas 27 October1714the SunFireOfficeCommitteeof Management, “Ordd. Vaughanattendthe ComeenextWednesday withthe Namesof such WatermenasgowithouttheirBadges.” However, on 8 Decembertheynotedthat,‘Vaughan yeForeManofye FireMennot attendingwithye FireMenwhobyhisinformacon had pawnedtheirBadgesOrdd:Hehavenoticeto attendnextWednesday. It appearsthatseveral of the firemenwereguiltyof thisandwereaboutto be punished,perhapsevenVaughan whohadnot turnedup at themeetingasordered,but on 15Decemberit isrecordedthat ‘Farroneofthe FireMenAttendedwiththe ForeManaccording to Order:& theComee

TheInsuranceFiremen

61

thoughtfitto Excusehim(onAcct.ofpawninghisBadge)uponpromiseofhisfuturegood behaviour. SinceonlyFarrcamebeforethecommittee it maybetheothermenhadrapidly redeemedtheirbadges.MrVaughan wasagainin troubleinJanuary1717andwasdismissed. SixofthefiremenwentbeforetheBoardofDirectorsto protestaboutthisandthreatened to resignunless Vaughan wasreinstated, anactwhichshowsadmirable loyaltyto theirsupervisor. TheDirectors, however, werenotto beintimidated anddismissed allsixfiremenonthespot! However, thenameVaughan appearsagainin the 1720sand,judgingbythepayments, isan officer,sohe seemsto havebeenreinstated, althoughit isnotcleariftheothersixwholost theirpositions werealsoableto rejointhebrigade.

Westminster Insurance Office, 1721

One of theirfiremenwasdismissed forhisinvolvement in a smuggling aftrayin whicha CustomsOfficerwasshot.TheSecretary ofState,LordTownsend, wroteto thecompanyto demandhisdismissal andtheBoardofDirectorsrepliedthatthishadalreadybeendone.

SunFireOffice, 1723

ThomasShields,the Foreman, wassuspended forhisinsolentbehaviourto the Company Treasurer, buthelaterapologised andwasreinstated.

London Assurance, 1741

MatthewPrick,a porter,wassummoned to appearbeforetheCourtofDirectorsona charge ofpawninghissilverbadgeandchain.Herefusedto attendandwasdismissed.

London Assurance, 1742

NicholasCatlin,foremanof the fireporters,wascalledbeforethe Courtof Directorsand orderedto producehis book containingrecordsof the firemen’s attendance. Catlinhad recordedthatoverthirtyfiremenwerepresentforfourhourseachat a firewhichbrokeout at 6 a.m.onemorning,butit wasa quarterto sevenbeforeanyfiremenarrivedandthefire wasoverbyseven.Hecouldgivenosatisfactory explanation and,despiteservingthecompany fortwentyyears,wasinstantlydismissed.

London Assurance, 1748

InMarch1748theinsurance companyofficewasburntdownin afirewhichdestroyed many otherpremises. Thefiremenandportersfoughthardto savethebuildingandin recognition ofthiseachmanwaspresented witha gratuity‘notexceeding half-a-guinea’.

Westminster Insurance Office, 1752

Theforemanofthefiremenwascaughtobtainingmoneyby falsepretencesby the assistant clerk.Hewasinitiallysuspended andthenreducedto therankoffireman.

SunFireOffice, 1757

theirengineata firein OldJewrybefore Thewholebrigadewascriticisedforwithdrawing theflameswerecompletely extinguished.

62

InsuranceFireBrigades1680—1929

SunFireOffice, 1770

Occasionally thecompanies madea mistakein selectinga manassuitablefortheirbrigade. PeterHugheswasappointed a firemanon29November butwasdischarged on20December forbeingdrunkandabusive.

Phoenix Assurance Company, 1798

Thewatermen wereintensely patriotic, andthreemonths beforetheBattleoftheNilethe

entirefirebrigadestatedtheirwillingness, ‘tolearnartilleryexercises andbecomeannexedto theVolunteer CorpsoftheCityofLondonfordutyunderarm’sassociation intheMetropolis or itsenvirons’, to defeatanyattemptat invasion bytheFrench.

SunFireOffice, 1808

Sometimes themengaveuptheirjobsaswatermenandtookupanoccupation notentirely compatible withbeinga part-timefireman.CharlesTrickeyjoinedthebrigadein 1798but ‘becamea Bird-Stufferin 1808,and seldomattendedafire’.

EagleInsurance Company, 1810

The minutebooksrecord:

ThatasilvermugbegiventoWilliam Reeves, theforeman ofthefiremen, asa markofthe Directors’ approbation ofhisexertions atthelatefirein St.Paul’s Churchyard, whereby, at thehazardofhislife,heprevented Mr.Dollone’s housefrombeingdestroyed.

KentInsurance Company, 1811

Thecompany agentatDeptford complained thatduring afire thefiremen maintained inthattown refused toassist owingto‘dissatisfaction’, andthecompany hadtomeet a fireclaimfor£400.The causeoftheproblem maywellhavehadsomething todowithuniforms sincethefollowing month thewholebrigadewassupplied withanewtypeofunderjacketalongwithbreeches andboots.

EagleInsurance Company, 1814

Thebiggestfearof theinsurancefiremenwasgunpowder whichcouldbe foundstoredin variousplacesthroughoutthecity.Thisfearledto thecompanylosing£7,400ata firein the CustomHouse,asisshownbytheDirectors’ report: Analarm,circulated withtheutmostrapidity, thatGunpowder wasstoredin theCustom House,inducedthefiremento leavetheirEngines andattendonlyto theirpersonal safety; thuswerewedeprived ofthatassistance, whenordinary exertions, iftheycouldhavebeen safelymade,wouldhavepreserved theproperty, butforwantofwhichthetotaldestruction ofthePremises soonfollowed.

EagleInsurance Company, 1816

The firemenweregenerallybraveand competentfirefighters but could sometimesbe impatientwithofficialdom, asisshownbyentriesin theEaglerecords: Mr.Hurlock,surveyor of St.Paul’sChurchyard, attendedto prefera complaint against JohnJonestheCompany’s firemanformisconduct in impeding andassaulting theParish

TheInsuranceFiremen

63

Watchman onhisdutyandpreventing hisextinguishing a fireatanoilman’s shopinCreed Lane,andusingviolent& offensive language. Thisappearedto be a seriouschargemadeagainstJohnJones,buttheDirectorsinterviewed himandit: appeared thathehadbeeninterrupted in hisfirstendeavour to getto thefire,andhadin hiszealpushedthewatchman fromtheenginewhichhehadconsidered himself morefitto manage andproceeded tobreakopenthedoor,notwithstanding theremonstrance ofseveral individuals whostatedthattherewasgunpowder in theplace,andthathe subsequently carriedthehosedownintothecellarwherehefoundtheFireragingandfinally extinguished it.Hefurtherstatesthathehasbeensummoned forassault beforeMr.Alderman Lucas... He hadpusheda watchmanso hadto be toldoff,but he wasonlydoinghis dutyandso thatthe Chairmanof thisCompanybe requestedto admonishhim ‘Resolved theDirectors, ashe could,andthat £5 be givenhimin andforbearance to exerciseas muchtemperance approbation ofhiszealandabilityasa fireman.

Guardian Assurance Company, 1826

whenit wasreportedthatthedeputyforemanofthefire meton24November Thecommittee whilehetookbenefitofthe 1814 appliedforleaveofabsence andtherefore brigadewasinsolvent debtorstobe Act,whichenabled I nsolvent knownastheGreat commonly c.102), Act(53Geo.III. Theleave with. complied were c onditions certain i f months t hree fromprisonafterserving released ofabsence wasgrantedandhespentthenextthreemonthsinthedebtors’ prison.

FAMILY TRADITIONS to be carriedon fromfatherto son Inthepastit wasquitecommonfora tradeor profession IntherecordsoftheSunFire firemen. andthisappliedalsoto insurance downthegenerations alsojoinedthebrigade,and sons as firemen’s period Officethesamenamesappearoveralong a goodSunexampleoccursin a minutedated24May1838: asDeputy ofthe long& faithfulserviceofRobertStorey, thatin consequence Resolved aPorterinthis Jnr.(aged18years)beappointed Storey hissonWilliam, ofFiremen, Foreman Officewitha Salaryof£40p.annum. One of themostnotablefirebrigadefamiliesweretheTozers.A youngman,RobertTozer, joinedthe Handin HandFireOfficebrigadein April1824,andcontinuedto servewith that brigadeuntil December1832whenhe wastransferredto the LondonFireEngine theirbrigadewith thoseof severalother whenhis companyamalgamated Establishment In 1833he waspromotedto engineerin chargeof theBakerStreetFire Londoncompanies. Station,a positionhehelduntilhisretirementin 1860. He had a son, calledAlfred,who joined the London Fire Engine Establishmentin 1850

himselfin 1853by becomingthe firstfiremanto receivethe medal andwho distinguished in savingthelives oftheRoyalSocietyfortheProtectionof LifefromFirefor hisgallantry butin 1854lefthispostto oftwopeople.Alfredwaspromotedto therankofsub-engineer, takea manualfireengineanda volunteercrewfromtheLondonFireEngineEstablishment of the BritishArmyduringthe to Scutarito protectthe hospitalsandotherestablishments

to andcontinued on manyoccasions Nightingale War.Here,he met Florence Crimean

correspond withherformanyyearsafterthewar.

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Insurance FireBrigades 1680-1929

He returnedto Londonandrejoinedthe L.EE.E.wherehe wasgiventhe postof chief engineerat theTooleyStreetFireStation,andlaterbecamechiefclerkto Superintendent Braidwood. In 1861Braidwood waskilledat theTooleyStreetfireandit wasAlfredwho discovered hisbody,ledto thespot,soit wassaid,bya ghostlydogwhichvanishedassoon asAlfreduncovered it.Alfreddidnot apparently thinkmuchof EyreMassyShaw,whowas Braidwood’s successor, andis recordedassayingthat,‘CaptainShawwouldnevermakea fireman’, andso in 1861he leftthe L.EE.E.to becomesuperintendent of the Manchester FireBrigadewherehe serveduntilhisretirementin 1892.Sevenof the originalRobert’s descendants becameofficersin theBritishFireServicespanningfivegenerations.

INSURANCE FIREMEN —THEPOPULAR VIEW Thesightoftheinsurancefiremenrunningthroughthestreetsandthefireenginesdashing alongto thesceneofa firewasa stirringsight,whilethedeedsandcharacters ofthefiremen werewellknownto thepublicandwerecelebrated in literatureandsong. Twoexamples whichshowsomething ofthecharacters oftheinsurance firemenaregiven below. Thefirstisa songwhichwaspopularamongfiremenwellintothenineteenthcentury but which,to judgeby the terminology, datesto the lateeighteenthor earlynineteenth century.Thereferenceto the maidlivingin HungerfordMarketis significant sincea large numberoftheinsurancefiremenlivedthereandin theimmediatevicinity(seepage115-6),

andshecouldhardly havefailedtoencounter them.Unfortunately thetunetowhichitwas sunghasbeenforgotten.

Left: RobertTozer’s badge, madeby

HesterBatemanin 1776,givento him bytheDirectorsof theHandin Hand FireOfficewhenthebrigadebecame partoftheLondonFireEngine Establishment. Opposite: TheTimesPlate1.A political cartoon,afterthe 1762originalby WilliamHogarth.Whenhe engraved it theUnionFireOfficeonlyhada

salvage corps, sodidnothave afire

engineuntilit setupitsownbrigade

in 1806. Hogarth usedartistic license sincehiscartoon required asymbol ofunitytocontrast withalltheother symbols ofdisunity featured.

The InsuranceFiremen

TheWatermanFireman InHungerford Marketa maid Dweltwhoneverhadthoughto’man, Tillby Cupidher heartwasbetrayed,

Andshefellinlovewithawaterman fireman. Hispersonhadeverycharm Andgracethatcouldbehadbyaman Heworeagoldbadgeonhisarm, Forhewasawaterman fireman. Sheadmiredthe cut of hiscoat, Therecouldnot be a smarterman,

Andshelongedtogooutinaboat Alongwiththewaterman fireman. A loverbesideshehadgot, He wasa scoureranddyerman, Hislovefor her wasashot Asher’nfor the watermanfireman.

Thedyerhadplentyofcash, Andalthough hewasa muchshorterman, He resolvedhe wouldcut a dash, Andcut out the watermanfireman.

Buthiscompany sherefused bold Andsaid,evenwashea squireman, He warn’tfit a candleto hold Tothe handsomewatermanfireman.

65

66

Insurance FireBrigades 1680-1929

Butthisdyerman wouldnothavenay,

Forfearfolkshouldthinkhe wasnot a man

Hestucktohertightanddidpray Shewouldhavehiminsteadof the watermanfireman.

Withhismoneyhemadeagreatshow Madeherpresents orelsehe’sa liarman.

But the fasterhe ran afterher, The fastershefollowedthe watermanfireman. Yethispresentsto loseshewasloth,

Tohispocketshegavenoquarter, man, Shetoldhimandvowedwithan oath, Shewouldcut withthe watermanfireman.

Wehopethen,thedyerdidgrin, Though, poorfella,hewarn’tabitnigher, man, Forher falseheartwascramfullwithin Of the handsomewatermanfireman. One dayfor her supperhe bought A lobster,for he was that sort of man,

Genteely todowhatwasnot Tobedonebythewaterman fireman. Hethoughthe’dsupwithheratnight, Sohesentit,wrapped up,to herbya man, Andwhatdidshedobutinvite Toeatit, the watermanfireman!

Itwaslatebeforehecouldgetthere, Whensittingattablehecaughta man, Thelobsterwasgone—hedidstare Whenhesawthewaterman fireman. Hissenses, allofthemseemed stopped; He stoodasstiffasa wire,man,

Butcametobybeingwellwhopped Bytherival,thewaterman fireman. ToBowStreetheslowlydidhalt Andalthough hewishedtobethoughta man, Awarranthegotforassault Andtookupthewaterman fireman. Tothesession thenallthreedidgo, Whereshesworethatthislovingdyerman Beganthefrayandgavethefirstblow— Sohe’dtenpoundstopaytothewaterman fireman. In 1809theDruryLaneTheatrewasdestroyed byfire,andalthoughthiswasa lossto drama it wasto haveanunexpected spin-offin theformofpoetry.InAugust1812thecommittee fortherebuilding ofthetheatreannouncedthattheywerepromotinga competition foran addressto be spokenon theopeningofthetheatreon 10October.Some112compositions weresentin andamongthesewasRejected Addresses, ajointproductionofHoraceandJames Smithwhichconsistedof a smallvolumeof twenty-oneimaginaryaddresses or prologues imitatingthestylesofthechiefwritersoftheday.Itbecameanovernightsuccess andwentto

TheInsuranceFiremen

67

thatofSirWalter manyeditionsin itsfirstyearandprovedverypopular.Ofallthe imitations, Scottwasregardedasthebest,consisting ofavividdescription of thesceneofa fireinamock ofLondonin heroicstyleasusedbyScottin TheLadyoftheLake.Firstcomesa description darkness andtheoutbreakofthefire,andthencomesthearrivaloftheengines: The summon’dfiremenwokeat call, Andhiedthemto theirStationsall;

Starting fromshortandbrokensnooze, Eachsoughthispond’rous hobnail’d shoes, Butfirsthisworstedhosenplied, Plushbreechesnext,in crimsondyed, Hisnetherbulkembraced; Thenjacketthick,of red or blue,

Whosemassy shoulder gavetoview Thebadgeofeachrespective crew, Intinorcoppertraced. Theenginesthunder’d throughthestreet, Fire-hook, pipe,bucket,allcomplete, Andtorchesglared, andclattering feet Alongthepavement paced. Andone,the leaderof the band,

FromCharingCrossalongtheStrand, Likestagbybeagles huntedhard, Rantillhestopp’d atVin’ garYard. Theburningbadgehisshoulder bore, The beltandoilskinhat he wore, The canehe had,hismento bang,

Show’d foreman oftheBritishgang. Now HisnamewasHigginbottom. Tis meetthatI shouldtellyouhow Theotherscameinview: theracebegun, TheHand-in-Hand Then camethe Phoenixandthe Sun,

Th’Exchange, whereoldInsurers run, TheEagle, wherethenew: With thesecameRumford,Bumford,Cole,

RobinsfromHocklyintheHole, Lawson andDawson, cheekbyjowl, CrumpfromSt.Giles’s Pound: Whitford andMitford join’dthetrain, Huggins andMuggins fromChickLane AndClutterbuck,who got a sprain,

Beforetheplugwasfound. HobsonandJobsondidnotsleep, Butah!notrophycouldtheyreap, ForbothwereintheDonjonKeep OfBridewell’s gloomymound. E’enHigginbottom nowwasposed, Forsadderscenewasne’erdisclosed;

Insurance FireBrigades 1680-1929 Without,within,in hideousshow,

Devouring flamesresistless glow, Andblazing raftersdownward go, Andneverhalloo‘Heads below’ Nornoticegiveatall.

TheFiremen terrifiedareslow Tobidthepumping torrentflow, Forfeartheroofshouldfall. ‘Back,Robins,backCrump,standaloof

Whitford, keepnearthewalls. ‘Huggins, regardyourownbehoof’, For,lo!theblazing, rockingroof Down,down,in thunderfalls.

Anawfulpausesucceeds thestroke, Ando’erthe ruinsvolumedsmoke,

Rollingarounditspitchyshroud, Conceal’d themfromth’astonish’d crowd. Atlengththemistawhilewasclear’d,

When,lo’amidthe wreckuprear’d,

Gradual a movingheadappear’d, AndEaglefiremenknew “Twas JosephMuggins, namerevered, Theforeman oftheircrew. Loudshoutedallinsignsofwoe, ‘AMuggins! to therescue, ho’ Andpour’dthehissing tide: Meanwhile theMuggins foughtamain Andstroveandstruggled allinvain, For,rallying butto fallagain, He totter’d,sunk,anddied. Did noneattempt,beforehe fell,

Tosuccouronetheylovedsowell? Yes,Higginbottom didaspire (Hisfiremans soulwasallonfire), Hisbrotherchiefto save;

Butah’hisreckless generous ire Servedbuttosharehisgrave. Midblazing beamsandscalding streams, Throughfireandsmokehedauntless broke, WhereMuggins brokebefore: Butsulphury stenchandboilingdrench Destroying sighto’erwhelm’d himquite, Hesunktorisenomore. Stillo’erhishead,whileFatehe braved,

Hiswhizzing water-pipe hewaved; ‘Whitford andMitford, plyyourpumps,

TheInsuranceFiremen

69

YouClutterbuck,come,stiryourstumps,

Whyareyouinsuchdolefuldumps? Afireman, andafraidofbumps. Whataretheyfear’d on?fools!’odrot’em’ Werethe lastwordsof Higginbottom.

FIREDOGS LikemostEnglishmen the firemenhada fondnessfor animals,andseveraldogsattached themselves to insurancefirebrigadesandwereadoptedby the men.One of the earliest descriptions of an insurancefiredogappearsin the PennyMagazine of 11August1832and describes how,about1829,a gentlemanwascalledto hisbusinesspremisesin the Cityof Londonbecausetheadjoiningbuildingwason fire.He hadto supervise theremovalofhis furnitureandpapers,butstillhadtimetonoticeadogrunningaboutandtakingadeepinterest in whatwasgoingon whilenotactuallygettingin thewayofthefirefighting. Intriguedby thedog’sbehaviourthisgentleman spoketo a firemanoftheAtlasAssurance Company, and sincetheexplanation wassoextraordinary herecordedthefollowing dialogue: Gentleman. —(stooping downtopatthedog,andaddressing thefireman) —‘Is thisyourdog, myfriend?’ Fireman. —‘No,sir,hedoesnotbelongto me,orto anyoneinparticular. Wecallhimthe firemen’s dog. Gentleman. —‘Thefiremen’s dog.Whyso?Hashenomaster?’ Fireman. —‘No,sir,hecallsnoneofusmaster, thoughweareallofuswillingenoughtogive himanight’s lodginganda pennyworth ofmeat;buthewon’tstaylongwithanyofus;his delightistobeatallthefiresinLondon, and,farornear,wegenerally findhimontheroad aswearegoingalong,andsometimes, ifit isoutoftown,wegivehimalift. | don’tthink therehasbeenafireforthesetwoorthreeyearspastwhichhehasnotbeenat. Furtherparticulars of thisdogwassuppliedby ‘a gentlemanconnectedwithone of the principalLondonfireinsurance offices’: His home,if it can be calledso,is in one of the recessesof BlackfriarsBridge;and it is

supposed hehasacquired histasteforblazesinconsequence ofbeingnoticedbythefiremen whosofrequently passoverthatbridge.Ithasbeenremarked thatheinvariably follows close upontheheelsofeveryfireman heseesuntildrivenaway. Thisinducesmeto believethat it isforthemenandnotforthefiresthatheentertains sostrongaregard. Ononeoccasion he followed theenginesto a fireat Greenwich, andremained thereuntilthelastof the engineshadpackedupitsapparatus to depart.Onanotheroccasion, (thefireatMr.Tyler's premises, inWarwick Lane), heremained withthemensixteendays,duringwhichtheywere employed in rescuing propertyfromthesmouldering ruins.Heisperfectly wellknownto everyfireman inLondon. Heiscalled ‘Tyke’, andisexceedingly uglyinhisappearance, being oneoftheworstformedspecimens oftheturnspitbreed. who,so one storygoes,was the mostfamousof thesefiredogswas‘Chance’, However, thepropertyofa Spitalfields weaverfromwhomheranawayabout1832. rightfully afire, wassurprised to seehislostdogbusy Itwassometimelaterthathisowner,watching the dog,tookhimhomeandchainedhim runningaboutamongthefiremen.He reclaimed oftheLondonFireEngine up,buthe gotfreeandreturnedto theWatlingStreetHeadquarters

70

InsuranceFireBrigades1680—1929

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Above: AfirebrokeoutattheTower ofLondon in1841 inwhichpartofthehistoric armoury

collectionwasdestroyed, buttheinsurancebrigadewasableto bringthefireundercontrol.It is thanksto theinsurancebrigadesthatmanyhistoricpropertieshavesurvivedforusto appreciate today.

The InsuranceFiremen

7. Threeinsurancefiremen standamongtheruins

oftheTheatre Royal,

Bath,Somerset, which wasdestroyed byfireon 18April1862. Theyall weartalltophatslikethe

twopolicemen andthe civilian.

Opposite below: The Gloucester brigade of

theLiverpool&London & GlobeInsurance Companywiththeir largemanualfireengine andhosecart,whichalso

carries standpipesand

aTozer-pattern bucket pump,1865.

Establishment. AnotherversionclaimsthatChancewasbornin Shoreditch, oneofa litterof severalpuppies, buthewastheonlyonenotto be drowned. Whenhewasabouta yearoldthehousecaughtfireandwasalmosttotallydestroyed and he wasfoundbyfiremenunderthebodyofhismotherin the cellarandwasrescued;after thathestayedwiththebrigade.WhenafireoccurredChanceranbesidetheenginebarkinga warning,andatthesceneofa firewouldclamberaboutamongtheruinsandgushingwater, andrunfromengineto enginebarkingexcitedly. Hispresenceat thePalaceofWestminster firein 1834wasparticularly notedandhe wasdepictedtherein a printpublishedby GS. Tregearin 1835, andwasalsopaintedbyWilliamHeathin thesameyear. Themenof the L.EE.E.wereveryfondof Chanceandclubbedtogetherto buyhima specialcollaron whichwasinscribed, ‘Stopme not but onwardlet mejog,ForI amthe LondonFiremen’s Dog,He wassaidto havefathereda pupbut thisdisappeared andwas believedto havebeenstolen.Onedayhewasinjuredata fireandwastakenbackto thefire stationwhere he wasbeing nursedat the hearth by a fireman,but the alarmbellswent,and

onhearingtheenginesettingoffhejumpedupintendingto accompany it butfellbackdead. Thefiremenhadhimstuffedandhewaskeptatthestationuntilhewasraffledforthebenefit ofthewidowofanengineerwhohadcommittedsuicide, raisinga totalof£12310s9d.

Insurance FireBrigades 1680—1929

Firemen oftheRoyal Insurance Company

brigadeat Birmingham, 1863.Note the

trumpets heldbytwo ofthem,andthelamp

on thebelt.Allwear whistlesusedto pass ordersandkeepin touchwitheachother at fires.

Thefirebrigadeof the Liverpool&London & GlobeInsurance Companyat Birstall nearLeedsin 1865.In

thisrare‘action shot’it

canbeseenthateach manhasa stripedown histrousersanda pair of glovestuckedin hisbelt,witha lifeline

hanging fromit.

‘Chance’ theLondon

fireman’s dog,clearly

showinghiscollar bearingtheverse:“Stop menot butonwardlet mejog,ForI amthe Dog.’ Londonfireman’s

Adrawing fromlifeby WilliamHeath,1834.

CHAPTER SIX

REGULATIONS, PAYANDREWARDS

REGULATIONS Onceamanhadjoinedaninsurance company firebrigadehehadtoabidebya seriesofruleslaid downtoensurethesmoothandefficient runningofthebrigade. Theseregulations weregradually developed asthecompanies brigades, andthecompany itself, encountered newsituations, andfrom that setofruleswasdrawnup.Toguarantee timeto timetheminutebooksrecordthata revised not them,although toaseriesoffinesforbreaking to,themenweresubject theruleswereadhered allcompanies foundthisnecessary, sincethethreatofdemotion ordismissal wassufficient tokeep wouldhittheman andotherbenefits themenin ordermostofthetime,andthelossofearnings thanothers, offences of r ange greater finesmoreoftenandfora imposed hard.Somecompanies notonlyhow show which r egulations offirebrigade giveexamples Three—Five andAppendices thefiremenwereexpected tobehavebutwhattheymight,onoccasion, getupto!

Par at thesceneofa fire,andtheamount paidtheirfiremenforattendance companies Theinsurance andwellinto the eighteenth amongthemthroughout paidseemsto havebeenfairlystandard rather showed which f ee retaining paid theirmena also Mostcompanies century. thenineteenth the rightof since initially, beunnecessary to a retainer considered s ome although morevariation, intothenavyandarmywasthoughtto be enoughof fromimpressment firemento exception CharlesPovey, whorana onemaninsurance company, theExchange aninducement andreward. menatallfor to payhissalvage itnecessary didnotconsider apparently HouseFireOfficein 1708, andit is capsandbadges, theirownclothing, themto provide atfires,andalsorequired attendance schemewastakenoverandformedinto WhenPovey’s notclearif theywereevenpaida retainer. thefiremenwerepaidforattendance knownastheSunFireOfficein 1710, company a corporate to payfortheirown theywerestillexpected although brigades, atfiresinlinewithothercompany ofa number tothefiremen payawarded of the Belowaregivensomeexamples uniforminitially. brigades atvariousdates. ofinsurance company

WESTMINSTER INSURANCE COMPANY 1717 was certificate thatthepressexemption considered feeastheDirectors Nofixedsalaryorretaining or atfiresattherateof6dfora chimney Themengotpaidforattendance incentive. quitesufficient

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InsuranceFireBrigades1680—1929

‘small’ fire,1sfora‘larger fire’,and2s6dforafirerequiring several hourswork.Laterinthecentury paywasbroughtmoreinlinewithothercompanies andthefiremenwerepaidbythehour.

LONDONASSURANCECORPORATION«1750 Bothfiremenandporterswerepaid1sforthefirsthourat a fireand6dperhourthereafter, providedtheywereon thescenewithinanhourofthealarm.Themenwerepaida further

1sforbeingcalled toa fireatnight.

PHOENIXASSURANCECOMPANY1783 Forattendance at chimneyfireswithinonehourofthealarmbeinggiventhe Foremangot

1s6d,theDeputyForeman gotIsandthefiremen got6d,butonlythefirstfourarrivals at

the scenewerepaid.Forallotherfires,if the menarrivedwithintwohoursof the alarm beinggiven,therateswere5sfortheForemen, 3sfortheDeputyForeman, and2s6dforthe firemen.Forkeepingwatchondangerous propertyandtoensure a firedidnotbreakoutonce extinguished, thepaywasodperhour.Ata laterdatethemenwerepaidanhourlywage.

THESALOP FIRE OFFICE 1790 Forattendance ata firethemenwerepaid3s,with2sextraforthefirstmanto reachthefire enginehouseandts forthesecondmanto arrive.

THE KENTINSURANCEOFFICE1802 The Foremangot a smallretainer,but the provisionof a uniformand exceptionfrom impressment wasthoughtto besufficient rewardforthemen,sotheydidnotgeta retaining fee,butwerepaidforattendance ata fireonthefollowing scale: 1. Ifthefiremen arecalledoutatanalarmofFire,eachManwhogiveshisattendance atthe EngineHousebeforesuchAlarmisdiscovered tobeunfounded, tohaveThreeshillings. . IftheEngineisactually usedfora shorterperiodthanthreehours,FiveShillings. W. Ifusedforthreehoursandundertwelve hours,SevenShillings. . Ifabovetwelvehours,oranyfurthertimewhichmaybenecessary, TenShillings. . EachMantorepairwiththeEnginetotheFirewithallpossible speed; butifanyManis nottherewithinhalfanhourafterthearrival oftheEngine, adeduction fromtheregulative

WN

—&

”~A

allowances to be madeasfollows:-On thefirstclass,OneShilling;on theSecond class, Two

Shillings; onthethirdclass,ThreeShillings; andonthefourthclass, FiveShillings.

By1900,whenthecompanymaintained twoenginesatMaidstone, thefirstfiremanto arrive at the fire stationtook the engineto the fire,with a certainnumber of men,the laterarrivals

beingpaid‘callmoney’to standbyin casea secondfireenginewascalledintouse.

THE COUNTYFIRE OFFICE1809 TheForemanwaspaid£10 peryear,plusstandardattendance pay,theDeputyForemanand Engineergot£5 peryear,plusattendance pay,but theEngineerwasnot paida retainerif

Regulations, PayandRewards

75

lodgingwasprovided. The Foremengot 1sforthefirsthourat a fireand6dthereafter. The EngineDrivergot tosforeveryrun andreturnwithin astraight linedistanceoftwomiles (3.2km),15sfora 2%-to 4-milerun(4to 6.4km),anda sovereign fora 4- to 6-milerun (6.4 to 9.6km).Ifthehorsesweresentbackto thefireenginehouseandthenbroughtbackagain, halfpricewasallowedthedriverforcollecting thefireengine.

ROYAL EXCHANGE ASSURANCE 1827 Duringan economydrivethe companydispensed withitspaymentsof 2sto the Foremen andIs to thefiremenforattendance at chimneyfires,althoughotherattendance payat fires remainedthesameasothercontemporary Londoninsurance brigades.

THEYORKSHIRE INSURANCE COMPANY 1830 TheForemengot£10 peryearplus£8 towardstherentofhislodgingsandattendance pay, theDeputyForemangot£5 forrentofa tenementplusattendance pay.Thefiremengot£1 Is retainingfeeand2s6dfourtimesa yearfor“exercising theengine’.£1 Is extrawaspaid to twomenwhoactedassubstitutefor the ForemanandDeputyForeman. The firemen’s attendance feewasIs forthefirsthourand6dforeachhourafterwards. The companyretainedsixtyadditionalmenfrom1829whowouldonlyattenda fireif requested, soavoidingtheuseof untrainedvolunteers to pumpthe engines. These‘assistant firemen’werepaidts forthe firsthourand6dthereafter, but if not calleduponduringthe yeartheyweregivenssat Christmas

NORWICHUNION FIREINSURANCESOCIETY,¢.1838. Thefiremenwerepaidaquarterlyretainingfeeof7s,plus6dforeachhourspentinattendance at firesduringthatquarter.Thefirstmanto raisethealarmandorderoutthehorsesgot2s 6din additionto hiswage,whilethefirstfiremanto alerttheForemanreceivedanadditional 1s.Ifa NorwichUnionfireenginewasfirstatthesceneofthefirethedriverwasawarded§s andthecompanydonatedtosto theNorwichUnionFireman’s Fund.

THENORTHERNASSURANCE COMPANY, ¢.1850 The Superintendent waspaid£10 a yearretainingfee,theDeputyForemanwaspaida 20s retainingfee,andthe firemengota Iosretainingfee.Forattendance at a firebetween8 p.m. and6 a.m.theywerepaid$s,andfora firebetween6 a.m.and8 p.m.got3s.Thesefigures werereducedbyhalfwhenthefireenginewasnotused,andforeveryexerciseinvolving the useoftheenginethe firemenwerepaidrs6d.

ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS Asanincentive allthecompanies offered a rewardtotheirdriversiftheyarrivedatthesceneofa firefirst,secondorthird,whichbuiltupaverykeenrivalry betweenthevarious insurance brigades. TheLondoncompanies werefullyabletoaffordtodothissinceoneoftheprovisions ofthe1708 FireAct(7Annec.17)wasa rewardpaidto thefirstfireengineto reachthefire,“complete with a SockethoseandLeatherPipe’,of30s,with20sgoingto thesecondenginearrivingandIosto

76

Insurance FireBrigades 1680-1929

thethirdonthescene. Whilethe1708Actanditslateramendments onlyappliedto London, the provincial insurance brigades wereoffered similar inducements bytheircompanies toarriveatthe sceneofafirefirst.Thiswasimportant notonlyfromthepointofviewofsaving thebuilding, but alsomadeagoodimpression onthepublic, generating goodpublicity and encouraging peopleto takeoutpolicies withthem.TheBathSunFireOfficedidnotmaintain itsownbrigadeforthe firstthirtytwoyearsofitsexistence, butduringthisperiodtheywouldrewardthefirstengineof anycompany whicharrivedataburningbuilding insuredwiththema rewardofoneguinea, the secondhalf'aguinea, andthethirdonthescenefiveshillings. Thecompanies wouldgiverewardsto theirfiremenandportersforworkingparticularly hardatfires,asisclearfroma minuteoftheSunFireOfficedated16November1738: ‘That Seventeenfiremenandportersbe paid£2 2s 6d for theirextraordinary labourin plying the enginethe wholenightat a fireat GalleyKey’Additional pay,whichvariedfromone companyto another,waspaidforspecialdutiessuchastakingpartin thepublicityparades, watchingoverbuildings to ensurefiredidnotbreakoutagainor thesitewaslooted,andfor persuading newpeopleto takeoutpolicies. TheSunrequired twoofitsfiremen, RobertStorey, theDeputyForeman, andJamesBradley to attenditsCommittee ofManagement meetings everyfortnightaswellastheGeneralMeetings. However, inJuly1806thesetwoindividuals informed theBoardthattheyregarded thetwoshillings andsixpence theygotforattending eachmeetingwasnotenoughbecause theyfrequently missed attending fireswhilethemeetings werebeingheld,andtheywouldearnmoremoneybygoingto afire.TheDirectors considered thattheallowance theywerepayingthemwasquiteadequate, but didagreethatinfutureattendance atthemeetings wouldbemadebyallthefiremeninrotation.

BENEFITS Manycompanies providedadditional benefitsin theformofdinnerswhichwereusuallyheld afterthepublicity paradesknownasDaysofMarching, whentheForemanwasgivenenough moneyto buythefiremenandportersa mealanda drinkor two.However, somecompanies wouldprovideoneor twoadditional dinnersduringtheyear,andmostofthemprobably had a specialChristmas dinnerforthemen.TherecordsoftheSunshowthatoccasionally 6dwas givento someofthefiremen‘todrinkthehealthoftheDirectors’, presumably forrendering someadditional smallservicesuchasdistributing insurance prospectuses. Inthelatenineteenth andearlytwentiethcenturiesthe Canterbury brigadeof the KentInsurance Companywere entertained atthefarmoftheirCaptain,MrAshenden, everysummer. Thebrigadehada drill in theafternoon, andin theeveningenjoyeda mealinhisfarmhouse, wherehewouldprovide a suckingpig.Afterthemealtherewasmusicin thedrawingroom,andsomemembersofthe brigadesangballadsorplayedaninstrument accompanied bya memberoftheofficestaff.

INJURIES Ingeneralthereseemsto havebeenlittleinthewayofformalarrangements forthepaymentof compensation forinjuryuntiltowards theendoftheeighteenth century, whensuchcompanies as thePhoenix Assurance Company andNorwichUnionInsurance Society setupfundsfromwhich topayclaims bythemen.TheNorwichUnionBenefitFundwasinitially donatedbythecompany andmadeupbytenshillings everytimeoneoftheirenginesarrivedfirstatafire.Thisfundwas furthertoppedupbythefinesimposedon itsfiremenforvariousoffences againstthebrigade regulations (seeAppendices).A similar system wasoperated byothercompanies. However, payment fromthesefundswaspurelyatthediscretion oftheDirectors, andbecauseofthisamountspaid andthemannerofpaymentvariedgreatly. Intherecordsoftheinsurance companies areregular references toinjuriesreceived bythefiremenandporters.Thefirstmentionofaninjurytoa Sun

Regulations, PayandRewards

77

FireOfficefiremenoccurson 19thJanuary1714when2s6dwasgivenforanunspecified injury, butlaterthesamemonthIoswasgiventoafireman whohadreceived aninjurytohisback.From thesecondhalfoftheeighteenth centurytheinjuriesareoftenspecified andit canbe seenthe mostcommonwereto backs,shouldersandhands.

Someoftheentriesarequitegraphicandshowjusthowdangerous theworkwas.On 8 May 1722twofiremenoftheHandinHandFireOfficewereawarded oneguineaandoneanda half

guineas respectively forinjuries theyhadreceived whenfighting a fireattheDuchess ofRutland’s

houseatChelsea, thenavillage westofLondon, because ofthe‘greathurt&damage theyrec.din theirventuring toofaruponthatoccasion” On2November 1758theDirectors oftheSun“Reada petitionofGeorgeDrewater, oneofthefiremen, settingforththatabeamfellonhimatthefirein Wormwood Streetwhichhadlikedtohavebrokehisbackthathewasobliged tobecarriedhome ina chairandwassomedaysunderthecareofa Surgeonandunableto followhisbusiness. The

directors awarded himthreeguineas ‘forhishurt.Injuries notonlyoccurred whenfighting fires asisshown byaminute oftheSunof15September 1774, whenitwasagreed that“IwoGuineas

eachbepaidtoJohnLewis,oneofthePortersofthisOffice.&to GeorgeMills,a carman,in consideration ofHurtstheyreceived inreturning froma FirebytheHorsestakingFright’ Tobeinjuredwasveryseriousas,inmanycases, themenwereunabletocarryontheirnormal occupation asWatermen. It wouldnotbe longbeforetheyandtheirfamilies werein financial troublesonecessitating anapplication totheDirectors oftheircompany forhelp.Thisisgraphically illustrated inaminuteoftheSundated5August1742:“That GeorgeAtkinson, oneofthePorters, begiventwoguineas hehavingbeen12weeksinthehospital andhisfamilyingreatdistress.’ On 17December 1778anotherminuteoftheSunrecords: “ToTheRightHon.HansStanley Twenty ninePoundssixShillings &Sevenpencefordisbursements madebyhimforthecureofJohnCalls whobrokehisleginassisting atthefireatSteephill intheIsleofWight? Injuries whilefirefighting werecommon, butthepayments appear, ingeneral, tohavebeenquitereasonable, anditseemsthe SunFireOfficepaidoutbetween£1,100and£1,200incompensation toitsfiremenandporters between1710and1833. Inthemid-eighteenth centurytheDirectors oftheWestminster Insurance Officeusedtheirinfluence togainadmission tohospital fortheirbrigadefiremen. Mostcompanies hadadoctor-surgeon whowouldtreatthefiremenandcarryoutexaminations ofnewcandidates beforethejoinedthebrigade. Thesedoctorspresented theirbillstothecompany annually and,whereitemised, givesomeidea ofthenumberofinjuries received bythemeninthecourseofayear.Forexample, MrA.E.Lloyd, thesurgeon oftheSunFireOffice, presented thecompany withabillon22ndJune1822for£5 $s forexaminations, and£36 15sforattending theinjuriesof100men.In1830theSunnotonlypaid £25to MrLloydformedicalandsurgical attendance ontheirfiremenandporters, buta further £8 15s4dformedicines. Thecompanies wouldalsogivehelptofiremen andporterswhentheyfell illduetonaturalcauses. InAugust1829theGuardian Assurance Company received anapplication forassistance fromoneofitsfiremenwho,whilefightinga fire,hadfallenintoa tanningpitand subsequently developed pulmonary consumption. Afterdueconsideration theDirectors granted him£20.In 1806theForeman oftheSunfiremenreportedto theDirectors thatanEngineer, GeorgeRobinson, wasveryillandincapable offulfilling hisduty,sotheDirectors allowed him15s aweekforaslongastheyconsidered necessary. TheYorkshire Insurance Companygaveconsiderable helptoMrCarter,theSuperintendent of theirfirebrigade,whosehealth,in 1825,wascausingsomeanxietyamongthe Directors. TheythereforeaskedBenjaminDodsworth, a localdoctorandmemberof the Board,to conferwithMr Carter’sowndoctorandreportto theBoard,the companybearingallthe costsformedicalattendance. Mr Carterwasevidentlyveryill andwasforcedto resign.In AugustofthatyeartheDirectorsagreedto payhimhiscurrentquarterssalaryinfullandgave himagiftof£10toassisthiminreturningto Londonwhereheoriginally camefrom.Inview ofhispoorhealththeygrantedhimafurther5sa weekforaslongashewasunemployed, but thisdidnotlastlongasin September he died,andthecompanymadea paymentof£10 to hiswidow,withanother£2 beinggivento herin May1853fromthe‘Directors’ Purse.’

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DEATHIN SERVICE Beinga firemanwasa dangerousoccupationandnot onlydid theyget injured,but also

occasionally gotkilled. TheRoyalExchange Assurance Corporation from1801required its

firemento insuretheirliveswiththecompanyforonehundredpounds,thepremiumbeing partlypaidby the company, andthe remainderby a deductionfromthe men’swages.This requirement to takeoutlifeinsuranceappearsto be surprisingly unusualat thisperiod,and lifeinsuranceamonginsurancefiremenwasnot commonuntilmuchlater.Compensation andassistance forthe firemen’s familieswereat the discretionof the Directors,althoughit seemsthatin mostcasesthecompanies didofferhelpto widowsandbereavedfamiliesupon application, andsometimes theytookconsiderable effortsto helpthem.The minutebooks ofthecompanies usually justnotethata petitionfroma fireman’s widowwaslaidbeforethe board,anddetailsaresparse, butthefulltextofonepetitionreads: TotheRightHonbleCommissioners OftheSunFireOffice. TheHumblePetitionofEliz.Wright WidowofthelateThos.Wright, Porter TothisHonourable Society17yrs. Sheweth

ThatYourPetitioner’s husband died&has lefta disconsolate widowwithfiveChildren,FourofWhomare

verySmall, andshehasmiscarried whilehelay’ddead&very littletosubsist on,theybeingverypoor&nofurnituretohelp themselves with,soshehumblyhope’s YourHonbleBoardwillthink hera ProperObjecttorelieveherasYourHonrsmaythink mostmeet.Sheisoblig’d to Quiteherhouseinthe Almhouses, whichisUsualfor theWidowto do aftertheirHusbands

discease. AndYourPetitioner, asindutybound,shalleverpray&c.’ The companygaveElizabethWrightfour guineasin consideration of her unfortunate circumstances. TheSunwasoftenwillingto givemoneyto widowswhosehusbands haddied fromcausesnotimmediately causedbyfirefighting, althoughin manycasesit wasprobablya majorcontributingfactor.Forexample,the Sunminutesfor 21 February1754notes:“ThatFive

Poundsfiveshillings begiventoMaryCroker,WidowofJohnCrokerlateFireman whocaught a violentColdat a Fireoccasioned a Feverandin appearance wasthe Causeof hisDeath,’

Another minute dated28January 1762 notes: “Read apetition ofMaryBurton WidwofDaniel Burton Porterdec’d setting forththatherhusband hadbeen23years intheservice ofthisoffice &thatata Firesometimepastherec’dacontusion inhisheadwhichthrewhimforsomeyears intoa languishing condition. ResolvedthatFourpoundsFourShillings be givento the said MaryBurtonin consideration oftheaccidentto herhusband& hislongservice. Paymentsto the widowsof firemenkilledwhilefirefighting variedfromaboutfiveto tenpounds,andsometimes the expenses of thefuneralwere paidbythecompany. Towards the end of the 18thcenturythe Sunalsosometimes paidpensionsto widowsof firemen andporters.Forexample,the widowof FrancisRoberts,an Engineerkilledat a firenear Westminster Bridgein 1790,gotthe funeralexpenses paid,plusa sumof ten quineasanda pensionof twentypoundsperyear.Varioussumsweregivento widowsfromtimeto time whowerein distressed circumstances andappliedto herlatehusbands companyforhelp.The

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recordsof the LondonAssurance Corporation, in a seriesof entriesspanningseveralyears, revealsa sadstorybutalsoshowshowthecompanies werepreparedto helptheiremployees families. On toth February1744an entryin theAccountbookreads:‘cleaning theblanket thatDavidGoodallwaswraptinIs’. Thisisclarifiedbyexamination ofthecompany’s Court minutes whichshowsthatDavidGoodallwasa fireporterwhowasappointedon 28January 1736,and waskilledwhen he fellfroma burningbuildingin St Michael’sAlleyin 1744.

Hisbodywastakento thecompany’s officein CastleCourtandcoveredwiththeblanket mentionedabove.Goodalllefta widow,Mary,anda smallson,John.According to a minute dated16March1744thecompanypromisedthat,whentheboywasoldenough,theywould ‘putoutthesaidJohnGoodallto somebusiness attheirownexpense.’ Elevenyearslater,on 7 February1755, anentryintheminutebook reads:‘Mr. Jeremiah Jewell,SilkdyerinTowerStreet, appeared beforetheCommittee withMaryGoodall, widowofDavidGoodall, formerlyoneof thePortersofthiscorporation, killedata firein StMichael’s Alley, andhersonJohnGoodall, whomthesaidJeremiah Jewellofferedto takeapprentice forthetermof sevenyears,on his beingpaidFiveGuineas. Resolved thatthecharacter ofthesaidJeremiah Jewellbeenquired into, andorderedthatMaryGoodalldoattendthecommittee onfridaynext. A weeklater,theirenquiriescomplete, the companyhaddiscovered that‘Jeremiah Jewell borea verygoodcharacter’, andso‘MaryGoodallwascalledin andtoldshemightbindher sonapprentice to thesaidJeremiah Jewellforthetermofsevenyears.’ TheSecretary paidMr Jewellfiveguineaswhenheproducedtheindentureofapprenticeship, andalsogaveMarytwo guineasto buyhersonclothing,witha furthereighteenshillings andsixpenceto MrJewell forthecostofbindingJohnGoodallashisapprentice, sosettingtheladup in a securetrade ifallwentwell.TheKentInsurance Companyrecordsalsoshowdiscretionary awards, suchas thatdated27March1822whenit was‘Resolved thatit be referredto theBoardofAuditors to makesuchcompensation asshallappearto themproperto theWidowandfamilyofHayes oneof ourlatefiremenat Rochesterwhowasaccidentally killedat the fireat Dentonand alsoto Hook,anotherpersonwhowasmuchhurtbytheFireengine.’ However, companies occasionally turneddowna widow’s pleaforhelp,onesuchappeal beingmadeto theSunin 1850byMrsFarlow, widowofa formerSunfireman.TheSunhad amalgamated itsbrigadeintotheLondonFireEngineEstablishment in 1833, andtheDirectors decidedin thiscasethatherapplication be declined. However, in 1858theygavefivepounds to EllenStagg,widowof C.J.Staggwhojoinedthe Sunbrigadein 1818anddiedin 1850, becauseshehadmetwithanaccidentand‘wasnowin poorcircumstances.’

RETIREMENTANDLENGTHOF SERVICE Therewerelongwaitingliststojointhecompanybrigades, andin mostcasesthemenserved loyally formanyyears,althoughtosomeextenttheywereforcedto serveforaslongaspossible sincepensionswerenotto be grantedautomatically untilwellintothe 19thcentury.During theeighteenthandearlynineteenthcenturyit appearsthatmorefiremendiedin officethan retired.Asthemengotoldertheyoftenappliedto theircompany tohavetheirdutiesmodified to takeaccountoftheirage,particularly whentheyhadserveda longtime.InApril1754the Directors oftheSunFireOfficeheard a petitionfromShadrack Croker,brigadeForeman, who wishedtohaveJohnSmithashisassistant sincehisadvancing yearswerereducinghiscapability to do thejob.Thiswasgranted,andSmithwasawardeda Foreman’s pay.In February1762 theCommitteeoftheSunheardthatJohnCunningham, anEngineer, ‘bybeingadvanced in yearsisnotcapableofattendingfiresin thenight”TheDirectorsdecidedto promoteanother firemanto thepositionofEngineerwiththeappropriate salary, butcontinuedto employJohn Cunningham onanEngineers pay‘inconsideration ofhisformerservice’. If a firemanhad not been givena pensionon retirementtheymightapplyto their formercompanyforsmallsumsof moneyoccasionally. Theserequestswereusuallytreated

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sympathetically and weregranted,althoughthis wasnot alwaysthe case.In April1747 MatthewKempton, aformerLondonAssurance Corporation firemanwhohadbeenforcedto resignbecauseofageandinfirmity, andwhohadgainedadmission to theGreenwich Hospital, wroteto theDirectors pointingoutthat‘hisbeingincapacitated forgettinghisbreadforsome timehadobligedhimto contractsomedebts,andpraying, inconsideration ofhislongservice, someassistance fromthe Corporation.Hisrequestseemsto havebeendealtwithrather

harshly sinceitwasrefused withtheobservation thatsincethecompany hadclothed himfor manyyears, hadpaidhimforattendance atfiresandalso, bearing inmindthefactthathenow

residedattheGreenwich Hospital, it wasnotthoughtthathe deservedanyhelp. TwoSunfiremenweregrantedpensionswhentheyretiredin 1757asbothhadgivenlong serviceto the companybut werenowregardedasbeingtoo oldto carryout theirduties. Bothwereawardedfivepoundseachperyear.After1765Sunfiremen,on retiring,beganto regularly petitionthecompanyforapensionand,whatisnotable,isthegreatlengthofservice thatmanyfiremengave.Forexample, on 1stOctober1778,theDirectors heardapetitionfrom Foreman JohnSmithwhohadservedin thebrigadeforfiftyfouryears,andtheydecidedto givehimapensionforlife. Whentheageofsomeofthefiremenistakenintoaccountit seems surprising thattheycouldhaveplayedmuchofanactiverolein firefighting towardstheend of their service,but it mustbe rememberedthat thesewereverystrong,tough men.

Whenthe brigadeof the SunFireOfficeamalgamated with the LondonFireEngine Establishment in 1833severaloftheirfiremenwereregardedasbeingtoooldto continueand sOweregivena pension: Dateof Appointment Name 1788 1796 1797 1800 1797 1796 1796

JamesBradley RobertStorey ThomasDowding PeterHorn JamesGreenway ThomasStagg Alex.Edington

Rank

Age Pensionperannum

68 Foreman DeputyForeman 65 66 Engineer 56 Engineer 57 Engineer 69 Fireman 62 Fireman

£60 £40 £25 £25 £25 £25 £20

Corporation joinedthe L.FE.E.six Whenthe firemenof the RoyalExchangeAssurance menweretoo oldto serveandweregivenpensionsof betweenfiveandfiftypoundsper brigades, year.Thistraditionoflongservicecontinueduntiltheverylastdaysoftheinsurance clearlyshownbythelengthoftimeservedbymembersoftheNorwichUnionFireInsurance in 1912.Onemanhadservedfor Societybrigadein Gloucester at thetimeof itsdisbanding sevenyears,two for eight years,and others for eleven,fourteen,eighteen,twenty one and

fortyfiveyears.

PAYMENT TOTHEVOLUNTEER PUMPERS Asthemanually pumpedfireenginesrequireda largenumberof mento keepthemgoing, the Foremanwouldgenerally recruitvolunteers fromthebystanders at the fire.Duringthe eighteenthcenturythe rateof payto volunteerpumperswasbetween6dand Is per hour plusfreebeer.In 1807theEssex&SuffolkInsurance Societypaidvolunteers 2sperhourfor pumpingtheengineduringpracticeexercises, whileata firetheywerepaidin proportionto theamountofworktheydid. Theygenerally seemto havegotbetweenIsand§sforassisting at eachfire,althoughon rareoccasions, wherethe volunteershadshownspecialexertion, theymightbe paidup to tenshillings andsixpence. However, the companydidnot expect

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tradesmenor othersalariedpeoplewhoworkedthe engineto applyfor pay,andmadeit quiteclearthattheythoughtit shouldonlybenecessary to providefundsto ‘poorlabouring men’. One of the dutiesof the Foremanwasto determinewhichvolunteershadworkedhis engine,butit wasoftendifficultto keeptrackofthem,soto helpwiththissomecompanies issuedvouchersto volunteerswhichshowedtheywereentitledto payment,whileothers providednumberedbrasstokenswhichthe Foremanhandedout to thepumpers. Thenext

daythevolunteers wouldtakethevouchers ortokens tothecompanies officeorlocalagent

to receivetheappropriate amountofpayment.Peopletakingpartinbucketchainswerealso paid,althoughnot asmuchasthosepumpingthe engines,gettingabout3dperhour,andit seemsthatsomecompanies didnotpaypeoplepassingbucketsofwateratall.

BEER Alcoholic drinksometimes causedthecompanies problems asthefiremenhada tendency, at leastin somecases,to indulgetoo heavilyandconsequently gotintotrouble,sotherewere rulesregardingthe menandstrongdrinkwhenon duty.However,the companies would supplybeeratfiresforthepumpersofthemanualfireengines,andastheserequireda lot of effortto operate,it wasusuallynecessary to recruitvolunteerson the spotto maintainthe pumping,whichoftenhadto go on formanyhours,andthebeerreplacedthebodywater lostthroughsweating. Sofirmlyrootedwasthistraditionofsupplying drinkatfiresthatsome nineteenth-century catalogues issuedby fireenginemakersandequipmentmanufacturers listed‘blackjacks’(leatherjugs)for carryingthe beeras a normalpart of the firefighting equipment! Althoughregardedasa necessary partofthecostsoffirefighting formanyyears, thebeersuppliesoftencausedthecompanies concern. The Secretaryof the RoyalExchangeAssurance wasworriedaboutthe costof beer consumedat a largefirein Bolton,Lancashire, in 1798,andwroteto theiragentthererather curtly:‘Bythe veryhighchargemadeon the Companyforliquorswe shouldimagine,if yourselfhadnotbeenpresent,thatthesamehadbeenindiscriminately distributed to theidle spectators aswellastheactiveassistants.” Thequantityofbeerconsumedalsocausedconcern to theDirectorsoftheEssex&SuffolkInsurance Society, asisclearfroma lettertheywrote to theirChelmsford agenton 4April1808:“The Directorscertainlywillnotpaythebillfor repairingthepumpat theBlueBoar;thechargeisabsolutely infamous. Theguzzlingbillat thesameplaceisalmostasbad.I musttroubleyoufortheparticulars oftheamountof£16 2s formenworkingtheengineandbeer.Istheremoreexpenseforbeer,besidestheBlueBoar

billandWhiteLion?’

Thequestionofbeerconsumption continuedtoworrytheDirectorsoftheEssex&Suffolk and,followinga fireat Harlowin Essexin 1832,theminutebookrecordsthat‘Itappeared thatthe Beerconsumedby the assistants amountedto upwardsof 150gallons,andthatno orderwasgivenforit byMr.Bernard,the agent.’ Thequantityofbeerwassolargethatthe Directorssaidtheywouldnot allowthepaymentofthebillwithoutfurtherparticulars. It is nottoosurprising thattheDirectorswerereluctantto paythebill,astheconsumption of 150 gallons, or 1,200pints(682litres),wasobviously excessive, evenifthenumbersofpumpersis notstated.Publicans sometimes seemtohavetriedto overcharge theEssex&Suffolkforbeer, a complaint madebythecompanyin 1839whentheywerecharged1s8da galloninsteadof theexpected1s2dto 1s4dpergallon. In anattemptto avoidexcessive beerbillstheKentInsuranceCompanyputa limitofup to twoshillings permanforbeeror spiritssuppliedat a fire.Thissystemof providingbeer paymentsto volunteerssometimes, not unsurprisingly, ledto abuses,an extremecasebeing that ofJohn Stallen,whowashangedat Cambridgefor arsonafterconfessing to starting severalfiresovera periodoffiveyearsto getbeerandpayforpumpingthefireengines. To

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tryandcontroltheamountofbeerissued,thecompanies passedrulesconcerningwhohad theauthorityto orderthebeer,to whomit wasgiven,andwhen.Forexampleseerules17, 18and20oftheYorkshire Insurance Company(Appendix Four). ThebeerproblemcausedtheNorwichUnionInsurance Societyto statein 1824that: Whereasthe practiceof givingawayBEERor MONEYto Personsassembled on the occasionof FIRES,hasgrownto an abuseof greatmagnitude, andhastendedto draw togethercrowdsofidleandsometimes ill-disposed Persons, whostandin theway,obstruct theFiremen, andserveonlytoincrease theconfusion ofthescene: NOTICEISHEREBYGIVEN,

Thatthe NORWICHUNIONOFFICEwillnot pay,or bearanyproportionin the payment ofMoneyforsuchpurposes. Thisattitudewasnot,however, sharedbythemajorityofinsurance companies whocontinued to providefireenginepumperswithbeerandpayment, althoughreluctantly.

REWARDSTO THE PUBLIC Duringtheeighteenth andnineteenthcenturies manyordinarypeoplewereinvolved orhelped infirefighting, andtheinsurance companies wouldpayrewards to membersofthepublicwho

hadhelpedtheirfiremen orsuffered lossorinjurywhileassisting ata firewhichinvolved

propertyinsuredwiththecompany. It wasalsosometimes necessary to paycompensation to peoplewhosepropertyhadbeendamaged bytheirbrigadeduringthecourseofthefire,and theywouldalsogivesmallrewardsto peoplewhohadaverteddangerto propertyinsured bythem.Mostcompanies madesuchpayments, buta selectionofexamples fromtheminute booksoftheSunFireOfficeshowsthetypeofpayments made:

‘Mr.SamuelSouthwell formendinghisEngineDamaged attheFireinWhiteAcres,Chancery Lane.’(20June1722) ‘ToMr.LucasofHungerford £5. 5s.to be distributed amongstthepeoplewhoassisted in extinguishing a firethere.(24August1758) “Tothe servantof Mr.Curtisthe BiscuitBakerin Wappingwhoby muchhurt and is confinedto hisbedbyassisting in removinggoodsat thelatefireat GunDock£3. $s.od. (25September1758) “Totheyoungmanwhoassisted CharlesHaswell EngineeratthefireatGunDocktos.6d. (5October1758) “ToMaryWhitmore,Servantto theaboveMrParlierin BarnabyStreet,Distiller, beingso muchgivenforherCloathesburntandHurtreceivedin stoppinga Firein herMastersstill. TwoGuineas.’ (14June1770) ‘£33.18s. 2d.to be paidto Mr.BirdoftheStrandnearTempleBarfortherepairsdoneto hisworkshopdamagedbya wallof anhousein Palograve headandthrowndownon it by theFiremenofthisOffice.(5July1770) ‘ThatFivePoundsbe paidAnnOgbournof MarlboinWiltsin consideration ofherloss ofherownthings,in endeavouring to savetheGoodsofherMasterWm.Westmacott ofsaid Place.(7April1774) ‘OrderedthatTwentyGuineasbepaidtoJonathanOldfieldfordamages doneto hisFence etc.in stoppingtheProgress oftheFireat ChinaHall,Rotherhithe’(6August1778) ‘ThatOneGuineabegiventoWilliamDow,a watchman forassisting in stoppinga Fireat Mr.Anderson’s at NewCrane,& in consideration ofhisLanthanbeingbroke’(26February

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83

1778)

‘ToEdwardBewleyfortheExpenses ofa DinnergivenbyOrderofthisCommittee to the Churchwardens &several inhabitants oftheParishofSt.Clements Danesasa Compliment to themfortheirtroubleabouttheFireatJasperKelly’s Housein thesaidparish—Thirtythree Pounds,OneShillingandTwoPence,(14May1778) ‘Tothe RightHon.HansStanleytwentynine PoundsSixShillings& Sevenpencefor disbursements madebyhimforthe careofJohnCallswhobrokehislegin assisting at the Fireat Steephill in theIsleofWight’(17December1778) ‘ThatMr.Gable, AgentatNewportPagnell, bepermittedto pay2/3rdsoftheexpenses in workingsundryparishEnginesat thefireat Biggleswade &repairingDamages doneto the sameatthesaidFire.” (19October1786) ‘That£2. 5s.2d.begiventoMr.RobertsoftheCrownatBasingstoke forrepairing Damage doneto hiswallto admittheEngineatthelatefirethere’(30November1786) ‘ToMarySimmons, presented herFiftypoundsforDamages sustained bypullingdownher Houseto stopthelateFireat Falmouth’ (8July1790) ‘Burgess, forPremises Unthatchedto preventtheFireat Creditonfromspreading. £,4.3s. (19June1806) ‘That1/3rd.of£30.6s.sd.be paidbythisOffice,beingtheAmountofanestimateofa Houseat Bridport,pulleddownto preventtheextensionofa Fire,whichbrokeoutin the Town.(1January1818) ‘ThatMr.Holmesof Arundelbe presentedwith ten poundstowardsthe expenseof removingsomeHayRicks,whichwereheatedbythe Floods& whichhadtheyburstinto Flamesmighthavedestroyed theadjoining RicksinsuredinthisOfficebyPolicyNo.969082.’ (24January1822)

‘Resolved Thattenguineas bepresented toMrs.FryofWellington inconsequence ofthe

roofofherhousebeingtakenoff(whichwasnotinsured)in orderto stoptheprogress ofa firein anadjoining Building’ (8June1826) ‘Reada letterfromMr.Lyeof Bathdatedthe 26thUlt.ostatingthata Boyhadbeen accidentally killedbytheEnginerunningoverhim.Resolved. ThattheMotheroftheBoy bepresented withfivepoundsandthattheFuneralExpenses bedischarged amounting to£3. 15s.(t«November1827) ‘ThatTenpoundsbepresentedto Mr.H.P.PowysforExpenses incurredin extinguishing theFirein a HayStackatSouthgate, whichwasnotinsured,butwascontiguous to Property insuredby policyNo. 995775.(12August1830)

Thethanksoftheinsurance companies wasnotonlyexpressed in giftsofmoney,forexample

theAtlasAssurance Company senttheirsecretary outto callonhouseholders inEastcheap to expressthethanksoftheDirectorsfortheassistance theyhadgivenin a fire.Sincethey regardedthehelpgivento thembysomeofthevolunteers to beexceptional theygavesome ofthemaspecially strucksilvermedallion whichborethecompany’s emblemononesideand a personalised inscription, oneofwhichreads:*An Acknowledgement BytheAtlasAssurance CompanyoftheexertionsofMrThomasSkeltonin extinguishing a Fireat No.5GreatEast Cheap.23rdMay1809.’

CHAPTER SEVEN

UNIFORMS

Thefirstfireinsurance company, theFireOffice,setupa firebrigadein 1680,theyearofits establishment, andit isprobable thatthefiremenweregivensomeformofdistinctive uniform fromtheirfirstdays.Thepart-timefiremenin Londonwereemployed asFreeWatermenon theriverThames, inwhichroletheyworea distinctive jacketwithabadgeonthearmwhich showedtheywerelicensedto operateon the river.Watermenemployedto rowthebarges ofthenobilityweregivenuniformsin theirmaster’s colours,andprovidedwitha silverarm badgewhichboretheiremployer’s coatofarms.It wasthisthatinspiredtheearlyinsurance firemen’s uniforms. CharlesPovey,who foundedthe ExchangeHouseFireOfficein 1708,whichformed the basisof the SunFireOfficein 1710,expectedtheWatermenwhohe employed in his salvage corpsto payfortheirowncoatsandbadges. ThispracticewascontinuedbytheSun untilthe companyagreedto providethemfor its firemenfromApril1711.Someof the

insurance companies startedin quitea smallway,forexample theWestminster Insurance Office,foundedin 1717,notedin September of thatyear,‘thatseveralhousesareinsuredin thisOfficeandmoreDaylyjoining,’ SotheDirectorsdecidedto employtwelvefiremenwho werepaidforattendance at eachfire.In Decemberthe menweregivenironcapsbearing the company’s emblem,preventers(hookson longpoles)andaxes,but no otheritemof uniform. TheDirectorswantedto providethemwithuniformsandbadgesbyLordMayor’s

Day(November) 1718, butthisdidnotprovepossible, andthefiremen didnotgettheirfull uniformuntilJanuary1719, wheneachhadto signanagreement makinghimresponsible for hisownuniformandequipment(seeAppendix Two).Allthe firemenappearedbeforethe Directorson22Januaryin theirnewuniforms. Uniformswerenot usuallygivento firemenbeforetheirbondswerecheckedasis clear froma minuteofthePhoenixAssurance Companydated1May1783whichnotesthat,‘ye

Cloathes benotdelivered tilltheirbondsbeexecuted’ TheLondon Assurance Corporation required theirfiremen andporters toweartheiruniforms andbadges atalltimes, astheywere

veryawareof theiradvertising value,whichiswhy,on 19July1722theydismissed Edwin Lewis,oneoftheirporters,whorefusedto weartheuniformprovided. TheDirectorsthen, ‘resolved thattheWatermen andPortersdoconstantly weartheirCloathes andBadgesonpain ofbeingdismissed, In 1752theypassedfurtherrulesconcerning thewearingofbadgessince, ‘Firemen andPortersappearing withouttheirBadgesbeforfeitforthefirstoffence2s6deach to theuseofthepoortobepaidtotheSecretary’ Asecondoffencewouldleadto suspension, anda thirdto dismissal. It isnotclearifothercompanies expectedtheirpart-timefiremento weartheiruniformsatalltimes,althoughtheyallexpectedthemto turnupata firecorrectly attired.TheNorwichUnionInsurance SocietylaiddownverystrictrulesforitsManchester brigadein 1836concerningwhentheiruniformshouldbe worn.One LondonAssurance

Uniforms

85

firemancertainly hadhisuniformwithhimin 1753whenhisboatoverturned ontheThames, sincethecompanyoffereda rewardoftwoguineasfortherecoveryofthesilverbadge. The firstinsurancebrigadeswereformedin London,and for London-based insurance companies theseweretheonesgiventhebestuniforms, butsome,evenin thevillages around Londonwerenotsowellprovided. Theinhabitants ofChelsearequestedtheHandin Hand

FireOfficetoestablish abrigade there,whichtheydidin 1722byappointing tenmen,but theygotnocoat,badgeor exemption fromimpressment, although theywereeachgiven

a preventer(firehook),poleaxeanda cap.Provincial insurancecompanies wouldsupply thefinestuniformfortheir‘hometown’brigade,withthosein otherlocationsnot aswell providedfor. In 1807the KentFireInsuranceCompanyfiremenat DeptfordandGreenwichapplied to theircompanyfora ‘badgeto distinguish themfromotherpersons.Theyhadno uniform asthe companyonlygavethema leatherhelmeton whichwerepaintedthe words‘Kent FireOffice’andthebadgeofthecompanyin heraldiccolours.TheKentfiremendidnotget anythingelseuntil1809whena uniformofdarkbluewithgreyfacingswasprovided. When theKentappointed ‘assistant firemen’ to provideadditional helpfortheirbrigadesatDeptford andGreenwich in 1824,theyrequiredthemto providetheirownuniformsand‘necessaries’.

Eveninthesecond halfofthenineteenth century, someprovincial companies werenot providing fulluniforms fortheirfiremen. TheEssex &Suffolk Insurance Society wasfounded in 1802at Colchester, Essex,but thereis no mentionof uniformsbeingprovidedfortheir firemenuntil1842,whentheydecidedto providetheirColchesterfiremenwitha glazed leatherhat on whichwerepaintedthe words‘Essex& SuffolkFireOffice’,but aboutthe sametimetheyprovidedthefiremenoftheirChelmsford brigadewitha‘hator helmetand bit :

f

i

—

ee ij E?

i

.

a

A}:

t

ApolicyheadingoftheWorcester FireOfficeshowstwolateeighteenth-century provincial insurance firemen.Theirjacketsdonothavethewideskirtseenon firemen’s jacketsofan earlierperiod,and theirbadgessimplybeartheinitialsof thecompanyratherthantheirelaborateemblem.

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Insurance FireBrigades 1680-1929

loosejacketwithbadgeuponthearm,In 1857thecaptainoftheirColchester brigademade a requestto theDirectorsforbootsandgreatcoatsforhismen,butthiswasrefusedsincethe Directorsdid not considerthem ‘essential’,and it wasnot until 1880that it was decidedto

providethefirebrigadewithtrousersandboots.Although theuniforms giventotheprovincial firebrigadesbyLondon-based insurance companies mightbemadeofcheapermaterials and lesselaborate in designthanthoseissuedto theLondonfiremen,theywereusuallybasedon thesamebasicdesignsandcolour.TherecordsoftheSunFireOfficeshowthatin 1822they senta firemen’s uniformto PatrickMurphy,theiragentin Limerick, Ireland,presumably to

actasapatternforthefirebrigade whichtheymaintained there.

The Directorsof the insurancecompaniesseemto haveusuallybeen responsible for selecting thedesign,coloursandmaterials fortheuniformsoftheirfiremenandporters,but donotalways seemtohavechosenthemostappropriate style.TheRoyalExchange Assurance in itsfirstadvertisement forfireinsurance, publishedin May1721,notedthattheirfiremen andporterswere‘allclothedin yellow’, althoughsometimelatertheychangedtheuniforms to amoreserviceable green.TheDirectors oftheGuardian Assurance Company, inDecember 1821,theyeartheywerefounded,debatedthemeritsoftwosketches laidbeforethemoffour designsofuniformfortheirproposedbrigade. Theyfinallydecidedon onewhichshoweda dark-brown jacketandtrousers, witha redandyellowstripedwaistcoat andfacings, although thiscolourfulwaistcoat gavewayto a plaineroneat somelaterdate.Surviving portraitsof insurancefiremeninvariably depictthebrigadeforeman,andtheseofficersworea uniform thatisquiteornatecompared withtheordinaryfireman, withmuchusebeingmadeofgold

braid,elaborate edgings andcolourful linings. In manycasestheuniforms looktooornatein whichto fightfires,buttheForeman wasmainlyconcernedwithgivingordersto hisfiremenandthe volunteers, andgenerally directingthefirefighting. Althoughto moderneyesthebrightcoloursandelaborate clothing wornbythe firemenin the eighteenthandearlynineteenthcenturylookquiteunsuitable forfirefighting, theywouldnot lookstrangeto peopleat the time,asciviliandressat that periodwasalsoelaborate andcolourful, andthewearingofbrightcoloursbyallmembersof societypersisted intothefirstquarterofthenineteenthcentury. Thecompanycoloursserved to distinguish themenofeachbrigadefromoneanotherat a glancewithouthavingto rely on lookingat theirbadges.Mostof the Londonbrigades, at leastfromthemid-eighteenth centuryonwards, gavea newuniform,excluding helmet/hat,shoes/boots andbelts,to their meneveryyear,usually justbeforeoneofthegeneralmeetings oftheDirectors, sotheywould

besmartandwellturnedoutforaninspection andthepublicity marchwhichwasheldon thisday.Aftera yeartheuniforms musthaveshownconsiderable tracesofheavywear,with repairedtears,ingraineddirtandgreasypatchesfromthehandlingoftheleatherhosewhich hadto beoiledto keepit supple,whilethesilverarmbadgeshadtobefrequently repairedas theywereoftendamaged duringfirefighting.

THE DEVELOPMENTOFTHE INSURANCEFIREMAN’S UNIFORM Because theinsurance brigades wereinexistence fornearly250years,theiruniformsnaturally changedoverthisperiod,beinginfluenced bya numberoffactors.Forexample, theamount of moneythe companywerewillingto spendon directfirefighting, the development of newmaterials suchasmackintosh and,at times,bythedictatesoffashionwhichsometimes produceduniformsthatwerenotalwaysassuitableforfirefighting astheymighthavebeen. The majorityof illustrations of insurancefiremendepictmembersof the London-based brigades, andalthoughmanyprovincial insurance brigadesfollowed thetrendsofthosein the metropolis, it sometimes tooksomeyearsforthechanging stylestofilterthroughtoprovincial brigades.

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centuryfiremen,andtheonlydetailed of seventeenth Therearenoportraitsor engravings oftheiruniformsisfoundin therecordsoftheHandinHandFireOffice,founded description the styleof uniformwornbythe firsttwobrigades in 1696,buttheyseemto be following in the 1680s.On 15August1699the Handin Handdecidedthattheywouldappointsix watermenasfiremenandprovidethemwithcaps,coats,breechesandbadges,andtwoweeks later decidedthat the coatsand breechesshouldbe,‘blewlined with red,and a red edgingto

beputuponyesame’,andthattheyshouldhave‘coatsandcapsofleatherandcopperbadges

to putonandwearwhentheywere cloathes to be thesameasupontheirotherwearing offires’Sotheyseemto havehadbadgesto wearwhenplying inthe extinguishing employed or identification, althoughthiswaschangedlater. theirnormaltradeasa formofadvertising On 5 September1699the coloursof the Hand in Hand coatsareagainmentioned,and the

liningofthejacketsisidentified as,‘baiz,withcapsofthesame,alsoabadgeofsilverwiththe markof theOfficetherto’,buttheywerealsoto getstrongleathercapswithneckguardand a brassbadgeon it, althoughit wasdecidedin Octoberto ordersix‘ironcapswiththe mark paintedon it’ Soit seemsthatthefiremenwereprovidedwithtwotypesof uniformat this date;a leathercoatwitha copperbadgeanda strongleatherhelmetwornwhenfirefighting, ofa bluecoatwitha silverbadge,bluebreechesanda bluehat to be andanotherconsisting wornat othertimes,perhapswhenplyingtheirnormaltradeandduringpublicitymarches

wearat the thetrendforcivilian followed if theytookplaceat thisearlydate.Iftheclothes

period,the coatwouldbe longandslightlywaistedwithflaredskirtreachingto kneelevel, whilethe cuffswerelargeandturnedback.One of the earliestdepictionsof an insurance

ofthe isfoundonthefirstpolicyheading fireman ofaninsurance illustrations Oneoftheearliest

firemanseemsto be wearinga leatherjerkin,whilethe SunFireOfficeengravedabout1710-15.The

withthatwornbytheSunfireman uniform thefireman’s porterwearsa longclothjacket.Compare shownonalater policyheading(seepage45).

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firemanisfoundontheengraved headingofpoliciesoftheSunFireOffice,whichdateback to I7IO—15. Thisshowsa firemanof the companywearingwhatseemsto be a wideskirtedjerkin, possiblyofleather,witha belt,a helmet,breechesandshoes,andwasthestylewornbythe Sunfiremenuntilthe 1720swhena newstylewasintroduced. Mostinsurance brigadesfrom 1720wereprovidedwithuniformsof a stylesimilarto clothinglikethatwornin everyday life,butin thecompany’s colours,withanidentifying armbadge. Coatswereclosefittingandwaistedwitha fullskirt,thelengthofwhichvariedwithcurrent fashion.Therewasno collaron thejacket,whilethebuttonsandbuttonholesextendedto waistlevelbut weremainlydecorativesinceit wasworn unbuttoned,and cuffswerewide,and

pocketscoveredbyhorizontalflaps.Underthejacketwasa longwaistcoat, alsowithpockets, reachingto mid-thighin theearlierpartoftheeighteenthcentury,butbecomingshorteras timewenton.Breeches finished justbelowthekneeandwereusuallyfastenedbythreesmall buttons,andvariousdesignsof helmetswereusedto protectthe head.Betweenthe 1760s andthe 1790s,firemenworethe samebasicuniformasin the firsthalfof the century,but therewereminorchangesin style.Coatswerenotgenerally quitesoclosefitting,butstillhad a fullskirtanddeepcuffs,andin the 1780sstand-upcollarsappeared. Waistcoats continued to becomeshorter,andbythe 1790shadreachedjustbelowbeltlevel.Uniformsofthelast decadeoftheeighteenthcenturytendto be moreornate,withthejackethavingcontrasting colourson cuffsand collars,pronouncedwings,(a decorativebandprojectingfromthe shoulders), colourededgingsandemphasised buttonholes.

Firemenof theHandin HandFireOfficeshownona policyheadingofthe 1730s, oneofwhomis wearingleatherboots,generally onlywornbyseniorfiremenat thisearlyperiod.

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theuniform Forexample, scheme. andusedaspartofthedecorative Buttonswerenumerous Company’s Londonbrigadebetween1780and1800hadfiftyissuedbythePhoenixAssurance sixbuttons (twelveon the fallof thejacket,ten on the sleeves,two on the collar,twenty-four

andeightonthebreeches), andit wasinthisperiodthatthebuttonsbeganto onthewaistcoat oftheinsurance companies. Afterthe1760ssomefiremenworebootsrather beartheemblems thanshoes,andthesebecamemorecommontowardstheendofthecentury,althoughshoes

abouttheirneck,while scarfknotted alsoworea patterned werestilltobeseen.Manyfiremen the theiroutfit.Duringtheperiod1800-35, completed helmet andleather stockings breeches,

uniformscontinuedto getmoreornatewithmuchuseof goldbraidandcolourededgings, on the cuffs,stand-upcollarsandshoulderwings.Waistcoats weresquare withembroidery cut at belt level,doublebreastedwith a turned-backcollar,and breecheswere stillthe most

andwerewornby commonformoflegwear,althoughtrousersstartedto appearin the1820s, manycivilians, althoughsomemanualworkerscontinuedto wearbreeches. Bootswerenowmorecommonthanshoes,but the mostnotablefeatureof the fireman’s ofthehelmetbyvariousformsoflow-crowned top uniformatthisperiodisthereplacement intheLondonbrigades, butwasalsofollowed bya number hats.Thistrendwasmostnoticeable ofprovincialones.Between1833and 1835manyof the Londoninsurancebrigadesamalgamated,

andcolourfuluniformsof the companies werereplacedbya muchmore andtheindividual

a widebeltwithsquare number, theman’s ofa bluejacketbearing oneconsisting practical

black kneeboots,blackneckcloth,greatcoatanda well-designed buckle,greyclothtrousers, weredistinguished byepaulets ontheshoulders. Around1850the leatherhelmet,whileofficers asregardsthe fullskirtofthejacketwasmuchreduced,andthisstyleofuniform,particularly insurance brigades, andcontinued tobewornby leatherhelmet,wasadoptedbymanyprovincial FireBrigade oftheMetropolitan untiltheformation withminorchanges, theLondonbrigades,

fireman’s uniform waschanged tonavybluewithabrass helmet. in1866, whentheLondon

MATERIALS thematerialfor purchased companies mostofthe earlyinsurance Asfarascanbe ascertained, andtheneitherhadit madeupintoclothingbya tailor,orgavetheirfiremenand theuniforms portersthemoneyto havetheuniformmadeup.InApril1722theHandinHandboughtcloth andgavethemen20seachto have uniforms at 8speryardforthefiremen’s fromMrCratewood toinspect hadbeentoMrCratewood’ it madeup,butbeforethistheClothBuyingCommittee and house, eachman’s to the clothand20s wasorderedto deliver GeorgeHarrington itsquality. ‘who JohnCheyney, aslaterthatyear uniforms, for their thepersonresponsible wasobviously hisbadge, to Geo.Harrington to laydownhiscoat’,wasorderedto‘deliver wasoldanddesirous & thenhisbondwouldbereturnedto him?In 1719theWestminster cap,poleaxe& preventer of orange Officegaveeachman3%yards(3.2m)ofblueclothand2%yards(2.18m) Insurance Thispracticewouldpresumably lining,plusthesumof 10s,to haveit madeup intoa uniform.

or their tailors if theywenttodifferent fittedthemen,although thattheitemsactually ensure

Thesystemof uniforms. in the finished wivesmadethemtheremayhavebeensomevariation givingthemenmoneyto makeup theirownuniformswasnotconfinedto the earlydaysof firemen, gaveeachofitsthirty-two Assurance asin 1813theRoyalExchange brigades, insurance eightportersandfourcarmen,thesumof30sformakinguptheiruniforms. It wasessentialthat the materialusedwassuitablefor thejob and hardwearing,and uniformwasusuallyof betterqualitythanthat supplied the clothusedfor the firemen’s the uniform Staffordshire, to theporters.In the caseof the Sun’sfirebrigadeat Litchfield, of theportersseemedto havesomefeaturesenviedby the firemen,ason 7 February1750 yearly the Directorsorderedthat,‘Thefiremento haveClothLinings& Pakets[pockets] to completetheirsuitsasthe Portershave’Becausethe mengottheiruniformswetwhile importantthatthe materialdidnot shrink,a pointthatthe attendingfires,it wasobviously

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Directorsof the PhoenixAssurance madewhenorderingtheirsecondbatchof uniforms inApril1784,whentheyordered,‘thattheclothbe shrunkandhalfa breadthmoreadded to eachjacket.TheDirectorsoftheKentFireInsuranceCompanyprovidedsomeof their

firemen witha uniform ofgreylinen,butin 1816decided topurchase warmer clothing at

a costof£1 4sodforeachuniform,‘itbeingtheopinionoftheBoardthatthe Cloathwill notonlybewarmerbuta betterdefenceagainstfirethanlinen’ Awiderangeofdifferent materials wereusedin themakingoffiremen’s uniformsforthe different brigades, andamongthoseidentified in therecordsoftheinsurance companies are: Baize—a coursewoollenmaterialwitha longnap. Dimity—a stoutcottonfabricwovenwithraisedstripes. Kerseycloth—a courseribbedwoollenclothdesigned forhardwear. Linen—a plaincottoncloth. MacKintosh —a waterproof materialofrubberandcloth. Moleskin —a coarsetwilledcottonwitha thicksoftpilewhichhastheappearance ofmoleskin. Plush—a cottonclothwitha longerandsofternapthanthatofvelvet. Shag—a woollenfabricwitha coarsenap. Shalloon —a lightclothusedmainlyforlinings. Silk—usuallyin theformofa scarfusedto protecttheneck. The costof the materialvariedaccordingto the typeandthe periodunderconsideration,

anda fewexamples showthesortofsumsthecompanies spentonuniforms. In 1719the

Westminster InsuranceOfficebought42yards(38m)ofblueclothforcoats,waistcoats and breechesat 7s6dperyardand42yardsof shalloonliningat 1stodperyard.By 1738the priceofshalloonhadrisenconsiderably astheSunFireOfficewaspayingbetween15sand 16sa yarddependingon itsquality. WhentheRoyalInsurance Companyformeda brigade in Birmingham in 1863,the committeeconsidered the costsofprovidingthe uniform,and

on 19February examined twotypesofclothandreached theconclusion that,‘thestouter material should beatacostof£1.14spercoat... theextraoutlay beingthemosteconomical

in the end’In 1738the Sunpaid7speryardforblueclothforthe firemen’s uniformsand 16speryardforshalloon, whilethegreyclothfortheporters’uniformscost4s6dperyard withshalloonat 15speryard,reflecting thedifference in quality.The difference in thecolour ofuniformbetweenthefiremenandportersledto someresentment bytheporters,ason 4

March1742theminutes notethatthecommittee, ‘Readapetitionfromtheporterstothis officerequesting thecolouroftheirclothing bethesameasthefiremen —ordered thatitbe

compliedwith’ Thecostofmakingupthefiremen’s andporters’uniformsduringtheeighteenthcentury wasbetween£1-2 peruniform,whileduringthenineteenthcenturythisroseto between £3-5, dependingon whetherit wasfora Londonor a provincial brigade.The companies wouldofteninvitetendersformakingtheuniforms, astheEagleFireInsurance Companydid in 1809whentheyhadfourtailorsgiveestimates formakingupuniformsfortheirfiremen. In additionto the basicuniforms,therewouldhaveto be addedthe costof the helmet,boots,

stockings andbelt. Theforemanofthebrigade,andtheforemanoftheporterswere,in many cases,moreelaborately dressedthantheirmen,andthiswasreflected inthepriceofuniforms forthebrigade,clearlyshowninthecaseoftheYorkshire Insurance Companyin 1842,whose uniformsweresuppliedbyRichardEvensofConey Street,York: Fireman’s Uniform.

FrockcoatofbrownmilledKersey cloth(madetomeasure) MacKintosh interlining forcoat Moleskin trousers, striped

£2 2sodeach £0 6sodeach £0 15s6deach

QI

Uniforms Liningfortrousers Foreman’s Uniform. Coat,exclusive ofdecoration Interlining forcoat Waistcoat, doublebreasted Trousers, brownKersey Goldlace,6%yardsat3s6d/yard, £1 1sod Goldcordforneckline andshoulders

£o 1s4deach £3.48tod £2 16s6d £0 17sod £0 16s6d £1 9sod £7.0sod (notcosted)

Whensettingup a newbrigadein Birmingham in 1863,the RoyalInsuranceCompany estimated thecostoftheirfiremen’s uniformsto be: Helmet£1, Coat£1. 9s.6d.;Boots£1. 8s.6d.;Belt4s.;Whistlets. 3d.;Total£4 3s.3d.For

30men,total£124.17s.6d.Saythatthisoutfitwouldserveforthreeyearsinrespectofcoat and10yearsinrespectofbelt,whistleandhelmet. Thiswouldgiveanoutlayof£32.4s.per annumtotheOfficeiftheyfurnished anoutfit. The Sunwasnot alwayswillingto contributeto the wholecostof uniformsfor their provincial brigades, asisclearfroma minuteof29April1852whichshows, “That13Coatsbe providedforthemenattachedto theofficeEngineatRochesterata costnotexceeding £21. 2/3 oftheexpenseto bepaidbytheoffice& 1/3bythemen’

HEADWEAR The mostimportantitemof the fireman’s uniformwasthe coveringfor the head,which protectsit fromfallingobjectsandaccidental knockswhenclimbingamongthe debrisof damaged buildings.Theearliestdetaileddescription ofa helmetisthatoftheHandin Hand FireOfficewhich,in October1699,orderedsix‘ironcaps’withthe company’s emblem paintedonthem,whilein 1719theWestminster Insurance Officealsoprovidedtheirfiremen withironcapspaintedwiththecompany’s emblem.In 1721theRoyalExchange Assurance gaveitsmenironcaps,but thesewerecoveredin leather,andit’spossiblethatthoseof the Handin HandandWestminster werealsoleather-covered. The policyheadingof the Sun FireOffice,engraved in 1725(seepage45)showsthehelmetofoneoftheirfireman, a style probablywornforsomeyearsbeforethisdate,witha peak,a raisedrib runningfromfront to back,anda protectiveneckpiece. The Sunhelmetsat thisdateweremadebyWilliam Humphriesat a costof ss each,andhe alsomadeleatherbucketsat a costof 3s6deach.A similarstyleofhelmetwaswornbyfiremenof theBristolCrownFireOfficein the 1730s, butisa typethatprobably datesbackto theirfoundation in 1718, andthesamesortofhelmet waswornbyfiremenoftheSalopFireOfficeandWorcester FireOfficeaslateasthe 1790s, butbythenwouldbe regarded bymanyfiremenasveryoldfashioned. In the 1730sthe Handin Handbrigadehada helmetwitha brim,a raisedrib running fromfrontto backandcheekpieces(seepage88).AboutthesamedatetheRoyalExchange Assurance issueda helmetwithfourraisedribs,nocheekpiecesandabrimthatisonlyslightly widerattheback.Bythemid-eighteenth century, theSunwasissuingitsmenwitha helmet muchmoresuitedto firefighting thananyearlierdesign. Thishadfourraisedribs,a broadpointedpeak,andawideprotective neckpiece plusa chin strap.ThistypeofhelmetisshownontradecardsofJohnBristow, thefireenginemaker,and mayhavebeensuppliedbyhim.W.H.Paynedescribed in detailthehelmetofa Sunfireman thathe featuredin hisbookTheCostumes ofGreatBritain, publishedin 1808,althoughhis

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InsuranceFireBrigades1680—1929

Aneighteenth-century leather fireman’s helmet similar tothatwornbytheForeman oftheSunFire

Officebrigade(seeplate9).Linedwithhorsehair, thefourribsprotecttheheadfromitemsfalling fromabove,whilethefrontpieceprotectsthefaceandthewideneckpiecepreventsburningmaterial fallingdownthecollarofthejacket.

illustration anddescription isoftheheadwear wornbySunfiremenbefore1800whenhehad presumably paintedthe illustration. Thiswas‘ofhorsehide,strengthened withcrossbarsof metal;theinsideofleatherquiltedandstuffedwithwool.Thefiremanin Payne’s illustration (seeplate9 in thecoloursection)onlyappearsto haveraisedleatherribsforstrengthening, butthemetalbarswereprobablyconcealed.

In1805theBirmingham FireOfficewasfounded andprovided itsfiremen withaleather

helmetwhichlookslikethestandardhelmetwitha peakanda neckpiece, but insteadofa raisedprotective riborcomb,it onlyhadabrassstriprunningfromfronttoback,a designthat wasonlyusedupto about1840,whena moreconventional patternofhelmetwasused.The firstyearsofthenineteenthcenturysawhelmetsreplacedbya lowtophat,a mostunlikely formofheadgear whenfightingfires,butthereareplentyofillustrations ofsuchitemsbeing wornat thesceneof a fire.Thisfashionbeganabout1805,andinitiallytheyweremadeof beaverfur,andsowereoftenreferredto as‘beavers’, andbythefirstdecadeofthenineteenth centurythesehadcompletely oustedthe helmetamongthe Londonbrigades.In 1811the KentFireInsurance Companyprovideda lowtophatofblackglazedsealskinwhichhadthe words‘KentFireOffice’ andthefireman’s numberpaintedonthecrown,andmostcompanies

displayed theirnameorinitials ontheirfiremen’s headwear. Between about1810 and1820 the

crownofthehatgothigher,andduringthisperiodbothhigh-andlow-crowned hatswere worn,andoftenbothtypesareseenonmenin thesamebrigade. Between1825and 1833the beaverreachedits maximumheightandturnedoutwards towardsthetop. Thischangefroma helmetto a top hat forfirefighting doesnot seemlogical,andit is necessary tolookoutsidethefirebrigades foranexplanation ofthis.Similarhatsto thosenow

Uniforms

93

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Policyheadingof theBirmingham FireOfficeengravedin 1804-05 showingthatbothhelmetsand lowtophatsknownas‘Beavers’ werebeingwornat thesametime.Althoughit maybe thatthehats

werewornwhenondutybutnotfirefighting inthisbrigade, manycontemporary illustrations show insurancefiremenfightingfiresin tophats.

Afireman oftheProtector FireInsurance Company, onapolicyheading engraved in 1824-25, wears thetaller, out-turned version oftheheadwear adopted byanumber ofinsurance brigades atthisdate.

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Insurance FireBrigades 1680—1929

beingadoptedbytheinsurancefiremenwerewornbysomenavalseamenin the 1790s, and aroundtheturnofthenineteenthcenturymostseamenwerewearinghatssimilarto the‘low’ tophatswornbyinsurance firemen. It thereforeappearsthat the watermen-firemen werefollowingthe trendfor seamen’s headwearofthisperiod,perhapsnot unexpectedly whentheprofession manyfollowedand theareatheyoperatedinareconsidered, whichmeanttheymaintained closelinkswithsailors. The talltop hat becameveryfashionable amongciviliansabout1820,andso the firemen increased theheightoftheirhatsto followthistrend,andwhileit seemsincredible thatthe firemenactuallyfoughtfireswearingtophats,thereisno doubttheydidso,andtherearea numberofcontemporary illustrations showingthis(seeplates22-25).Therealsoseemsto be no evidencethatchinstrapswereusedwithlowor hightophats,sopresumably theywere a goodenoughfit not to falloff.Veryfewof thesetop hatshavesurvived, but thosethat

haveappeartobestrongly constructed. Oneexample hasleatherreinforcements, whilethat

belongingto a firemanoftheManchester FireAssurance Company, whichprobablydatesto theperiod1824-40, wasmadeentirelyofstrongleather,witha brassedgingroundtherim. WhentheLondonFireEngineEstablishment wasformedin 1833,the Londoninsurance brigadesthatjoinedit gaveuptheirvariousdesignsofhelmetsorbeaversfora morepractical onedesigned byJamesBraidwood, theirsuperintendent. Heintroduced a newstyleofleather helmetwhichhadaprominentcrestonthetopto givestrengthandprotectionfromblowsor fallingobjectsfromabove,apointedpeaktoprotectthefaceandnose,anda strongneckpiece. Theedgeof thepeakwasreinforced witha metalstripanda bandofmetalwasfixedover themainsownseams(seepage97). ThisBraidwood patternhelmetwasadoptedbymanyprovincial brigades, whoaddedtheir

ownbadges orinitials, andthisstyleofhelmet, withavariety ofembellishments, wasproduced byanumber ofmanufacturers, remaining available andpopular formanyyears. In the 1880stheirpricerangedfrom15sforthe standardversionup to £2 forthe most elaborate withwhitemetalfittings. TheforemanoftheWestofEnglandInsurance brigadeat Plymouth, Devonwasprovided witha particularly ornatehelmetwhichhada gildedcrouchinglioninsteadofa crest,brass

Leathertophatworn

byfireman no.8ofthe

Manchester FireAssurance Company, c.1824. This wasmadebyThomas Hollins,Harness& Collar Maker,217 Chapel Street,

Salford. Thelabelstates thatHollinsalsomadethe ‘Robert’s Safetyhoodfor savinglivesin roomsfilled withsmokeor suffocating vapour.

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95

Richard Robbins, Foremanof

theNorwichUnionInsurance Society’s brigadein London,

painted about1818. Thisclearly

showsthespottedneckerchief wornbymostinsurancefiremen in theearlynineteenthcentury, buttheartistseemsto have exaggerated thesizeofhissilver

giltarmbadge.

GeorgeMead,Foremanof the LondonbrigadeoftheGuardian

Assurance Company from1822— 33,clearlyshowstheextensive embroidery usedon hisuniform.

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Insurance FireBrigades 1680-1929

Right:Firemenof theEdinburgh FireEngineEstablishment wearingtheuniformdesigned byJamesBraidwood whenhe becameSuperintendent of the brigadein 1824. Thedarkjackets andcanvastrousersreplacedthe colourfuluniformsofEdinburgh’s variousindependent insurance brigades. Photographc.1855. Below: A firemanoftheLondon FireEngineEstablishment at the HousesofParliament firein 1834 clearlyshowstheuniformthat replacedtheindividual insurance companybrigade: uniforms, but thewideskirton hisjacketwas muchreducedbythe 1850s. ThedogisChance,the‘London Fireman’s Dog’.

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Leatherhelmetof a brigadeof the Liverpool & London InsuranceCompany. c.1860. Thisisthesame

shapeasthehelmets wornbymembers

oftheLondonFire EngineEstablishment.

Anelaborateleather helmetoftheForeman oftheWestofEngland Insurancecompany

atPlymouth, Devon, 1870-90.

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Insurance FireBrigades 1680-1929

edgingsandlionmaskbosses, with‘WestofEngland’ paintedon thefront.Thisdatesto the period1870-90, andcontemporary catalogues showit wouldhavecost25s. AtonetimetheKentFireInsurance Companyuseda mouldedgreyfelthelmetforoneof itsbrigades, perhapsaroundthe 1870s, butonlyoneexample, in poorcondition, hassurvived asthiswasthe cheapesttypeof firemen’s helmetavailable. Soonafterthe formationof the Metropolitan FireBrigadein 1866,itschieffireofficer, CaptainEyreMassey Shaw, introduced

abrasshelmet whosedesign wasbasedonthosewornbythefiremen oftheParisFireBrigade.

Thesebrasshelmetsprovedextremelypopular,andwerequicklyandwidelyadoptedby insurance, municipal andvolunteerbrigadesalloverBritain,althoughsomepreferredto keep ORTENE. ome

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Above left:UniformoftheWestofEnglandInsurance Company brigadeatExeter, Devon,c.1870-94. With

itslongdarkbluejacketwithredpiping, shoulder wings andredplushbreeches, thiswould havebeen

regarded asveryoldfashioned bymanyotherbrigades atthistime,bothinsurance, volunteer andmunicipal. Rightabove: Leatherhelmetwornbya firemanoftheWestofEnglandInsuranceCompany’s brigadeat Exeter,Devon,c.1870—94.

Rightbelow: Brasshelmetwornbya firemanofthelastinsurancebrigade. ThiswastheWorcester brigadeoftheNorwichUnionInsuranceSocietywhichwasdisbanded in 19209.

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theolder-style leatherhelmetand,withslightvariations, thiscontinuedto bewornbymany insurance brigadesuntiltheirdemisein thetwentiethcentury.

BADGES Thebadges giventotheinsurance firemen andporters wereusedtoidentify themen’s brigade

andgivethemthe authorityto acton behalfof theircompanyat the sceneof a fire.The badgespassedintotheterminology oftheinsurance brigadesduringtheeighteenthcentury, sincewhena firemanor porterwishedto leavethebrigade,he would‘askleaveto resignhis badge’.DeLaune, writingin 1690,notedthatthefiremenoftheFireOfficeworebadges,and in October1699theHandin Handprovidedsterlingsilverbadgesfortheirsixfiremen,made byMosesBrowne,at a totalcostof£13 7s.On 9January1704the Handin Handordered ‘Blocktinnbadges’ fromRobertBaydenat a costof 4s6deach.Thesewereprobablydyestamped, tin-platedbadgessotheyhadtheappearance ofsilver,sincethe companyseemsto haveissueditsmenwithaparadeuniformandasimpleroneusedwhilefirefighting onwhich theyworethetinbadge,whichreplacedthecopperoneoriginally provided.

Badges wereofgreatimportance to thecompanies whospenta lotofmoneyonthem wereof to thehomebrigade issued thebadges century, untiltheearlynineteenth because,

sterlingsilver,andmostbrigadesworetheseevenwhenfirefighting, whichis whymany badgesshowsignsofrepairs.Manyentriesin theminutesoftheSundealwiththisproblem, andsometimes theywerebeyondrepair,aswastheonewornbyfiremanJohnFoxin 1742

fora Newonethesamebeingsomuchwornisunfitforuse’. whichhadto be,‘exchanged

orretired.For werecarefulto recoverthebadgesifthefiremenweredismissed Thecompanies example, aminuteoftheSundated19September 1734recordedthat:“Tho.Shieldsfiremanto bedischarged &Rob.Clarkportertobedischarged &thattheygiveuptheirbadges& cloths as,fromtimeto time,a firemanwouldpawnhisbadge, ... The badgesalsocausedproblems withthe duringtheeighteenthandintothenineteenthcentury, andthisoccurredat intervals

penalty forthisusually beingdismissal.

althougha fewin both the Thesebadgesborethe emblemof the insurancecompany, eighteenth andnineteenthcenturiesusedonlytheirinitials.Thebadgesoftheforemanofthe firemenandforeman oftheporterswereoftensilvergilt,thatissilvercoatedwithgold,andwere men.Thiswasthecasewiththebrigadeof theRoyal t hanthatwornbytheir larger sometimes badges porters’ badgesandtwenty-one firemen’s whichboughtthirty-five Assurance Exchange badgewas‘tobe madelargerthanthe othersandgilt’ in 1721,but orderedthatthe foreman’s Whenthe Handin Handboughta newfireenginein 1718theyorderedthatthe‘Engineers woretheirbadgeson a chainaround Theportersusually badgeshouldbegiltliketheForeman’s’ policies, ofseveralinsurance headings theirneck,andthesebadgesareshownin theengraved fourteen Threepounds, whilean entryin the SunFireOfficerecordsnotes:“ToJohnCowell OfficeClocks& a SilverChainfora PortersBadge... ° &Sevenpenceforcleaning Shillings badgesarementioned sincealthough allunnumbered, probably were badges Theearlyfiremen’s and Assurance RoyalExchange Corporation, of theLondonAssurance in earlyadvertisements

tobenumbered. thattheyarestated century it isnotuntillaterintheeighteenth SunFireOffice,

theporterswho identify badgeswasto initially theindividual Itseemsthereasonfornumbering badgeswasalmostan goods,andthatthe numberon firemen’s wereusedto removesalvaged which 1734, atleastin thecaseoftheSun,asisclearfroma minuteof 13February afterthought, Baggsto maketheirnumber &thattheyexchange thatthePortersbadgesbenumbered ‘Ordered ontheBaggsthesamewiththebadges. Thatthefiremen’s badgesbealsonumbered. InsuranceOfficeprovidedbadgesfor its firemenwithina fewyearsof TheWestminster itsfoundationin 1717,eachonecostingss 8dforthesilverand18sfor castingandfinishing. Not onlywastheinitialcostof thebadgesquitehigh,but so wasthecostof keepingthem anda minuteofthe Handin Hand in goodcondition.Theygotdamagedduringfirefighting,

100

InsuranceFireBrigades1680-1929

FireOfficedated17April1722containsthe curiousentrythat the ‘Firemens badgesbe boyled&repaired& Capt.Pearcein NewgateSt.be employedto doit”Therecordsofthe SunFireOfficecontainnumerousentriesconcerning badgerepairs,andby1726theSunhad decidedthattherepairsweregettingtoo expensive, soinJulythatyear,‘OrderedthatWm. Palman’s badgebemended&thatforthefutureallthefire-men&porterskeeptheirBadges in repair.However, a fewyearslaterthecompanyhadagaintakenon theresponsibility for repairingthebadges.Thegoldplatingalsoworeoff,andmanyentriesarefoundconcerning re-gildingthem,butsometimes thebadgesreachedthepointwheretheywerepastrepairing andsowerereplacedbynewones,ashappenedin February1742whenit wasdecided,‘that 2 of thewatermen’s badgesNo.16andNo.10be newmade,the oldonesbeingwornpast mending.’ Dutyhadto bepaidon silveritemsduringthemid-eighteenth century,andtheweightof silverbadgesissuedto thefiremenandportersoftheSuncameto a totalof400oz(11,340g), andsothecompanywasliableto paya dutyof£1 a yearon them.Occasionally, companies decidedto replaceallthebadgesin onego,theSundoingthisinApril1766:‘To JohnCowell OneHundred&fiftyfivepounds,fiveshillings &twopenceformaking53newfiremen’s & portersBadgescompleatin Lieuoftheoldonestakenin partpayment.Fouryearslaterthe companyorderedthatallthefiremen’s andporters’ badgesbere-gilded. Intheseventeenth and eighteenthcenturies, thebadgesweresewnontothearmsofthemen’s jackets,butfromabout the 1820ssomebrigadesbeganto wearthebadgeson thebreastoftheirjackets,andit seems thatfromthemid-eighteenth centurymostoftheLondoninsurance brigadesprovidedtheir

firemen withanewuniform eachyear,sothebadges weretransferred fromtheoldjacketto thenewone.Regulations oftheLondon Assurance Corporation brigade in1752specifically

Silverfireman’s armbadgeof

theSunFireOfficemadebythe

silversmith HesterBateman,1765.

Uniforms

IOI

Above: SilverForeman’s armbadgeofthe LondonAssurance Corporation,1806. Right:Silver(unhallmarked) fireman’s breastbadgeof theProtectorFireInsurance

Company designed byRobertSmirke R.A.

Left:Gildedbrassarmbadgeofa firemanofthe CountyFireOffice.Therecordsshowthaton

15September 1808thecompany ordered “...that

thebadgesbe ofinferiormetalandgilt’.

Right: Asilver porter’s badgeoftheSunFire

Officewhichhungon a chainroundtheneck

ofthosemenwhose jobwastosaveandsalvage

property. Dateuncertain.

102

InsuranceFireBrigades1680—1929

Silvergiltarmbadgeofthe ForemenoftheUnionFireOffice Porters(salvage corps),dated1758, whichwasincorporated intothe lidofa snuffboxin thenineteenth century.

Twoprovincial insurancefiremen’s badges,post1830. Thatof the PhoenixAssurance Companyis madeofbrass,andispicturedhere

alongwithaclothexample from theLiverpool &London &Globe InsuranceCompany.

Uniforms

103

(see mentionbadges,andshowthatthe men’snumberswerealsowornon theirwaistcoats Three,rule5).Manyofthebadgesweremadebywellknownsilversmiths: Appendix

Maker HesterBateman

ThomasDaniell Emes&Barnard PhilipVennerFirmin The Hennelfamily Nutting&Hennel Jennens& Company MatthewLinwood HenryNutting Benjamin &JamesSmith Pitts&Preedy JohnSwift

Madebadges for:

Hand in Hand FireOffice,Sun FireOffice.

Company. PhoenixAssurance RoyalExchange Assurance. Assurance Guardian Company, Assurance Alliance Company, WestofEnglandInsurance Company. Company, AtlasAssurance Company, GlobeInsurance LondonAssurance Corporation, SunFireOffice. AtlasAssurance Company. Corporation. LondonAssurance KentFireInsurance Company. ImperialInsurance Company. KentInsurance Company. UnionFireOffice. UnionFireOffice.

fromthebadgeofThomasDaniellforthe Phoenix The weightsof thebadgesvariesgreatly, Companydated 1783whichweighs361.4g.,downto the LondonAssurance Assurance in 1830whichweighsonly63.6g.The JennensandCompany badgemadebyJoseph Corporation beingissuedwithbadges intheprovinces those badges, hadthemostexpensive Londonbrigades hada strapwhich which o r thejacket sownon worn be thatmighteither brass, o r of copper Societybrigadeat UnionInsurance o ftheNorwich foreman T he roundthearm. buckled was in witha silverbreastbadgebythecompanyDirectors JohnHewitt,waspresented Liverpool, oftheNorwich ‘Foreman Thisbearstheinscription, parades. 1824to bewornduringthepublicity isknowntohaveusedsuchabadge.Duringthenineteenth Noothercompany UnionFiremen’ types;orbadgesmadeof bysilverplated,dye-stamped werereplaced centurythecastsilverbadges onthejacketwhich ones toembroidered w ay gave themetalbadges buteventually brassorcopper, n umbers. withthemen’s along oritsinitials borethenameofthecompany

FOOTWEAR footwearbeforeabout1740,so the men Thereappearsto be no mentionof the firemen’s haveworntheirnormalshoesor boots.Duringthe 1740sbootsbeganto wouldpresumably althoughinitiallyissuedonlyto theforeman, be providedto the brigadebythe companies, deputyforemanand engineers,and theseoftenhad to be appliedfor ratherthan being brigadefelt Corporation In 1763the firemenoftheLondonAssurance issuedautomatically. anddeputy theforeman to only issued been w hichhad boots, w ith theyshouldbe supplied D irectors: thecompany to petition a sotheysent and 1750, least foremansinceat

TotheGovernors andDirectors oftheLondonAssurance. tothatCorporation. belonging ThehumblePetitionofthePortersandWatermen are to whichYourpoorPetitioners thatamongstallthe Dangersandhardships Sheweth feltthan nonemoresensibly is there oftheDutiesoftheirOffice, inthedischarge exposed tornwith fromthewantofBoots,astheirLeggsarefrequently thosewhichtheyexperience Nails,Barrsof Iron,andsuchkind of RubbishasFiresoccasion.

ofBoots,as EvincedthegreatNecessity particularly Fireat Shadwell Thatthelatedreadful theWater-Works, hotfrom i nWater, Knees uptotheir were p oorPetitioners of Your several casegreatNumbersof afterplungedin ColdWater,by whichDeplorable andInstantly

104

InsuranceFireBrigades1680—1929

MUU ii

mite Wsrstem2

Ep

he

Buttons ofinsurance firemen.Toprow,lefttoright:Phoenix Assurance Company; KentFireOffice;

NorwichUnionInsuranceSociety. Bottomrow,leftto right:SunFireOffice;SunFireOffice;County FireOffice.

tS Auit Hu i |UT ‘a ij ti oe

i]

Buttonsofinsurance firemen.Top row,leftto right:Westof EnglandFireInsuranceCompany; Royal Exchange Assurance Company; Handin HandFireOffice.Bottomrow,leftto right:UnionFire BritishFireOffice. Office;PhoenixAsuranceCompany(1810);

Uniforms

Buttondiefrom whichthesmall (15mm)buttonsof theSunFireOffice weremadefrom 1830.

A button stick,dated 1798,used by a firemanof the Sun Fire Office,whose initialswere P.M.,to

protectthematerialofhisuniformwhenpolishinghisbuttons.

105

106

Insurance FireBrigades 1680-1929

TheGloucester brigadeoftheLiverpool&London&GlobeInsuranceCompany, c.1890. Theywear brasshelmetsdesignedbyEyreMasseyShaw,ChiefFireOfficerof theMetropolitan FireBrigadein

1866, butnotethedriverwearsadifferent tunictotheothers. Thehorses mayhavebeenstabled atthe innwherethisphotograph wastaken. YourPetitioners Liveswereendanger’d, bytheCoughsandcoldswhichtheycaught, which calamity, YourPetitioners presumeto suppose, mightbe in futurehappilyprevented were theirLeggsdefended byBoots. Thatasthehealth,andIndeedthelivesofmanyofYourpoorPetitioners, mightbeinagreat measure preserved bytheuseofBoots; Yourpetitioners humblySubmitthisMattertoYour Consideration, Andhumblyhope,thatasYourpoorPetitioners maybeJustlydeem’d usefull Members ofSociety, thePreservation oftheirLivesandhealthwillbethoughtWorthyof

YourAttention,andEngageYourfavouringthisPetitionby OrderingYourPetitionersBoots

fortheUseandPurposes aforesaid. AndYourpoorPetitioners asinDutyboundshallEverPray.

TheSunFireOfficewassupplying bootsto alltheirfiremenandportersby 1766ata costof £1 2sapair,andeachmanwasissuedwithonepaireverythreeyears.Othercompanies seem to haveissuedtheirmenwithnewbootsataboutthesameinterval, atleastin theeighteenth century.In the 1790sbootsbecamefashionable formenin civilianlife,andthisisperhaps reflected intherecordsoftheSunatthisperiod,whenbootswereprovidednotonlyfortheir foreman, deputyforeman, engineers andfiremen, butalsofortheirsurveyor, officemessengers andtheCollectors ofPremiums, andfrom1800theysupplied allthesepeoplewithnewboots everyyear,causingthecostofsupplying footwearto rapidlyrise,andin 1802theyspent£136 16sonbootsalone.Fromtheturnoftheeighteenth centuryuntilthedemiseoftheinsurance brigadesin the firstpartof the twentiethcentury,the firemenworeboots,althougha few smallerprovincial insurance brigadesdidnotsupplybootsfortheirmenuntilthesecondhalf ofthenineteenthcentury,thefiremenbeingexpectedto buytheirown.

CHAPTER EIGHT

FIREENGINES, STATIONS ANDHORSES

Theinsurancecompanies hada vestedinterestin savinginsuredpropertyfromfire,sincethe lessthe damagethe smallerthe claimwouldbe,reducinganylossto the companyandits shareholders, andto maketheirbrigadeseffective theysuppliedthemwitha widerangeof specialised firefighting equipment. Oneofthemostimportantitemsthatthebrigades possessed wastheirfireengines,whichwerepumpedbyhanduntilthelatenineteenthcentury,soare oftenreferredto asfirepumpsor manualfireengines.Thesewereusuallysuperiorto those suppliedbylocalauthoritiesduringthe eighteenthandfirsthalfof the nineteenthcentury, whenmunicipal brigadesbeganto be aswellequippedastheinsurance brigades. Insurancecompanies regularlyupdatedtheirfireengines,not onlybybuyingnewerand largertypes,butbymakingimprovements to theirexistingmachines, asdidtheKentInsurance Companyin 1809whenits twofireenginesat Maidstone, Kent,hadtheirpullinghandles replacedbyshaftssotheycouldbepulledbyhorse.Aninsurance brigade’s manually pumped, floatingfireengineon theThameswasconvertedto steampowerin 1852,whilea horsedrawnsteamfireenginewasmodifiedto self-propulsion by the NorwichUnionInsurance Societyin 1900,althoughthiswasnotentirelysuccessful (seepage205-6). Theinsurancecompanies alsoplayed a rolein theirdevelopment, andit wasthe SunFire Officewhichwasthefirstto placefireenginesonbargeson theThamesto protectriverside Theywerealsonotadverseto fireboatsconstructed. andlaterhadpurpose-built properties, makingsuggestions to fire-engine makerswhichtheythoughtmightimprovetheirdesign,as didtheEagleInsurance Companyin November1807,after: theyhadexamined theEnginesmanufactured byMr.HadleyandalsothoseofMr.Bramah &wereoftheopinionthattheprinciple ofMr.Hadley’s enginewasthebestbuthaddesired Mr.Bramahto waitupontheBoardata futuredaywitha planforimproving thecarriage ofthesamewhichthecommittee hadsuggested tohim. an (L.FE.E.), oftheLondonFireEngineEstablishment thesuperintendent JamesBraidwood, manufactures w ithfire-engine closely worked brigades, ofa numberofinsurance amalgamation in The agentof the RoyalExchangeAssurance to improvethe designof their machines.

plansin April1791fora special andpublished designed Stanes, William Essex, Chelmsford,

specialcartsor fire enginesin countrydistricts.However, cartto conveyNewsham-style to carrythe insurancebrigadeenginesin Londonmany carriageshadbeencommissioned andRagg£33 8sfor‘acarriageto the asisclearbythe SunpayingNewsham yearspreviously, printsshowsuchenginecartsin useovera longperiod. contemporary engine’in 1746; evidencefortheexacttypeoffireengine the documentary companies, Formanyinsurance doessurviveto show butenoughinformation or non-existent, theywereusingisincomplete

108

Insurance FireBrigades 1680-1929

fe

|

|

estas

& foEe = Pl 4a

Designfora fire-enginecartbyWilliamStanes,theRoyalExchange Assurance agentat Chelmsford, Essex,in 1791.

FireEngines, Stations andHorses

109

thatat onetimeor anotherallthedifferenttypesoffireenginesavailable in theeighteenth andnineteenthcenturieswereusedbyinsurance brigades, sothata briefdescription ofeach willshowhowthefireengineevolvedduringthetimethatthecompany brigadeswereusing them(seeChapterNine). TheminutesoftheSunshowthattheywerepurchasing enginesandenteringintoservice contractswithmostof the fire-enginemakersof the eighteenthandnineteenthcenturies,

andoftendealing withmorethanoneatthesametime.TheSundealtwiththefollowing manufacturers:

Maker WilliamDean JohnGray Newsham&Co. Bristow’s JosephBramah Phillips Hadley&Simpkins Rowntree’s

Tilley’s

Approximate PeriodofInvolvement 1726-30 1734-38 1734-58 1766-1833 1790-98 1790-1802 1786-1833 1810-22

1826-30

Thecostoffireenginesvarieddepending onthetypeofmachineanditsdateofpurchase. The firstfireengineoftheWestminster Insurance Office,a ‘middlesize’machine, waspurchased fromJohnGrayfor£46 in 1720.In 1725Graysupplieda newfireengineto themfittedwith a coppercistern(thatof thefirstenginewasof wood),andofferedto takethe firstmachine expandedtheDirectors paymentof £10.Asthebusiness withanadditional in partexchange, decidedto theWestminster InMay1730 newbrigades. moreenginesandestablished purchased Hanover in t heyinsured houses t helarge protect t o sizefireengines largest buyoneofGray’s Squareand the surroundingareain London,at a costof £60, with Grayprovidingfree Thislargefireenginereplacedthe oneboughtin for tenyears,accidentsaccepted. servicing Market.Bythebeginning 1725,whichwasthenmovedto a fireenginehousein Hungerford thecostoffireengineshadrisen,ashadtheirsize,withhorse-drawn ofthenineteenthcentury, centurytheycostaround costingbetween£120-150,andby the mid-nineteenth examples brigadesafter1880, insurance o f Steamfireengines,whichwereusedby a number £130-180. when mindlocalconditions bear in to needed costbetween£350and£800.Thecompanies a fire ordered it when S ociety Insurance Suffolk & Essex the as did orderingfireengines, on o ftravelling capable a ndbe mustgowithsprings ‘ it that, andtheystated 1812, in engine is roadsif requiredwherethe rutsareprettydeep... ThetownofColchester cross-country paved,andifanengineisnotonspringsit shakesit to piecesverysoon... ’ makerswereLondonbased,andhadbeensincetheseventeenth Themajorityoffire-engine for its buyingan enginehad to makearrangements century,so thatprovincialcompanies

andSonsin 1812bytheEssex& Suffolk Theorderforan enginefromBristow delivery.

fromLondon,I should ‘Asto methodof despatching aboutdelivery: includeda suggestion a sightwhichno doubt behind’, thinkit wouldcomesafeby the stagewaggon,fastened road!Thefireengine to Colchester a longtheLondon causeda certainamountof comment & Co.of Londonwas fromHadley in 1824 C ompany Insurance orderedby theYorkshire pliedfrom packedwithmatsandsenttoYorkbyoneofthebrigswhichatthattimeregularly London,sailingalongthecoastandup theRiverOusetoYork.ThefireenginearrivedinYork butonarrivalit wasfoundthatthedriver's on 2 April1825,havingcost£6 2sodto transport, duringthe voyage. seathadbeenbrokenoff,althoughthiswasthe onlydamagesustained makers, Notallfireenginesforthe useof insurancebrigadeswereorderedfromestablished whichwas 1839, of 11March Newsletter asis clearfroma noticewhichappearedin Saunders’s insertedbytheCaledonian Insurance Company’s agentin Dublin:

I1O

InsuranceFire Brigades1680—1929

TOFIREENGINEMAKERS &c.&c. TheDirectors oftheCaledonian FireOffice, havinginstructed theirIrishManager toform an efficientFIRE BRIGADEESTABLISHMENT, in connectionwith their Officein

Dublin,forthebenefitoftheircustomers inparticular, aswellasthepublicatlarge,hehas beenauthorised tocarryouttheirintentions withaslittledelayaspossible. Withthatinview, he willreceiveEstimates fromcompetent personsforthefurnishing ofa FIRST-CLASS FIREENGINE, asspecified below, capable ofadmitting thepowerof22menonit. Theenginetobewhatisdesignated intheLondonFireEstablishments —ALARGE-SIZED, IMPROVED, PATENT CARRIAGE FIRE-EXTINGUISHING ENGINE, withmetallic valvesandpistonsfixedin a seasoned Oakcistern,withsidepocketsforsuctions; boxfor hoseandimplements, driving seatandfoot-board, mounted onfourtown-made steelsprings, faggoted ironaxletrees, fore-locking carriage, madeofseasoned Ash,withappropriates ironwork;splinterbarandpoleforposthorsesandshafts, spokewheelswithhooptire—the wholepaintedandvarnished according toorders; withtwocopperbranchpipesandthreejet pipes;threelengthsofsuctionpipes,measuring 30feet,madewithspiralwormsandcopper rivets,brassswivel screws, andtwocopperstrainers, onanimproved plan,twolampsto the drivingseat,andanadditional oneforthehinderpart;theEngineletteredingold,agreeable to the directionsto be given;furnishedwiththe usualimplementsof saw,fireaxe,crow-bar,

fire-hook, andfireladdersto assistin enteringor gettingoverbuildings withtheEngine hose,and to serveas fire escapes.300feet of improvedrivettedhose,madewith wrought

copperrivets,havinghandloopsandstraps; brassswivelscrews; 30bestlarge-size leather waterbuckets, madewithcopperrivets, letteredandornamented (Thistle), ingold,onsame. EveryparttobeoftheBESTMATERIALS andWORKMANSHIP. Proposals tobeforwarded totheCompany’s Manager, atDublin, Christopher Eiffe. A DECIDED PREFERENCE will be given to IRISH MANUFACTURE and, to obtain

thebest,MrEiffedoesnotpledgehimself toacceptthelowesttender. ACaptain-Engineer and12able-bodied activeMenarealsorequiredforthe Brigade. Nonebutpersonsof undoubted goodcharacter needapply. Whenorderingfireenginesthe companies usuallyspecifiedthe coloursin whichit was to be finishedandthe wordingandemblemswhichwereto be paintedon it.Theengines incorporated redaspartoftheircolourscheme, butalsoseemto havereflected thecompany’s preferredcolour,andsohadsubstantial areasofothercolourssuchasblueor green,popular coloursforinsurancebrigadeuniforms.Fireengineswereoftensuppliedwitha varietyof firefighting equipment, anda listoftheitemssuppliedwiththe‘firstsize’fireengineordered fromJohnBristowin 1812canbefoundin therecordsoftheEssex&Suffolk: Adoublebranch. Ashortbarrelpipe. Asuctionpipewithscrews. Anadditional suctionpipeandscrews. A copperstrainer.

Anadditional hosepipe. Sixlengthsofhose,40feeteach,withscrews. Anironcrowbar. Anironspoon. Anironcrookorwrench. Astandcock andcrook. Alengthofhose25feet(feeding) forstandcock. Agrossoftorches.

FireEngines,StationsandHorses

III

40leatherbuckets.

Twocrossbarsorwhippletrees tousewiththepole. Fireenginesnot onlyhadto be wellmaintained, but the firemenhadto be familiarwith theiroperation, sothebrigadesheldregulardrillswhenthey‘played’ theengine.Theintervals betweenthesevariedfromonebrigadeto another,andthemajorityseemedto havedrilled quarterly, althoughsomehadmorefrequenttestsofthe engines,asdidtheLondonAssurance

Corporation whoplayed theirfireengineonthefirstMonday ofeverymonth. Theforeman

wasresponsible fororganising a sufficient numberoffiremenandportersto bein attendance to worktheengines,whilea rotasystemwasusedto ensurethatthedutywasevenlyspread withmostcompanies payingtheirfiremenforattendance atthese drills. TheNorwichbrigade of the NorwichUnionInsuranceSocietyexercisedthe enginesquarterlyin frontof the company’s headoffice,andsoasnottowasteboththeeffortofpumpingandwater,thefiremen wouldwashdownthefrontofthebuilding,a sightthatdrewa largecrowdofspectators, and it wasnotunknownforthehoseto beturnedplayfully on thechildrenpresent. Duringtheeighteenthandnineteenthcenturiestheinsurancecompanies established their brigadesthroughout Britainastheirbusiness spreadviatheagencysystem. In 1836thefounder oftheCountyFireOffice,J.T.BarberBeaumont, described how,evenatthisdate,manynoninsurance engineswerenotproperlymaintained: So manydisappointments and complaints cometo my knowledge wheneverthe Fire enginesarecalledintouse,in placeswheregoodregulations concerning themhavenot beenpreviously adopted, whileontheotherhand,allgoesonsatisfactorily whereeffectual arrangements are made,that I am inducedto offersomeobservations to renderthe management ofenginesinthecountrygenerally effectual. Theleadingerrorseemstoconsist initsbeingthoughtenoughtobuyengines withoutduly providing forthecareandapplication ofthem;it isnotsufficiently considered thattheyare complicated piecesofmachinery, whichrequirethesuperintendence ofaskilfulperson,and thattoapplythemwitheffect,theinstanttheyarewanted, exactness inkeepingtheirseveral partstogether andincomplete orderisnecessary —andfurther, thatthemeansforconveying themandworkingthemshouldbepreviously concerted. I havebeforeobserved inmygeneral surveyoftheengines, thatfrequently, afterhavingbeen worked, theyareputbywetanddirty,andtheyareofteninjuredbybeingleftexposedto mischievous persons. Hence,whenanaccident happens, itisnounusual thingfortheengine tobeoutofworkingorder—thebranch-pipe inoneplace,thehosepipehardandunfitfor usein another,and the suction-pipe,whichis almostalwaysspoiled,in a third;the buckets

tooareoftenbrokenanddispersed. Considerable delaysometimes occursinmovingengines fromtheirbeingplacedinsomeinconvenient situations, andunprovided evenwithropesto drawthemupby;andafterall,somenecessary partorotherisfrequently forgotten.

FIRESTATIONS to keepit.Thefireengines a fireengineit hadto findsomewhere Oncea companybought or,if oneofthesmallerbelongingtotheparishwereusuallykeptin ashedinthechurchyard Mostchurches were sizedpumps,werekeptinthechurchitself,whereitwaseasilyaccessible. companies sowasa logicalplaceto keepthem.Theinsurance in the centreof theirparishes, alsoaimedtoplacetheirfireenginescentrallyforboththeirfiremenandto coverthegreatest The earlyfirestationsarereferredto as‘fire riskasfar asinsuredpropertywasconcerned. enginehouses’,andit wasonlyduringthe nineteenthcenturythe term‘firestation’came intouse.Theearlyfireengineswerequitesmall,andthefirstfireenginehouseswerebasically suppliedmorethanone a simpleshed,but asfirepumpsbecamelarger,andthe companies

tI2

InsuranceFireBrigades1680—1929

ThefireenginehouseoftheBritishFireOfficein Hungerford Market,Londonin the 1820s. Thiswas a convenient locationto attendfiresin theStrandandWestEndwherethecompanyinsuredmany valuablebuildings.

to theirbrigades, sothepremisesrequiredto storethemhadto be larger.A fewcompanies kepttheirfireengines,particularly the horse-drawntype,at innswhichhadliverystables attachedto themso thathorsescouldbe hiredanddriversandgroomswerequicklyand easilyavailable, whileotherssitedtheirenginehousesnearsuchstablesor inns. The firstfireengineof theWestminster InsuranceCompanywasboughtin 1720,and initiallykeptin aWatchHouse,a baseforNightWatchmen, nearHanoverSquare,London, whichwasthenunderconstruction, butin 1722it wasmovedto a shedin theyardofTrinity Chapelin ConduitStreet.Thiscost£7 to build,paidforbyBenjamin Timbrell,a Director of the company, andwaschosenbecausethe companyhadinsureda numberof expensive propertiesin andaroundnearbyHanoverSquare. The KentFireInsuranceCompany’s fire engineatMaidstone, Kent,waskeptinAllSaint’s Churchyard until1820whentheMaidstone PavementCommissioners builtan enginehousenearthebridge.Thiswaslargeenoughto housetwoengines, andtheyletit atarentof£15ayearto theKent,whokeptitslargeengine thereuntil1827,whenit wasmovedto a shedjustbehindtheirnewlybuiltoffice. TheEagle Insurance Companywerelookingforsomewhere to keeptheirlatestfireengineinMay1809, anddecidedthata smallunoccupiedhousein HozierLane,Smithfield, London,wouldbe suitable, andsopurchased thesixty-year leasewitha groundrentoftwelveguineasa year,a sumtheDirectorsthoughtquitereasonable. Theenginehousehadto be easilyfoundbymessengers, andthiswasin themindof the CountyFireOfficewhich,between1807and 1819keptitsLondonfireenginein theyard ofthe OldBellTavernin theStrand,sincein theearlynineteenthcenturythe OldBellwas a well-known establishment andfamousforitsstablingandthecarriages it hadforhire.The

rentwastwenty-five guineas a year,whichincluded notonlya spacious enginehousebut

alsotworoomsaboveit occupiedby the engineer, John Field,andhisfamily,but in 1819

1.TheOldStPaul’s Cathedral stands among theflames onthethirddayoftheGreatFire ofLondonin 1666,butitsspirehasalready collapsed andby9 p.m.it waswellalight, destroying thegoodsofmanypeoplewhohad

moved themthereexpecting thethickstone

wallsto preventthebuildingburning.

2.LeadfiremarkoftheRoyalExchange

Assurance (24x 13cm)repaintedto showits originalcolouring.Belowisanextractfrom

thepolicyregister whichshows thatthe

policywastakenouton 1December1778by MaryJaneWalkerofBursledon, Hampshire to covera brickandtiledhousevaluedat £300.

Above: 3. Firemenof thePhoenixAssurance Companyarriveat aninnat theendof theirDay ofMarchingto enjoya dinnerpaidforbythe companyDirectors. Left:4. ThesilvermarchingmaceofthePhoenix Assurance Company.

Above: 5.Banner usedbyaprovincial brigadeoftheSunFireOffice(136x gicm),c.1850—60.

Right: 6.Apainting ofHandinHand

firemanRobertTozerwhojoinedthis brigadeon 20April1824whenhe was twenty-fire yearsold.Hisimpressment exemptioncertificate describes himas‘5foot6 incheshigh,offair

oes as

at

dee

ee

PT

complexion, wearing hisownhair...’

WhenhejoinedtheLondonFire EngineEstablishment in 1833he was appointedEngineerat thefireengine housein BakerStreet.

™

pe

* |

~

ee

te

i

a

ee bs Co

pee

ed a

Left:7. Politicalcartoondated1829showing theDukeofWellington, thenthePrime Minister,dressedas a firemanof the British

FireOffice. “Heisperfectly fireproof...’, areference toaduelhehadjustfought withtheanti-Catholic LordWinchelsea in

BatterseaFieldsoverhisintroduction of the CatholicEmancipation Billin Parliament.

Below: 8.Thepainted bargeboardofthe

PhoenixAssurance Company, c.1785, showing membersoftheirLondonfirebrigade. Theywearwide-brimmed hatsratherthan helmets,whichwereprobablywornwhenin

uniform butnotactually fighting fires.The

largenumberofbuttonsusedon firemen’s

uniforms atthisperiodcanbeseen,witha totaloffifty-sixon theirs.

Aboveleft:9. TheForemanof theSunFireOffice,c.1795-1800, wearinghissilvergiltarmbadge,andholding thetypicallong-handled axeofthisperiod,holdsalofta lightinglink.Hiswell-designed helmetandleather ofGreatBritainbyW.H.Pyne, bootsmakethisa verypracticaluniformin whichto fightfires.FromCostume 1808. Aboveright:10.Theuniformwornbyfiremenof theLondonAssurance Corporation¢.1790.

Aboveleft:11.A firemanoftheAtlasAssurance Companybrigadec.1800. Aboveright:12.TheuniformswornbytheForemen(Captains) oftheinsurancebrigadesweremoreimpressive and expensivethan those worn by their men.The Foremanof the WestminsterInsuranceOffice,c.1800,wears

thelowtophatknownasaBeaver.

icin

Aboveleft:13.A firemanoftheHandin HandFireOfficec.1820. Londonbrigadestandsoutsidehisengine Assurance’s Aboveright:14.TheForemanof theRoyalExchange housein around1820wearingtheout-turnedtophatpopularwithLondonbrigadesat thattime.Notethe leatherhosehungup to dry.

Left:15.Asemi-rotary

fireengine,commonly knownasa‘balloonengine’ becauseofitsprominent airvessel.Suchengines areshownon thepolicy headingoftheBristolFire Office. Below: 16.A largecarriage enginebuiltbyTilley& Co.in 1824,andusedby thebrigadeof theLeeds& Yorkshire FireInsurance CompanyinYorkuntil 1824.WhentheLeeds &Yorkshire wastaken overbytheLiverpool& London&GlobeInsurance

Company itwasrelocated

to Bridlington, whereit waslateroperatedbythe localauthority.

17.Thefloating fireengineoftheSun

FireOfficein attendanceat theHousesof Parliament fireon 16October1834.

18.Sewnleatherbucketofthe Handin HandFireOfficebearingthepainted emblemofthecompany. Eighteenth century.

19.WestofEnglandbucketwithriveted seamsandcopperrimfromaround 1820-70.

20.LeatherbucketoftheCountyFire OfficeusedbyitsLondonbrigade.Earlyto mid-nineteenth century.

21.London FireEngines. Thenoble protectors oflivesandproperty. Anaquatintaftera paintingbyJamesPollard, c.1825. It showsfireenginesoftheCountyFireOffice,Westminster FireOfficeandPhoenixAssurance on their waytoa fire.In theforeground a watchmanswingshisalarmrattle,whiletheparishenginemakesitswayalong thepavement. Somefiremenrideon theengines,butothersrun towardsthefire. Illustrations 22-25:A setoffourprintsshowingthestagesofattendinganddealingwitha fire.Published by Lewis& Co., LeadenhallStreet,London,c.1820.

ret aaa Nn

22.FirstAlarm. Astruggle fortheStart.ASunFireOfficeengineunderthecontrol ofarunning driver, shows thefiremen wearing theirBeavers (lowtophats).

penta vines

3. NearApproach. Takecare,takecare,weareverynearit now.Thehorsescometo a suddenhaltanda crowd gathersto seetheaction.

24.TheFire.Seethatnolives arelost.Afireman digsuptheroadtogetaccess tothewatermain,whilefiremen

andvolunteers pumpthefireengines.Portersremoveitemsfroma threatenedbuilding. wep Sah ise

25.TheRuins.Thefireisout&nowforhome. Someexhausted firemenreston a fireengine,whileanotherrollsup theleatherhosesandothersexaminetheruins.Horsesarebroughtbackandharnessedto theenginesreadyto takethembackto theenginehouses.

canons

28.TheTooleyStreetfireof 1861wasthelargestin Londonsincethe GreatFireof 1666.

Opposite above: 26.Theatresoftencaughtfirein theeighteenthandnineteenthcenturies, butlegislation concerningbetterfireregulations in suchbuildings wasnotpasseduntil1890. Opposite below: 27.TheSaving ofWestminster Hall.A paintingbyG.B.Campion.Menof theLondonFireEngine Establishment dealtwiththeirfirstmajorfireon 16October1834,causedbytheoverheating offluesfroma

furnace belowtheHouseofLords. Asubsequent enquiry concluded that‘thefirewaswholly attributable to carelessness andnegligence.

29.JamesBraidwood, Superintendent ofthecombinedinsurancebrigadein Londonfrom1833calledthe LondonFireEngineEstablishment. He iswearingthedistinctive typeofleatherhelmethe introducedintohis newbrigade.

FireEngines, Stations andHorses

IT3

Themostimpressive insurance company fireenginehouseinLondon wassituated inOldCockspur Street.It wasdesignedbyThomasLevertonto blendin withthegrandbuildingsthatsurroundedit.

theCountymoved itsofficetothejunctionofPiccadilly andRegentStreetandlocated the

enginethere.Fromthe mid-eighteenth century,a numberof Londoninsurancecompanies hadmorethanone enginehousein the metropolis; the Sun,for example,hadleasedfive propertiesforitsenginesby 1789at RatcliffeHighway, Holborn,SwallowStreet,Lincoln’s Inn Field’sandHorsleyDown.Themostimpressive of the Londonfireenginehouseswas in OldCockspurStreet,oneofthreebelongingto thePhoenixAssurance Company, which

wasonasite leased fromtheCrownforaperiodoffiftyyears. Thiswasdesigned byThomas Leverton, thecompany’s firstsurveyor, andhada veryimpressive facadedesignedto blendin withthesurrounding buildings, sincethefireengineshousedtherewereprimarilyto protect the‘RoyalPalaces, Government OfficesandothervaluablePublicandprivatepropertiesin thatimportantandimproving divisionoftheTown’

In theearlynineteenth century, withtheformation ofmoreinsurance companies and

brigadesin London,coupledwithgreaterco-operation betweenthe companybrigadesin firefighting, someoftheolderfireenginehouseswereclosedassomecompanies reducedthe numberofenginestheymaintained. Companies in thelargerprovincial townsandcitiesalso keptenginesatstrategicpointsto giveasfullcoveraspossible. Thecombinedbrigadeofthe BathFireOfficeandtheBathSunFireOfficeadvertised in 1806thatit hadenginesatseven locations: at theWatchHousein MarketPlace,theenginehousein PeterStreet,the engine house,Grove,the enginehouseat theUpperAssembly Rooms,in thevaultof StMichael's Church,atMessersCollettandFaulkner’s in HorseStreetandattheWhiteHartInnin Stall Street.TheLeedsFireOffice,unusually, sharedan enginehousewiththe townfireengine, whiletheSalopFireOfficekepttheirfireengineat Franklin’s LiveryStableon SwanHillin Shrewsbury, Shropshire. Therewasanalleyadjoiningthe Salop’s officewhichgaveaccessto theliverystable,andthiseventually becameknownasFireOfficePassage. The Caledonian

114

InsuranceFireBrigades1680—1929

Fi Peet

TT!

Hi i

‘:

Oneofthepurpose-built firestations thatJamesBraidwood hadbuiltforthefiremen oftheLondon

FireEngineEstablishment. Themen,whoarewearingtheflatcapstheyworewhenon dutybutnot firefighting, talkto a watercompany’s turncock.Notethenightbell.1858.

FireEngines, Stations andHorses

ITS

Insurance CompanykeptitsEdinburgh fireengineinWaterYard,CastleHill,andplacedan alarmbellonthewall. Someengineswerelookedafterby the company’s agentsandwerein mostcaseskept in a suitableshednearor behindtheiroffice.TheYorkshire InsuranceCompanyinitially housedits newengine,whichit purchasedin 1825,in a coachhouseinPetergate,York, whichbelongedto the companychairman,untilDecember1826,whentheyboughta buildingin NewStreetfor£400.Thiswaslargeenoughto housetwofireenginesandhad livingaccommodation for the brigadeforeman.Fromthe earlynineteenthcenturysome companyfirestationswerespeciallybuiltto housenot onlythe fireenginesand some full-timefiremen,butalsohorses,asnot allinsurancebrigadeswerenowrelyingon hiring themonlywhenrequired.Withthefoundationofthe LondonFireEngineEstablishment, a combinedinsurancecompanybrigade,Superintendent JamesBraidwood beganto build newfirestationsas soonas possible. Theseincorporatedlivingaccommodation for the firemenratherthanhavingonlyoneor twoat theenginehousewiththeothermenliving in housesnearby,whichhadbeenthetraditional practice. CaptainShaw,on takingoveras chiefofficerof the L.FE.E.in 1861,continuedto modernise thefirestations byintroducing suchinnovations asthetelegraph, whoseinstallation Braidwood hadresisted. Thecompanies oftenprintedthenamesandaddresses ofitsfiremen on the backof earlierinsurancepoliciesandprospectuses givento policyholders so they couldfindthenearestcompanyfireman, butthemostcompletelistofinsurance firemenand enginehousesisfoundon a documentissuedto thenewlyformedLondonpoliceforcein 1830. Thisgivesthenamesandaddresses of 273firemenofthesixteencompanies which,at thatdate,maintained firebrigadesin London.Thisshowsthatthe companies maintained a totaloftwenty-five enginehouses,nineteenofwhichweresituatednorthoftheThamesand sixsouthofit,allfairlywidelyscattered. TakingStPaul’sCathedral asthecentre,theengine

houseoftheProtector Insurance Company wasthefurthest northatSomers Town(between Hampstead andStPancras), justover1%miles(2.4km)away,theRoyalExchange Assurance enginehouseat KingStreet,GoldenSquare,Piccadilly, wasthe furthestwestat 1%miles (2.8km), whilethefurthesteast,onRatcliffeHighway, some1%milesaway(2.8km), wasthat oftheSunFireOffice. SouthoftheThamesalltheenginehouses,whichstretchedfromjustwestofBlackfriars Bridgeto eastBermondsey, aresituatedwithina quarterofa mile(0.4km)oftheriver.This documentalsoshowsthat166firemenwerelivingnorthoftheriverand107wereresident on the southside,but theyaresurprisingly scatteredin relationto theirenginehousesin mostcases.Severalof the companies hadtheirmenparticularly widelyspread,forexample thefiremenoftheCountyFireOfficewerelocatedacrossLondonasfarwestasHorseferry RoadandeastasfarasLimehouse. TheGuardian Assurance Company’s enginehousewasin TooleyStreet,buttheirfiremenlivedat variousplacesin London,withninebeingnorthof theriverandsevento thesouth,withonemanasfarup riverasPutney,somakinghimthe furthestflungmemberoftheLondoninsurance brigades, beingabout6 miles(9.6km)from StPaul’s. Bythe1830s someoftheenginehousesweremannedcontinually, withelevencompanies havingbetweenoneandthreemenattheirenginehouseandthreecompanies havingmen of theirbrigadesin the samestreetastheirfireengine.The mostnotableexamplebeing theWestminster InsuranceOfficewhohadsixofitsfiremenlivingadjacentto theirengine house,withthe foremanon thepremises. Oneofthe greatestconcentrations ofinsurance firemenintheearlynineteenthcenturywasin Hungerford Marketwheretheenginehouse ofboththeBritishFireOfficeandthe ImperialInsuranceCompanywerelocated.A total of fourteenfiremenlivedthererepresenting the followingcompanies: AllianceAssurance Company(oneman),BritishFireOffice(oneman),GuardianAssurance Company(two men),ImperialInsuranceCompany(fourmen),NorwichUnionInsuranceSociety(one man),PhoenixAssuranceCompany(threemen)and the ProtectorInsuranceCompany

116

Insurance FireBrigades 1680—1929

(oneman).Seepage64 for a contemporary songaboutan insurancefiremanlivingin HungerfordMarket. Southof the riverthereweretwomainconcentrations of firemen,one to the eastof

London Bridge, whereoverthirtywereliving, mostinthesmallstreets runningfromTooley

Streetdownto the river.The secondgrouping,twenty-threemen,wasfoundin abouta dozenstreetsmidwaybetweenLondonBridgeandBlackfriars Bridge.Thefiremanwhohad the keysto the Sun’sfloatingfireenginelivedoverthreequartersof a mile(1.2km)from whereit wasmoored,whileitsengineer,whoalsohada setofkeys,wasevenfurtheraway,

about3 miles(4.8km) fromthemooring. Duringtheday,asthemajority oftheLondon firemenwerewatermanon theThamesoperatinga rivertaxiservice,theycouldbe found at theriversteps,althoughby 1830somecompanies alsoemployed full-timefiremen.Soif a firebrokeoutduringthe daya largenumberoffiremenwereeasilylocated,butat night the situationwasdifferent. Becauseof the generallywidedistributionof the menit took considerably longerto getthebrigadestogether,hencethecomparatively longtimetakento

gettofireswhichbrokeoutatnight.

However, thescattering ofthemencould,to someextent,beadvantageous sinceit would bepossibleto getatleasta fewmenofa particular brigadeon thesceneofa fireassoonas possibleto assessthesituationandorganisevolunteers to pumpthefireengineswhenthey arrived.Firemenlivingfurtherawayfromthe sceneof the firearrivedon footassoonas theycould,alongwiththe horse-drawn fireengines,on which,tojudgeby contemporary illustrations oftheperiod1780-1830, onlyfourto sevenmenwouldnormallyride.Theidea ofspreading a particular company’s firemenovertheareaofoperationwasoriginally devised in theseventeenth century,asisclearfromthefactthatwhentheHandin HandFireOffice appointedsixWatermenasfiremenin 1699,theyensuredthatthreelivedon theMiddlesex sideoftheriver(north)andthreeon theSurreyside(south). In 1708,CharlesPovey,founderof the predecessorof the Sun FireOffice,establishedwhat

wasa salvage corpsratherthan a firebrigade,andin settingouthisplansuggested that: a sufficientNumberof ableBodiedmen,to be choseout of differentParishes,in the Cities

andsuburbs ofLondonandWestminster, thattheymaybereadyathand,to giveimmediate Assistance, where-evera FIRE shallbreakforth,in Removingand securingthe Movable Goods,Merchandizes andwares,of allSubscribers.

Thispracticewasfollowed bythevariousLondoninsurance brigades untiltheiramalgamation intoa combinedforcein 1833.TheSuncertainlytookcarewhereitsmenlived,andin 1806 gave£2 10seachto HenryPeck,GeorgeRobinsonandWilliamLangley, probablyfull-time engineers, to covertheirexpensesin relocatingtheirlodgingsto be nearerto the engine house.Asthemenhadto paya higherrent,theSunalsograntedeachanallowance of£5 a yearto coverthis.

THEFIREHORSESANDTHEIRDRIVERS In the earlydaysofthe insurancebrigadesthe manuallypumpedfireengineswerepulled by handto the sceneof the fire,andhadsmallsolidwheelsand,lackinga forecarriage, werenot verymanoeuvrable, but by the 1720sthe companieswerebeginningto use horse-drawnwagons,whichtheyboughtor hired,to carrythemto the sceneofthe fire. Themajorityofeighteenth-century insurancebrigadesdonotseemto havehadtheirown horses,andwouldhirethemonlywhennecessaryto getthe enginesto a fireor for use whendrilling,whichiswhytheenginehouseswerelocatednearliverystablesor innsthat hiredhorses,andin somecasesthe fireengineswerekeptat the stables.Somecompanies hadanarrangement thatwhenanalarmoffirewasgiven,theostlerwouldbringthehorses

FireEngines, Stations andHorses

117

fromtheliverystableor innstraightto the enginehouse,anarrangement thatonlybegan to changein the nineteenthcenturywhensomeLondoninsurancebrigadeskepthorses in a stableat theenginehouse,whichwasnowmannedbytwoor threefiremen.TheSun renteda stablefromJohnPearseforoneyearat a rentof£50,whichseemsquitehigh,but astherecordsshowno expenditureforhorsefodderor otherrelateditems,thismayhave beenan inclusivechargefor horsesandtheirkeep,whichwouldhavemeantthe horses

wereoncontinuous annualhire.

TheEagleInsurance Companyin 1819waspaying16saweekforapairofhorsesifused‘on thestones’, withanextra7s6dto bepaidif theywereused‘offthestones’.In London,calls wereclassified asbeing‘on’or‘off’thestones,a reference to theareaswheretheroadsurface wascobbledandtheareasbeyondwhichwerenot,althoughthislattertypeofpoorsurfacewas byno meansconfinedonlyto ruraldistricts.Thebrigadeof theRoyalExchange Assurance in Dublinhada horseon constanthireuntilthelate1820swhenthecompanydecidedthat thecostwasnotjustified,andsorevertedto theirprevioussystemofonlyprocuringa horse when a firebrokeout.The RoyalInsuranceCompanybrigadeat Birmingham cameto an arrangement in 1863withJ.Cresswell &Co.,FuneralCarriageProprietors, to providehorses

fortheirfireengines atacostof£60ayear. Thefuneral directors agreed tokeepfourhorses inthestable andamantobeinconstant attendance readytogetthemtothefirestation when

a firebrokeout.However, thissystemwasobviously notverysuccessful asonlyfourmonths laterthecompanyminutesnote,‘thetotalsuspension ofarrangements forhousingtheengines inconsequence oftheincompetence ofthecontracting parties.Theythereforedecidedtobuy theirownhorses,andsopurchased twoat£14 and£17 Ios. In Londonthe eighteenth-century fire enginesof an insurancecompanycouldhave travelled upto 8 miles(12.8km) to a fire,butit in thenineteenthcenturymayhaveoperated onlywithina particulardistrictunlessordersto thecontrarywerereceived. A minuteofthe Sun,dated25July 1822,statesthat:

TheCommittee havingtakenintoConsideration theExtentoftheDistricts to whichthe EnginesoftheSocietyareatpresentallowed to run.Resolved: Thatin orderto diminish the Expenseof drawingthe enginesand to preventtheirWearand tear,as muchas possible, theDistricts oftheFireEngines ofthisSociety shallinfuturebelimited, according toaplansubmitted thisdaytotheCommittee. ItwasfurtherResolved: Thatthedescriptions oftheDistricts beenteredintotheFireBook,andthattheSuperintendent dogivenecessary directions thatthenewregulations beproperly observed. Unfortunately, theFireBookdoesnotseemto havesurvived andsothedetailsof theareaof operations of eachenginecannotbe ascertained. Insurance brigades basedin provincial towns andcountrydistrictsoftenhadto travelconsiderably furtherthanthosein London,but they usually hadalimitastohowfartheywereprepared totravel; forexample, thebrigadeoftheKent Insurance Company atMaidstone operatedonlywithina 20-mile(32km) radiusofthattown. Manyprintsoftheearlynineteenth centuryillustrating fireenginesontheirwaytoafireshow thembeingdrivenbya civilianratherthana fireman, but thisisnot too surprising sincethe majorityoffiremenwerepart-time, andmostfollowed theoccupation ofwatermen, operating boatsontheThames, sowouldhavehadlittlereasonto becomeproficient at drivingcarriages andcarts,andtherefore incapable ofdrivinga fireengine. TherecordsoftheSunshownumerous quarterly payments to variouspeoplewhoarenotfiremenfor‘drawing theengines’. In 1790, besides Benjamin CombesandThomasJohnson, paymentwasalsomadetoAnnThompson for ‘drawing theengine’ thatwaskeptatSouthwark. However, Annprobably ownedtheinnorlivery stablethatsupplied thehorsesandsomeoneto drivetheengineratherthandrivingitpersonally. Otherpayments arefor‘rent& drawingtheengine’,indicating thattheenginedriverwas beingprovidedbytheliverystablewherethe enginewaskept.Sinceinnsandstableswould remainin thesamefamilyforgenerations, sothesamefamilynameappearsin therecordsas

118

InsuranceFire Brigades1680—1929

A manualfireengineof theRoyalExchange Assurance onatravellingcartisunderthecontrolof a runningdriver,whoguidesthefirsthorsewitha leadrein,andhasa longwhipto encouragethe others.Thedriver’s lackof uniformsuggests he isanostlerfromtheinnwheresuchhorseswerekept. Froma drawingbyW.H.Pyne,1805.

A fireengineoftheLondonAssurance Corporationon a travelling cartracestoa fireat night,with thefiremenholdinglinksto lightthewayandthehorsesunderthecontrolofa runningdriverin around1810.

FireEngines, Stations andHorses

Right:TradecardofJohnBristow, fire-enginemakerofRatcliffe Highway, London.Thisshowsthe

typeoffireenginehemadealong withthefirefighting equipment thathesupplied tovarious insurancebrigadesincludingaxes, leatherhoseandbuckets. Below: Billfor£2779sfromJohn

Bristow, fire-engine maker, tothe SunFireOfficeforrepairs to‘old

officeengines’ andfireenginesin countrytowns,servicinga floating fireengine,repairingenginecarts andloanofa fireengine;aswell asforrentofa fireenginehouse anddrawingonefireengine to fires.Forthequarteryearto Midsummer 1784.

I19

120

InsuranceFire Brigades1680—1929

beingpaidfordrawing thefireengines, oneofthemostnotableexamples ofthisistheCoombes familywhowereresponsible forstoringandgettingtheSun’sfireengineat Swallow Streetto fires.Benjamin Coombeswasfirstpaidforrentanddrawingtheenginein 1778,andthereafter Elizabeth, anotherBenjamin, FrancisandaJ. Coombesappearsuccessively asbeingpaidfor rentanddrawing untilthecompany discontinued theoperation ofthatfireenginein 1826.The familyownedtheBlackBullInninSwallow Streetwhichstoodwithinafewhundredyardsof

aWatch House, andwasa typical innoftheperiod, beingsetaround a courtyard. Theareadid

nothavea particularly goodreputation duringtheeighteenth century, andtheBlackBullwas reputedtobethehauntofhighwaymen! Thefire-engine manufacturer Bristowhousedoneof the Sun fireenginesand droveit to fires,receivingrent and a drawingfee from 1766to 1833.

Contemporary printsand paintingsshowthat the insurancebrigadesusedtwo main methodsofharnessing thehorsesto thefireenginesor enginecarriages. Themostcommon wayofdoingthiswasto useoneor,lesscommonly, twopairsofhorsessidebyside,witha driversittingonthefireengine,althougha fewbrigadesseemedto haveusedpostillians, who rodeon thehorsesratherthanon thefireengine,asdidtheSheffield FireOffice. Theother method of harnessingthe horse to fire engineswasto use two,or occasionallythree horses,

in tandem.Whenthismethodwasusedthehorseswerecontrolled bya runningdriverwho,

usingalongwhiptocontrol thehorses, wouldrunalongside them.Mostoftheillustrations

ofrunningdriversshowthemtobe civilians, sotheywerepresumably suppliedbytheinnor liverystablewherethehorseswereobtained, butoneillustration, showinga Sunfireengine goingto a fire,showsa firemanas a runningdriverwearinga modifieduniformin which theskirtofhisjacketwasshortenedsoasnotto interferewithhisrunning,andheiswearing

shoesratherthanboots.Illustrations showing engines underthecontrolofrunningdrivers datebetween thelateeighteenth century andthe1820s, andshowbothmethods ofdriving

theengineswerein usebydifferent brigadesatthesametime. Sincethe firstthreefireenginesarrivingat a firein Londonwereeligiblefora reward, presumably anenginewitha runningdriverstoodasmuchchanceofreachingthescenein timeto claima rewardasonewitha driveron thefireengine.Astherunningdriverswere probablygoingat about10milesper hour(16kmper hour)thehorseswouldhavebeen trotting,andthisisconfirmed bythetimeit tooktheLondoninsurance brigadesto getto a fireduringthisperiod.Conventionally drivenenginesprobablyalsodidnotgofasterthana trot,becausealthoughtheyhadleafsprings,thecobbledroadsurfaces wouldprobablyhave causeddamageto thepumpingmechanism iftheyweredriventoofast. Whilecontemporary descriptions andpoemsoftensaytheengines‘galloped’ toa fire,thisislikelytobeexaggeration or poeticlicence.Therearenumerousstoriesabouttheintelligence ofthehorsesthatpulled thefireengine,althoughmanyofthemappearto beratherfarfetched. However,one which seemsto be wellauthenticated,concernsthe horseswhich pulledthe

WestofEnglandInsurance Company’s fireenginein London.In 1851thebrigadewascalled outto a firein Deptfordduringtheearlyhoursof themorning,buttheydidnothavethe exactlocation. SotheysetoutforthegeneralareaandweregoingdownDeptfordHighStreet whenoneofthehorsesstoppeddeadandrefusedto goon.Encouragement, cursesandthe whipfailedto movetheanimal,andthenoneofthefiremennoticedthereflection in a fan lightovera doorofa firewhichhadnotyetburstoutofthebuilding. Thestorydoesnotsay ifthiswasthefiretheywerelookingforor anotherthathadbrokenout,butit islikelythis wasnottheonetheyhadthealertaboutasit wasnotobviousfromthestreetuntilthatpoint,

andtherewereobviously nobystanders whenthefireenginecametoitssudden halt.

In generalthe brigadespresenteda smartturnoutandkepttheirenginesandharness in goodcondition,but for specialoccasions the horseswouldbe speciallygroomedand decorated, asforexamplewhentheYorkshire Insurance Companyfireenginewasinvitedto takepartin aparadein thatcityto celebrate thecoronation ofQueenVictoriain 1837. They boughtfourrosettesto bewornbythepostillians andeightnewlargerosettesmadeofwhite ribbonforthehorses’ heads.

CHAPTER NINE

THETYPES OFFIREENGINES USEDBYINSURANCE BRIGADES Duringthetimethattheywereinexistence, theinsurance brigadeswereusuallysuppliedwith thelatestfireengines, oftenreferredtoasfirepumps,andduringthecourseofnearly250years

thecompany records showthenamesofalmosteverymajor,andsomeminor,fire-engine manufacturers oftheeighteenth, nineteenth andearlytwentieth centuries. Bylooking atthe manydifferenttypesoffireenginesusedbythesebrigades, the evolutionofthefireengine fromitsearliestdaysto sophisticated steamandmotorfireenginescanbe appreciated.

TheSquirt

Theearliest formoffirepumpwasusually referredtoasa‘squirt’ or‘small handengine’, andwas basically a largesyringe-like devicewitha shortnozzleandbarrelofcastbrass,withtwoside handlesandabrasspistonpackedwithhemp.Inusethenozzlewasplacedinwater,thepiston pulledupand,witha manholdingeachhandle,it wasaimedattheseatofthefire,anda third personpushedin thepistonto expelthewaterin alongstream.Onaverage thesesquirtswere

abletothrowtheequivalent ofabouta thirdofaneighteenth-century bucketofwatereach time,butfora muchgreaterdistancethancouldbeachieved bythrowinga bucketofwaterat thefire.On 25June1706theHandin HandFire:Officeorderedsix‘smallhandengines’ at a costof3s6deach,andno doubttheotherearlyfirebrigadesalsousedsuchdevices.

Dutch&Lofting FireEngines

Duringthe lateseventeenth andearlyeighteenthcentury,a numberof Dutchfireengines wereimportedintoEnglandastheyweremoreadvancedthananyEnglishmachine,using hosepipesmadeof sewnleather.Thisenabledthewaterto be takento the seatof the fire insteadofbeingthrownat the flamesfrom a distanceasin allotherfirepumpswhichused a nozzleattachedto the top of the machine. Theyalsouseda suctionhosewhichmadeit possible to takewaterdirectlyintotheenginewithouthavingto usebucketstofillthecistern. On theabdication ofJamesII in 1688,theshipbringingKingWilliamandQueenMaryto EnglandfromHollandcarriedseveralDutchengines,butit wasnotlongbeforethesewere beingcopied,notablybyJohnLofting, whoin 1690obtaineda patentfora fireenginewhich wasalmostidenticalto thatoftheDutchengines. Lofting’s fireenginewasusedin theseventeenth centurybybrigadesoftheFireOffice,the FriendlySocietyandtheHandin HandFireOfficeastheemblems ofthesethreecompanies appearon hisadvertising broadsheets issuedbetween1700and 1710.On 22April1707the recordsof the Handin Handshowthattwoof theirfiremenwerepaidss forplayingthe engines,sotheyappearto havehadmorethanonebythisdate.

I22

Insurance FireBrigades 1680-1929

A seventeenth-century brasssquirtusedat variousfires,includingtheGreatFireof Londonin 1666.Earlyfirefighting equipmentwasoftenkeptin churchessothatit waseasilyaccessible whenrequired,andthesesimpletypeofpumpswereusedby thefirstthreeinsurancefirebrigadesin theseventeenth century.

JohnLoftingdemonstrating thepowerofhisnewDutch-style fireengine,whichhe patentedin 1690,alongwiththenewlyintroducedflexibleleatherhose.Hisengines wereusedbythefirstthreeinsurancebrigades.

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A firemanandporteroftheBristolCrownFireOfficestandeachsideofa fireenginemadebyMr KeelingofLondon.HisengineswerealsousedbytheLondoninsurancebrigades. A policyheading engraved¢.1718.

Keeling FireEngines

Fromthe 1670sa numberoffire-enginemakerswereproducingfireengines,amongwhich wasJohnKeelingof Blackfriars, London,Hisconsistedof a barrel-likecisternmountedon wheelswitha pairof pumpingleverswhichhadto be pushedup anddowntogether,not alternately asin othermanualfireengines.Despitea primitiveappearance, theHandin Hand FireOfficeordereda largeenginefromMrKeelingon 1April1718,andthistypeofengine isshownon thepolicyheadingsof the SunFireOfficeandBristolFireOfficefromabout thesamedate.

Newsham FireEngines

Severalmakers,mostlyLondonbased,werebuildingfireenginesduringtheseventeenth and earlyeighteenthcenturies,but it wasnot until1725thata majorinnovationin firepump designcameaboutwhenRichardNewshamwasgranteda patentfor a newtypeof fire engine,whichwasuniversally popularforeightyyears,andexamples werein useformuch longer.Hedeveloped a veryefficientmethodofconverting therockingmotionofthelevers andfoottreadlesto anupanddownmovementto operatethepistonsusinga flatlinkchain (ason a bicycle)runningovera pulley. TogainmorepowerNewshamaddedfoot-operated treadles sothatmenstandingontopoftheengineshiftingtheirweightfromsideto sidecould assistthosepumpingthehandlevers. ManyNewshamandsimilar-style fireengineswereprovidedwithhand-or horse-drawn carryingcartstotransport themfasterthanwaspossible usingtheirownwheels. Someinsurance

124

Insurance FireBrigades 1680-1929

Above: A Newshamfire engineof theRoyal Exchange Assurance showinghowthepower ofthepumperswas increased byhaving menstandingon top ofthemachineshifting theirweightfromside to sideon foottreadles. Themenpumping seemto be a mixtureof firemenandvolunteer

pumpers, andthewater isbeingtakendirectly intothe fireengine fromthe watermains.A drawingbyW.H.Pyne, 1805.

Left: Afireengine

madebyRichard Newshamshowinghis patented‘bicyclechain’

mechanism andthe foottreadles usedby

pumpersto gainmore powerandincreasethe jet ofwater.

TheTypes of FireEngines usedbyInsurance Brigades

‘125

brigadesput their Newshamengineson specially built,two-wheeled, horse-drawn carts whichalsogavethema highdegreeofmanoeuvrability, andillustrations showthatboththe

London Assurance Corporation andthePhoenix Assurance Company wereusingthistypeof

conveyance inthe1820s. Newsham produced hisfireengineinsixsizes,thetwosmallest being ‘carriedlikea chair’(asedanchair),buttheywerestillcapableofpumping30gallonsofwater (136litres)a minutefora distanceof26yards(23m),whilethelargestsizecouldsenda 170 gallons(772litres)ofwatera minutea distance of40yards(38m)usinga gooseneck nozzle. In 1752a writerin TheLondon Magazine saidof RichardNewshamthatin thesefire engineshe hadgiven‘anoblerpresentto hisCountrythanif he hadaddedprovincesto GreatBritain”Newsham-style enginesweremadebya numberof makers,butwithouthis innovative chainmechanism, andbytheendoftheeighteenthcenturyit hadbecomeusual to placethedeliveryoutleton thebackofthemachineinsteadofon thetop,sincebythis periodmostwereonlyusedwitha deliveryhose.Newshamandsimilar-style engineswere

usedbymostoftheinsurance brigades duringtheeighteenth century, andsomecontinued to usethemevenwiththeadvent ofthecarriage engine.

Anearlynineteenth-century Newshampatternfireengine,probablymadebyBristow&Co.,usedby

theEssex &Suffolk FireOfficeinoneofthetownswherepremium income justified establishing an

insurancefirebrigade.

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A boxfireengine(64cmsq.)forusein insuredproperty.

Theyaredepictedinmanycontemporary printsandpaintings, andfeatureinthedecorative policyheadingsof severalcompanies. In someruralareasNewsham-style engineswerein

useuntiltheearlytwentieth centuryandeven,in at leasttwocases, eighteenth-century Newsham-style machines werestillbeingusedforfirefighting aslateasthe 1940s.

Semi-Rotary FireEngines

In 1785a newtypeoffireenginewasdeveloped byJosephBramah, whosepistonshadarotary motionarounda centralpoint,insteadofvertically asinotherengines.Oneofthedistinctive featuresofthesemachines isthelargecopperor brassairvesselwhichwaspositioned above thepumpandgaveriseto theireighteenth-century nicknameof‘balloonengines’. Although efficientandwellmade,thistypeofenginedoesnotseemto havebeenparticularly popular, althoughthe SunFireOfficehadtwowhichwereregularlymaintained by Bramah. The

Phoenix Assurance Company hadoneandtheBristol FireOffice probably alsousedthem.

A BoxFireEngine

DuringthenineteenthcenturytheBirmingham FireOfficepurchased a smallportablefire pumpabout64cmsq.Thesewereprobably placedinlargehouseswhichthecompany insured

readyforimmediate useontheoutbreak offire,onebeinglocated oneachfloor.Duringthe

nineteenthcenturya widevarietyofsmallfirepumpsweredeveloped byfire-engine makers forhomeuse.

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A mid-nineteenth-century carriagefireengineof theEssexEconomicFireOfficeoutsidetheir headquarters isshownon a policyheading.

Carriage FireEngines

Intheearlynineteenthcentury,fireenginemakerssuchasW,J.TilleyandHadley&Simpkins beganto builda new typeof fireenginewhich,althoughbroadlybasedon the design principlesof Newsham, incorporated a numberof changes. Themostobviousof thesewas the changein sizeandshapesincetheyweredesignedto be pulledat speedbyhorses,and sowerefittedwithsprings,spokedwheels,brakesanda driver’s seatandfootboard, although fairlysmallhand-drawn versionswerealsoproducedforbrigadesthatdidnothaveaccessto horses.Thepumpingleverswerepositionedalongthesides,asin theearlierengines,butthe widerandmorestableengineallowedlongerhandlesto be used,whichfoldeddownwhen not in use,sothatmoremencouldoperatethem.Newshamhaddesignedhisengineto be narrowenoughto go througha doorwayor passage soit couldgetcloseto a fireto throw waterfromitstopmountedgooseneck nozzle,butthesenewlargecarriageengineswereonly usedwithdeliveryhose,andsocouldbe operatedsomedistancefromtheflames. Thesuctionhosewaskeptin a compartment runningalongeachsideofthemachine,and thisactedasa footrestforthe firemenwhorodeon the engineto the fire.On the larger modelstherewerecompartments forstoringthehoseandotheritems,whilethesmallerones

carried thehosecoiledupintherearcistern. Thepumping mechanism wasbasically thesame

asthe earlierengines,andconsistedoftwoverticalsingle-acting pistonswhichweredriven bya linkageconnectedto thehorizontalbarwhichrotatedastheleverswereswungup and down.Thewaterfromeachcylinderpassedthrougha delivery pipeintoanairvessel, andthen intoapipewhichbranchedto anoutletoneachsideofthefireengine,sothatoneortwojets ofwatercouldbeusedasrequired.Thewaterwastakenintothefireenginebyeitherasuction hoseor bypouringwaterdirectlyintothechambercontaining thepumpingmechanism via anopencisternattherearoftheengine.

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Thesenew-style fireengineswerenotonlycapable ofgettingtoafireconsiderably fasterthan theoldtypedespitebeingheavier, theyalsohadawiderwheelbase, somakingthemmorestable, whichalsomeanttheywerelesslikelyto be damaged bytherockingmotionofthepumpers. Carriageenginesprovedtobe extremely popularanda numberofminorimprovements were madeatvarioustimes.Themachines rangedin sizefromthoseworkedbytenor twelvemen, upto thelargestsizesuchasthatusedbytheLeedsandYorkshire Insurance Companywhich wasmadebyTilley& Co.in 1824which,in use,requireda totalofthirty-twomento work it.Theseengineswerefurtherimproved bysuggestions fromJamesBraidwood oftheLondon FireEngineEstablishment, workinginconjunction withtheenginemakers, MrMerryweather

andMrTilley. Thisresulted inMerryweather &Sonsbuilding astandardised manual fireengine

from1851whichbecameknownasthe‘LondonBrigade’ model.This,withminoralterations, wasin widespread useformanyyears,notonlybytheL.FE.E.andlatertheMetropolitan Fire Brigade, butbymanyinsurance, provincial, industrial, municipal andvolunteerbrigades. In 1890Merryweather patenteda newmodelof fireengineknownas‘TheGreenwich’,

whichwassuperficially likethe1851 design, butwhichtheyclaimed hadvarious mechanical improvements to makeit morepowerful withoutincreasing itsweight.Manually pumpedfire engines,boththe carriagetypeandvarioussmallhand-drawn versionswhichwereusedin factoriesandlargehouses,continuedto bemanufactured untilthefirstyearsofthetwentieth century.

SteamFireEngines

In1829thefirststeam-powered, horse-drawn fireenginewasbuiltbyBraithwaite, whichweighed 2 tons§cwt(2,286kg) andwascapableofpumping150-200 gallons(681-908 litres)perminute to a heightof9goft (27m).Braithwaite’s machinewasdemonstrated to theinsurance companies, andtheDirectors oftheAlliance Insurance Company sawit operating in 1830butdidnotorder one,andBraithwaite hadgreatdifficulty in sellingthem.Toshowtheefficiency ofhismachine, hetookhisenginestofires,andgaveaparticularly impressive performance ata fireintheArgyle Roomsin RegentStreet,London,where,due to the coldweather,the manualfireenginesof the

insurance companies frozeandcouldnotbeoperated, buthissteamenginesuccessfully pumped waterforfivehourscontinuously. However, thesteamfireenginewasunpopular withthepublic, notbecauseofanylackofperformance, butbecauseit didnotrequirevolunteer pumpers, and so therewouldbe no paymentandfreebeerforpeoplehelpingat a fire,andat severalfires Braithwaite’s hosewasdamaged bythecrowd.In1835 hesuggested thatsteamfireengines should beusedontheLondonFireEngineEstablishment’s floating fireengines, butthisideawasrejected

byJames Braidwood, although helaterusedsteam power onafire floatin1854.

In 1858Mr Shandpatenteda steamfireenginewhichweighedmorethan4 tons(about 4,000kg), andrequiredatleastthreehorsesto pullit,andalthoughefficientit wasapparently no betterthan Braithwaite’s machinesof twentyyearsearlier.Braidwoodstatedin 1856 thatsteamfireengineswereveryefficientif an unlimitedsupplyof waterwasavailable, as for exampleon theThames,but he considered that the Londonwatersupplywasnot of sufficiently highpressureforthesepowerfulengines;ifa higherpressuresupplywasavailable thenit wouldbepossible to connecta hosedirectlyto it viaahydrantwithouttheneedfora fireengine.However, in 1860,theL.FE.E.didhireasteamfireengineata costof£65 forone yearfromShandMasonto assessitsperformance, andat theendoftheyeartheypurchased themachine. Braidwood’s successor, EyreMasseyShaw,boughtone largesteamfireengineand two

smaller onesin 1862, andthereafter begantoreplace themanual fireengines withsteamas

quicklyashe could. Manyof the provincialinsurancecompanybrigadesalsopurchasedsteamfireengines, whichbecamemoreefficientastheywererefinedbetween1860and1880.Themajorityof BritishsteamfireenginesweremadebyeitherShandMasonorMerryweather, andcontinued

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OneofthefewsteamfireenginesoftheLondonFireEngineEstablishment rushesto a firein around 1862-65.

tobeproduced untilaround1914 whenbrigades begantoacquire motorfireengines inlarge

numbers. Steamengineswereavailable inarangeofsizescostingbetween£350—800, butthey quicklypaidforthemselves sincetheyweresocheapto operate.It wascalculated thatatone largefirein Londonthecostofoperatingthesteamfireengineswas£3 18s5d,butto have delivered thesamequantityofwaterbytheuseofmanualfireengineswouldhavecost£476, mostofwhichwouldhavebeenpayments to volunteerpumpers.InJune1900theNorwich UnionInsurance Societydecidedto converttheirhorse-drawn steamfireengineatWorcester to automotive power,andin 1905boughta purpose-built self-propelled steamengine,which theyuseduntil1924whentheyboughta motorfireappliance(seeChapterFourteen).

Floating FireEngines

Oneof themostspecialised andusefultypesof fireengineswasthe floatingfireengineor firefloat,alsooccasionally referredto asfireenginebarges.Theyweredesignedto operateon theriverThamesto dealwithfiresin riversideproperties. TheSunFireOfficewasthefirst insurancecompanyto placea fireengineon a bargeto protectriversidewarehouses which

theyinsured. Theminutes oftheCommittee ofManagement forAugust 1765statethat:

ThisCommittee beingoftheopinionthatenginesplacedinbargesontheRiverThames maybeofgreatservicein caseoffirein placesadjoining theRiver,byplaying onthesaid firesfromtheRiver,orforcingofwaterupto theenginesonland,andMr.Gardner having laidbeforetheCommittee a proposal fromtheForeman ofthefiremento contractfora bargetobemadeuseofforthatpurposeonly,andtokeepa mantowatchinthesameday andnight,soastobealways readyincaseoffire,forthesumofthirtypoundsperannum. Thatthesaidproposal beaccepted andthatthebargebeforthwith fittedforthatpurpose.

AbargewashiredfromJohnSmithat£35ayearandfittedoutasafloating fireengineby

placinga modifiedmanuallypumpedlandengineon it. InJuly1766it wasdecidedthatit shouldbe moorednearMillsStairs,Rotherhithe,a locationregardedassafeandclearof all

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Insurance FireBrigades 1680—1929

A manuallyoperatedfloatingfireenginefightinga fireat theAlbionMillsadjacentto Blackfriers

Bridge, London, in 1791.This belonged toeithertheSunFireOfficeortheLondon Assurance Corporation.

othercraftso it wouldnot be obstructed, andJohnSmithwasemployedto lookafterthe bargeandkeep‘watchtherein,In 1767theSunorderedanotherfloatingfireengine,andthe

company minutes specifically mentions thedangertoriverside property insured withthem

onbothsidesoftheThamesbelowLondonBridge.Boatswereprovidedforthefloatingfire enginessopeoplecouldbe ferriedoutto themto manthepumpsandforgeneralcarrying duties.In 1770theSuncommissioned a specially builtenginebargefromJohnTurpinata cost of£80,andplacedthepumpfromJohnSmith’s bargeintoit,althoughSmithwasstillretained to operateandkeepwatchon thisnewfloatingfireengine,althoughsomewhatconfusingly, it wasstillreferredto asthe‘oldfloatingengine’. TheLondonAssurance Corporation ordereda firepumpin 1776fora firefloat,andshortly afterwards a bargefromwhichit couldbe operated,soin thiscasethepumpwas a specially builtoneratherthana modifiedlandfireengine.In 1806the Sunorderedanotherfloating fireengine,thebargeofwhichwasbuiltbyGeorgeMartinofBullStairsat a costof£323, itshullhavingthefacilityfortakingwaterintothepumpsatitsside.Betweenfortyandfifty pumpersata timewererequiredto operatethesefireengines,whichhada veryshallowdraft enablingthemto operatecloseto thebanksoftheriver.Also,beingflatbottomed,theycould safelysettleontheforeshore asthetidewentout. Thesefirstfirefloatswerepropelledandmanoeuvred eitherusinglongoarsor bybeing towedbya sailingbarge,althoughlatermodelsmovedundertheirownpower.TheLondon Assurance firefloat,whichwasmooredatTowerWharf,attended a fireatWhitehallandgota veryfavourable reaction,asisclearfromthePublic Advertiser of26December1791:

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A bye-standerat the fire at the Duke of Richmond’shouse,PrivyGardens,Whitehall,on

Wednesday morninglast,observed withgreatpleasure, the astonishing executionof the floating fireenginebelonging toTheLondonAssurance Company inputtinga stopto the progress oftheflames, whichit did(withtheassistance of theotherofficeengines) in a shorttime.The Dukeof Richmondremarkedto the DukesofYorkand Clarence,that this

wasthatextraordinary enginewhichwasofsuchinfiniteserviceinextinguishing thefireat theOrdinance Officea fewyearsago.TheDukeofClarence wasseenveryactiveonboard thefloatingengineoftheLondonAssurance, whilsttheDukeofYorkandhisRegiment attended tokeepofftheplunderers ontheseoccasions. Eventually the LondonAssurance decidedthat the costof maintaining theirfloatingfire enginewasdisproportionate to theamountofriversideinsurancethatthecompanyhad,and sotheydisposed ofthisvesselin 1826,butothertownsandcitiesinBritainsituatedonrivers hadseenthebenefitsoftheLondonfloatingfireenginesandalsousedthem.Whena number ofinsurance brigadesamalgamated to formtheLondonFireEngineEstablishment, thisnew brigadeinheritedthetwofloatingfireenginesbelongingto theSunFireOffice,althoughthe boatwhichservedit andmiscellaneous equipmentwasgivento RobertStorey, thebrigade’s deputyforeman,on conditionthathe paidMr Serle,the boat’sbuilder,the remainingrent formooringit. In 1837the L.EE.E.commissioned anotherfloatingfireengine,andin 1840 replacedtheiroldestone,builtin 1767,bya newonewithanironhull.In 1852oneofthe firefloatswasmodernisedwhena steampumpmadeby ShandMasonwasinstalledand the pumpingleversremoved. The steamenginealsopoweredthe vesselby the useof two jetsofwaterat thesternto driveit forward,althoughthiswasnotverysuccessful, andthey revertedto towingit bytugor sailingbarge.Theconversion ofthisfirefloatcosttheL.RE.E. a totalof£1,920,whichwasraisedbya 15percentlevyon eachmembercompany’s annual contribution. The reportof the testingof thisconvertedvesselindicatesits capabilities. Beforethe additionofsteampowerit required100mento workit,thatistwoshiftsoffiftymen,twentyfivepumpingoneachside,whenit coulddeliverupto 362gallonsofwaterperminute(1,644 litresperminute)to a heightofaboutsoft(15m). Afterconversion it couldpump770gallons perminute(3,499litresperminute)throughtwo1/%in (38mm)nozzlestogetherto a height of 120ft(36m).Eventhiswasnotitslimitastherewasstillplentyofpressureavailable, butit wasthoughtthatthe hosewouldnot withstandanygreaterflowof waterthroughit.They fittedthisbecauseofincreasing difficulties withthevolunteerpumperswho,on at leastone occasion, stoppedpumpingseveraltimesdemanding morebeer.Ferryinglargenumbersof menout to the floatingfireenginesalsopresentedproblems, andonlya fewyearsbefore the vessels conversion, Braidwood wasshowingconcernaboutthe qualityof themenwho workedthepumps,asisclearfroma reportof 1850in whichhe wrote: I regrettostatethattheoldwatermen whowereprincipally depended onforworkingthe floating enginesarefastwearingout,andinsteadofthemweareobligedinagreatmeasure to employthepeoplewhooccasionally workon theDocksandWarehouses for3d.per hour,andwhodonotappearto posseseitherthestrengthorspiritnecessary to workthe enginesefficiently, whichmayperhaps beattributable to thelowdietonwhichtheymust exist. TheL.FE.E.orderedanotherfloatingfireenginefromShandMasonin 1855afterconsultations withthe engineerIsambard KingdomBrunelandtheAdmiralty. Thisnewvesselwas103ft long(31.4m), 14ft6in(4.5m)widewitha draughtof2ft8in(81cm), andcost£5,657,raised bya levyof25percenton eachcontributing company’s annualcontribution. Thisnewfirefloatonitstrialsdelivered1,938gallonsperminute(8,805litresperminute), throughfour1%in(38mm)nozzlesto a heightof 116ft(35.4m). Thesefloatingfireengines

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Insurance FireBrigades 1680-1929

A floatingfireengineoftheLondonFireEngineEstablishment whichusedsteampowerto operate

thepumps. ThiswasbuiltbyShandMason &Sonsin 1855.

andtheirsuccessors performed muchvaluable workatfiresinriverside properties, andthe

termfirefloatcontinuedtobeused,evenforself-propelled vessels, until1941whenthename wasofficially changedbytheNationalFireServiceto FireBoat,thetermstillusedtodayfor a floatingfireengine.

CHAPTER TEN

ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT Fromthelateseventeenth untilthemid-nineteenth centurytheinsurancecompanybrigades werealmosttheonlywell-equipped andorganised bodyavailable to fightfires,andtheywere suppliedwitha widerangeof equipment. Manyoftheinsurancecompanies, particularly in

London whereriskswerehigh,ensured thattheirbrigades hadthelatesttypeoffirefighting

itemsavailable. Muchofthisequipmentwascarriedonfireenginesandenginecarriages, and includedsuchitemsascrowbars,spanners, spades,pickaxes,buckets,standpipes,hoseand branch pipes.Theseitemscontinuedto be usedintothetwentiethcenturyandarestillused today,buthavetheiroriginsinthedaysoftheinsurance brigades, althoughotherswereunique to theinsurance brigadessuchasmarchingmaces.

Hose TheleatherdeliveryhosewasinventedbyJanVanderHeijdenoftheAmsterdam firebrigade who,in 1690,published a Description ofthenewly invented FireHose.This hadthebigadvantage ofallowing waterto betakento theseatofthefireandsofightit a lotmoreefficiently than theoldsystemofusinga nozzleonthetopofthefireengine,whichthrew a jet ofwaterfrom outsidethebuildingsothatalargepartoftheforcewaslost,andtheengineandpumperswere oftenexposedto dangerfromfallingdebris.VanderHeijdenalsoinventedsuctionhose,again madeofleatherbutstrengthened bya spiralofmetalsoit wouldnotcollapseundervacuum asthewaterwaspulledthroughit.Theuseofdeliveryhosesenabledtheenginesto operate ata greaterdistancefromthefire,whilesuctionhosesavoidedtheneedforbucketchainsso thatwatercouldbe deliveredto the fireenginesquickly,efficiently andin largequantities. Initiallytheleatherhosewassewntogether,butin thefirstyearsofthenineteenthcenturya systemofrivetingthehosewasdeveloped in theUnitedStatesofAmerica. Theuseofrivets meantthatthehosewaslessliableto leaksandburstingthanthehosewhichwassewn,and therecordsoftheSunFireOfficeshownumerousentriesduringthelateeighteenth andearly nineteenthcenturyforthe paymentof billsfor the repairof hose,andthiscosteventually becamequitehigh,possiblydueto theadventofmorepowerfulfireengineswhichputthe hoseundergreaterpressure. In 1794theSunFireOfficepurchased a lengthofEhrlchotzer &Co/sPatentHoseata cost of£3, presumably to testit asthe companies werealwayskeento improvetheirfirefighting equipmentasisclearfroma minuteoftheSundated15March1798: Mr.Cook,a Superintendent oftheFiremenlaidbeforethemeetinga screwfroma new construction forthehoseoffireengineswhichherecommended tobeputonthepresent hosein lieuof the oldscrews,aswellon accountof the despatchthatwillaccruein setting

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Insurance FireBrigades 1680-1929

PolicyheadingoftheBristolFireOfficec.1790, showinga varietyoffirefighting equipmentincluding firehooks,buckets,axes,cudgelsanda ladder.With‘balloon’ fireengines.

theengineto work,asto preventthehosebursting, whichfrequently happensbybeing obligedto turnthehosewiththepresentscrews, onfixingthemtogether. Orderedthat the screwsof the new constructionbe put to the hoseof allthe fireengines

belonging tothisOfficeinLondon.

Thisnew‘screw’ appears tohavebeenaswivel coupling which enables lengths ofhosetobejoined

togetherwithouthavingto twistthewholelengthofpipe,andit isofinterestsinceit predates bymanyyearstheconventional datefortheinvention oftheswivelcoupling. Companies were Insurance andin 1819the Caledonian fortheirbrigades, insuchimprovements interested always MrBlack, Police, ofthe Glasgow to thesuperintendent votedthesumoftwoguineas Company forhisinvention of‘aplanforsewingtheenginepipeswithcopper.’ Leatherhosehadto be carefully maintained, andto keepit softandpliableit wastreatedwithNeat’sFootOil,a pale

yellow fattyoilobtained byboiling theshinbones andfeetocf attle.After useleather hosehadtobe

driedoutproperly oritwouldgomouldywhichwouldweakenitandeventually causeittoburst, particularly ifit wasofthecheapertype.TheportraitoftheRoyalExchange Assurance foreman (plate14)showsa lengthofleatherhosehangingupto dryonpegsintheenginehouse. If a leakdidoccura temporaryrepaircouldbe carriedout usinga hoseclamp,a leather

sleeve whichwasplacedovertheburstorleaking section andtightened usingwingnuts.If

wellmaintained leatherhosewouldlastforyears,but it didhaveitsdrawbacks, sinceit was heavy,especially whenwet,andweighedaboutfourtimesmorethancanvashose.It wasalso verybulky;acoiled4oft(12m)lengthofleatherhose,whichwasthestandard length,occupied thesamespaceasrsoft(45.7m)ofcanvashosewhichwasfirstintroduced in the1850s. Various typesofcanvashosegradually beganto supersede it,althoughleatherhosewasstillproduced in the 1880sandbeingusedin someplaceswellintothetwentiethcentury.

Buckets

Duringthe medievalperiodthereweremanyregulations passedconcerningthe provision of firebuckets,whichwerekeptin churchesforeasyaccess,andtheseareamongthe first

Additional Equipment

135

itemsof firefighting equipmentto be suppliedby municipalauthorities. Allthe insurance companybrigadesusedfirebuckets,andmanycompanies wouldsendthemto variousparts of the countryto increasethe effectiveness of localfirefighting effortsin areaswherethe company hadinsuredproperty. Thiswasalsoseenasagoodpublicrelations exercise andaway of generating goodpublicityforthe company, aswasmadeclearby a Directorof the Kent Insurance Companyin March1804whostated: thatwereKentEnginebucketts hungupintheChurchatDeptford withaplentyofMarks andhandsome ShewBoardsputupinWoolwich andDeptford, thewholewouldgreatly contribute to thenotoriety, respectability andinterestoftheKentFireOffice.

Therecords oftheSunFireOfficeshowhowmanybuckets wereordered andwherethey weredistributed. Theyordered themfromthemakerinbatches, averaging overeightya year

between1734and1854, butsomebatcheswereverylarge;forexamplein 1750theypaid£63 to HenryNicklesfor252buckets,whilein 1778theyordered288. Initially bucketsweresentmainlyto townsinthecountiessurrounding London,sometimes beinggivento specificparisheswithintownsand cities,so theywereprobablykeptin churchesandplacedinthechargeofthechurchwardens. Asthecompanies’ business expanded,

sodidtheareain whichbuckets weredistributed, andtheywereoftengivento townsso

theycouldmakebetteruseof theirparishor townfireengine.TheSunwouldalsoreplace bucketslostat a fireif theyhadinsuredthe burningbuildingor hadinsuranceon nearby endangered properties. Bucketswouldnot onlybe replacedif lostby municipalauthorities butalsoforindividuals, astheydidinApril1734whentheyorderedonedozenbucketsbe sentto theiragentinAndover, Wiltshire, to be passedon to Mr Hocockof Newbury‘who

hadlostsomanyata firethere? Thisoccurred regularly, andinOctober1770theygaveone

dozenbucketstoWilliamBlackstone of Red LionStreet,Wapping, ‘hehavinglostsomany byhavinglentthemat thelatefireat SunDock’In theSunminutesof 12November1778 thereis the interesting entrythat“3doz.bucketsbe givento Messrs.Crichton,Straham& Co.ofDundeein lieuofa claimnotmadebythemamountingto £10 &upward,agreeable to theirRequest.By1790thecompanyseemsto havedecidedto sendbucketsto allitslocal agentswhowouldberesponsible fortheircare,andatthisperiodmoreweregoingto agents thanbeinggivento townsorotherindividuals. Bucketshadhardusage,andoccasional entries occurin theSunminutesconcerning theirrepair,asforexamplein October1738whenthey paidAnnHumphreys 15sformendingbuckets,althoughthenumberrepairedisnotindicated. AnnHumphreys wasalsosupplying themwithbuckets; forexampletheSunpaidher£3 13s 6dfora dozenbucketsto besentto thehospitalinBathin 1742.Between1730and1832the Sunorderedabout14,000buckets,atleast10,000ofwhichweredistributed to varioustowns andcitiesin Britain. Insomecases,aswithotheritemssuppliedto insurance brigades, thesamefamilyprovided equipmentandservicesovera longperiodastheSeabrook familydid,whosuppliedtheSun withbucketsbetween1798and1826.Provincial insurance companies oftengottheirbuckets madelocally;forinstancetheYorkshire InsuranceCompanyhaditsbucketsmadebyJoseph Johnson,a localsaddleandharnessmaker,whoalsoundertookrepairs,chargingtheYorkshire £5 tosin 1840forrepairingandre-pitchingforty-fourbuckets,witha further£2 15sfor repainting, lettering,numberingandvarnishing them.WhentheRoyalExchange Assurance presentedbucketsto a volunteerfirebrigade,it madesurethatitssupportwasmadeclearto everyonebypaintingon them:‘TheRoodingFireEngineEstablishment. Presentedby the RoyalExchangeAssurance.1844.

Thefirstfirebucketsweremadeof leatherandsewntogether, andthismethodof

constructionremainedthe usualmethoduntilthe introductionof rivetingin the early eighteenthcentury,althoughsmallnumbersofsewnbucketswerestillbeingproducedin the 1840sor evenlater.

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LeatherbucketoftheWestofEnglandFire Officewithsewnseams,.c.1807—20.

Somebucketswerespecifically designed foruseinbucketchainssincetheyhaveawidebase andanarrowmouth,soreducingtheamountofwaterspiltwhenitwasbeingpassedfromhand to hand;however, theyareonlycapableofthrowinga narrowstreamofwater,andthistypeof

bucketwasonlymadeintheseventeenth andveryearlyeighteenth century. Themostusual

formofbuckethadawidermouththanbase,buttheyvarygreatlyinsizeandshapesincethey werehandmade,butallhadadeepfootrimsoagoodgripcouldbegotonthiswhenthrowing waterontotheflamesor pouringit intothecisternofa fireengine.Therimsarereinforced byeithera sewnbandofleatheror a bandofmetal,usuallycopperor brass.Thehandleisof leather,occasionally sewnto thebucketbut moreusuallyattachedto metalringsto reduce chaffingandenableit to be easilyreplacedif it didbreak,whilethe interiorswereusually treatedwithpitchorwhiteleadtoincrease itswaterproofing. Thecostofleatherbucketsseems to haverisensteadily. Forexample, theycost3s6deachin 1734,hadrisento $sin 1746,and7s in 1794,whilein 1806theycost9s10d,andbythe 1850s hadincreased to 12s6d. Althoughrivetedleatherfirebucketscontinuedto be madeanduseduntiltheendofthe

nineteenth centurytherecords oftheinsurance companies showthattheyusedbuckets of othermaterials aswell.AsearlyasMay1807theSalopFireOfficeordered a batchof‘tin

buckets’ to be usedwiththeirfireengine,whilein November1834the Sunpresentedone dozencanvasbucketsto theiragentatRochesterin Kent. In the 1860sbucketsof guttapercha(alatexmaterial)and Indiarubberwereavailable accordingto the cataloguesof fire-enginemanufacturers. The bucketsof the insurance brigadesusuallyhadtheiremblemandnamepaintedon them,andthepaintingis oftenof veryhighquality. In thecaseoftheSunin the 1800stheywerepaintedbyThomasStowers, whoalsopaintedtheirfireengines,andin the earlynineteenthcenturyJosephBramah,a fire-engine maker,wasadvertising leatherfirebuckets‘cypher’d &Varnished’ at a costof 12s each.Mostinsurance bucketshaveelaboratepaintedemblemson them,andonlya fewhave justthecompany’s nameorinitials, whilesomeSunbucketshaveabrassbadgefittedto them whichisidenticalto thatusedon thehelmetsofsomeofitsprovincial brigades.

Additional Equipment

Right:Leatherbucketof theCountyFire Officeusedbyoneof theirprovincial brigades. Thissimplybearsthename

ofthecompany andnotitselaborately

paintedemblem.Earlyto mid-nineteenth

century.

Below left:Leatherbucketof theNorthern Assurance Companywithmetallettering, c.1836—80.

Below right:Leatherbucketofthe Yorkshire FireInsuranceCompany, midto latenineteenthcentury.

137

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Insurance FireBrigades 1680-1929

Above left:Canvasbucketof theBathSunFireOffice(1776-1838), oneofa dozenhungup in a Dorset church.Thisisbeyondtheareathatthiscompanyoperatedin,soit maybe thateithera vicarfromthe Bathareatookthemto Dorsetwithhimor thechurchwardens boughtthemsecond-hand. Aboveright:Metalbucketof theNorwichUnionInsuranceSociety, c.1900—20.

It wasnecessary to paintthemso distinctively since,quiteoften,aftera fire,a number werefoundto have‘disappeared’, usuallyintonearbyhouseholds fordomesticuse.Theother reasonforpaintingtheemblemson themwassothattheycouldbe sortedoutafterthefire to ensureeachcompanygotitsbucketsback.It wasquitecommonfor the bucketsto be carriedloopedthroughthehandlesof themanualfireengines,althoughin the secondhalf of the nineteenthcenturysomebrigadesusedspecialbucketcartswhichwouldcarrylarge numbersofbucketsto thesceneofthefire.Decoratedinsurance bucketsdidnotceasewith theintroduction ofironones,sincethefire-engine manufacturer Merryweather &Sonswere stillproducingbucketsin‘brightmetal’,decoratedwiththefullsymbolsofvariousinsurance companies between1900andthe 1920s, althoughbythenthenumberofinsurance brigades hadconsiderably declined.Thesebucketsweremeantto beplacedinlargebuildings thatthey insuredwheretheywerenot onlya usefulpieceoffirefighting equipment, butalsoactedas anadvertisement forthecompany.

Tiuncheons

Manyof the decorative insurancepolicyheadingsof the eighteenthcenturydepictheavy cudgelsamongthe variousitemsof firefighting equipmentshown,see,for example, policy headingsoftheSunFireOfficeandtheBristolFireOffice(seepages45and134).Thesemay occasionally havebeenusedforcrowdcontrolat thesceneofa fire,butweremorelikelyto havebeenusedwhenguardingpropertyagainstlootersafterthefirewasextinguished. In the nineteenthcentury,severalcompanies issuedtruncheonsto theirfiremenwhichweresimilar

Additional Equipment

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Truncheons of theBirmingham FireOffice(above)c.1840, andCountyFireOfficec.1810. While theymayhavebeenusedforcrowdcontrolandto preventlootingtheyaremorelikelyto be for ceremonial use.

tothoseissuedtolawofficers atthatdate.Thesewereusednotonlyduringcrowdcontroland whenguarding property, butalsowhenthefiremenwereenrolledasspecialconstables during sucheventsastheLordMayor’s Dayparadeandduringelections, whichoftenledto rioting in theeighteenth century. Thesetruncheons wereusuallyelaborately painted;oneexampleof

theCountyFireOffice, datingtotheperiod1808-14, ispainted withthelettersC FO and GR oneachsideofacrownsurmounting theRoyalcoatofarms,andbelowthisistheman’s

numberandthearmsofthecountyofMiddlesex. Thetruncheon, issuedto a firemanofthe Birmingham FireOffice,isbeautifully paintedandsignedbyJ.Thorp,a well-known heraldic painter,anditsveryhighqualitysuggests it mayhavebelongedto thebrigadeforeman.

FireHooks

Amongthemostancientpiecesof firefighting equipmentisa toolthatbasically consistsof a hookona pole.TheywereusedbytheRomanfirebrigadewhocalledthem'harpagones', andin theeighteenth andnineteenthcenturiestheywerecalledfirehooksorpreventers, and

these,alongwithbuckets, werethemainformoffirefighting equipment available fromthe

1300s tothemid-seventeenth century. Theycameinarangeofsizes,thelargestofwhichwere upto 30ft(9m)longandhadchainsor ropesattachedwhichwereusedbyseveralpeopleor evena horseto pulldownhousesto createfirebreaksorpullburningthatchortimbersfrom buildings. Thesmallerfirehooks,usuallyabout8ft(2.4m)long,wereusedto pulloffburning thatch,individual beams,tilesandto pullitemsawayfromtheflames. Somehada simplehookratherlikea shepherd’s crook,althoughmanyhadanadditional spear-like blade,asforexampletheoneshownon thepolicyheadingoftheWorcester Fire Office. ThefirehooksprovidedforthebrigadeoftheWestofEnglandInsurance Company brigadeat Exeterduringthe nineteenthcenturyhada doublehook,oneon eachsideof a spearpoint,soit lookedratherlikeanancientpike.Itsstaffalsodoubledasa measuresince belowthehookitwaspaintedalternately infivebandsofredandgold,eachexactly1ft(30cm) wide.Thebottom3ft(91cm)of the staffwaspaintedblack,makingthe totallengthof the implementr1oft (3.04m). (Seepage98.)

Axes

Mostinsurance brigades intheeighteenth andearlynineteenth centuryprovided eachfireman witha ‘pole-axe’, forwhichhe wasresponsible. Suchaxesareoftendepictedin the policy headings, andmostseemtohavehadanaxeheadwithabroadcuttingbladeononesideanda straight orcurvedpickaxe-like pointattheback,setonashaftwhichwasaround2-3ft(61I-91cm) long.Onsomesurviving examples thebaseoftheshaftispointedandreinforced withironso it couldbeusedasa lever.Inthe 1720stheRoyalExchange Assurance provided theirfiremen

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Insurance FireBrigades 1680—1929

withpole-axe pouches, whichmayhavebeentoprotecttheblade,butcouldalsohavebeenused to suspendtheaxefroma strapwornovertheshoulder, asdidfiremenoftheWestofEngland brigadeat Exeterin thenineteenthcentury. Theaxeswereoftenstampedwiththecompany nameontheblade,whiletheshaftwasusually paintedredandalsosometimes paintedwiththe companyname.On 9 August1750theSunFireOfficepaidfiveguineasto CharlesGardner for“engraving copperplateon thetopsofpole-axes’, presumably foridentification purposes. Nineteenth-century axesoftheSunarestamped withthenameTilly,themakerormorelikely thesupplier, sinceWJ.Tillywasoneofthefire-engine makersusedbythecompany.

TheNorwich UnionInsurance Society provided itsmennotonlywithaworking axe,but

anotheroneforuseonceremonial occasions suchastheDaysofMarching(seepages54-58). Theceremonial axegivento thefiremenof theirbrigadein Norwichhada black-painted bladewithgoldlining,andthecompany’s emblemofclaspedhandspaintedon it.Theshaft, 3ft4in(102cm) long,waspaintedred. NorwichUnionbrigadesin othertownsandcitieswerealsogivenceremonial axes,but of a slightlydifferentdesign,beingshorter,only3ft1in(95cm),witha blackbladebut no

Above: AxeoftheNorwichbrigade ofthe NorwichUnionInsurance Society,102cmlong,designedto act asa combination ofaxe,pickaxeand

crowbar. Thisexample wasdecorated for useasaceremonial item. Left:Axeheadshowingthecompany’s emblempaintedon it in gold.Those suppliedto theirprovincial brigadesfor

ceremonial usewereslightly smaller and didnothavetheemblem painted onthe blade.

Additional Equipment

Right:AxeoftheSunFireOfficewithits emblempaintedon thebladeandgoldlettering

downthered-painted handle.

Below: Beltaxeandpouchbelongingto a firemanof the Norwich Union Insurance

Societybrigade,c.1850—1900.

I41

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InsuranceFireBrigades1680—1929

companyemblempaintedonit.Insurancefiremenwerealsoprovidedwitha shorthandled axe,and someeighteenth-century engravings showthesethrustthroughtheirbelt,while fromthe 1850stheyhadhandaxesofa similardesignto thoseusedbythemodernbrigades untilthe 1970s, whichwereheldin a pouchattachedto thebelt.

FireBags

Mostinsurance companies providedtheirportersorfiremenwithbagsorsackswithwhichto removesmallitemsfromburningbuildings orthosethreatened bythefire. Theyweremadeof a stoutmaterialsuchascanvas; thoseusedbytheAlliance Assurance Companymeasured 3ftx Ift6in(91x 46cm). Thebags,or‘wallets’ astheywerecalledbytheKentInsurance Company, hadthe nameandemblemof the insurancecompanypaintedon them,andwereusually numbered. Whena companyhadonlya firebrigadeanddidnot providea separatebody ofporters,thenthefirebagsformedpartoftheirgeneralfirefighting equipment. TheEssex & SuffolkInsurance Societykepttwenty-five bagswiththeirfireengine,whilein the early advertisements of theBathFireOfficetheystatedthatfirebagswerekeptat the company’s officeincaseofneed.Porterscarryingfirebagsareshownontheirpolicyheadings oftheNew BristolFireOffice,theRoyalExchange Assurance andtheSunFireOfficeamongothers.

SmokeMasks

Oneof thebiggestdangersto firemenenteringa burningbuildingwasbeingovercome by

theeffects ofsmoke. Onesmoke mask, saidtodatefromtheeighteenth century butpossibly

later,isstillin existenceandwasusedbythebrigadeoftheSunFireOffice. Itismadeofleather,fitsovertheheadandhasglasseyepieces andatubewhichwasattached to afiltersuchasaspongesoakedinwater,oranairtube.In 1825theDirectorsoftheAlliance Assurance Companyexamined ‘aspecimenofanApparatus to be usedbypersonsemployed in extinguishing fires,in orderto preventsuffocation in placesfilledby smoke.’ Theywere

obviously impressed sincethey‘resolved thattwooftheseapparatus beleftfortheuseof

theCompany, &thatthesumof£10 be paidforthem’Thesehavenotsurvived, butseveral differenttypesofsmokemasksweredeveloped duringthenineteenthcentury.Bythe 1840s, the firstself-contained breathingapparatushadbeendeveloped, andin the 1900soxygen cylinderswerebeingusedwithbreathingmasks,alldevelopments usedbyvariousinsurance

brigades astheywereintroduced.

Warning Devices

Thebell,asa warningdeviceon fireengines,is a comparatively recentinnovation. In the eighteenthandearlynineteenthcenturiesthe firemenclearedthe wayfor fireenginesby shouting,the favouritecryapparently being‘Hi,Hi!’or usinga ratchetwarningrattle.The KentInsuranceCompanyuseda smallbrasspost-hornat oneperiodduringthenineteenth century,whilea photographoftheNorwichUnionInsurance Societybrigadeat Gloucester showsoneofthefiremenwitha smallbugletuckedintohisbelt. Withtheadventofthesteamfireengine,thewhistle,operatedbythesteam,wasusedasa warningdevice,producinga noiseratherlikethatmadebysteamtrains,butoftenofa higher pitch.Somelatenineteenth-century steamfireengineshadbellsfitted,althoughnosurviving photograph showsthistypeofwarningdeviceon aninsurance brigadefireengine.

AidstoGiving Orders

JamesBraidwood, superintendent of the LondonFireEngineEstablishment, advocatedthe useofa whistleto giveorders,especially atthesceneofa fire,andwhistlechainscanbe seen

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143

A leathersmokemaskofthe lateeighteenthor earlyto midnineteenthcentury,usedbya brigadeoftheSunFireOffice.

in severalphotographs oflatenineteenth-andearlytwentieth-century insurance brigades. At

thistimeanumber ofdifferent typesofwhistles wereavailable, ranging fromasimple whistle andchainat3s6duptoengraved ivoryoneswith asilver-plated chainat20s.Inthecaseof a photographof the Liverpool& London& GlobeInsuranceCompanybrigadeat Birstall near Leeds,taken about 1865,the captainholdsa whistleattachedto chain in his hand.The

samecompany’s brigadeatYorkhada megaphoneamongthe equipmentit carriedon its fireengine,whilea photographof theRoyalInsuranceCompany’s brigadeat Birmingham in the 1870sshowsa firemanholdinga similardevice,whichwereusuallymadeofbrassand, according to contemporary fireequipmentcatalogues, cost25seach.

Lighting

Intheeighteenth andwellintothenineteenthcentury, streetlightingwasoftenslightornonexistent, andtheinsurance firebrigadesweresuppliedwithlinks,thatistorchesmadeofpitch andtow,a courseflaxorhemp,andtheSunfiremaninplate9 isholdinga linkaloft. TheSun wasbuyingitslinksin 1778fromJohnField,whena year’sworthcostthem£8 4s,andwere stillbuyinglinksfromthesamefamily, possibly eventhesamepersonin the 1820swhenthey paidJ.C.Fieldforlinks,andatthattimewerespending about{25-30ayearonthem.In 1811 theEssex&SuffolkInsurance Societywerebuyinglinksat 2s6da dozen,buttheyregarded

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InsuranceFire Brigades1680—1929

Paraffin-fuelled torchoftheNorwich UnionInsurance Society brigade. Earlytwentieth century. thisas‘dear’,whilein 1833theYorkshire InsuranceCompanywerepurchasing theirsfrom JohnSavage, alocalropeandtwinemanufacturer who,insupplying thecompanywiththirtythreetorchesfor£1 6s6dused46lbs(20.8kg)ofrope,2sworthofpitchandcharged1s6d forlabour.Linkswerealsosentto theprovincial brigades, astheSundidin 1846,dispatching a gross(144)oftorches,worth£8 2sto Leicester fortheuseoftheirfirebrigadethere.Inthe secondhalfofthenineteenthcenturythebrigadesbeganto makeuseofcandleandoillamps onthefireengines, whilesmalleroneswereprovidedforpersonaluse,andseveral photographs

showsuchlampsattached tothebeltsofinsurance firemen.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

‘FIRE,FIRE!

Oneofthebiggestproblems fortheinsurance company brigades when a firebrokeoutwasto bringtogetherthefiremen,theirofficersandthefireenginesat thesceneofa fire.Sincethe majorityoffiremenwereonlypart-timetheywouldbescattered attheirnormalplacesofwork ortheirhomes.Onlywiththeformation oftheLondonFireEngineEstablishment in 1833were thebrigadesto bemaintained full-time(seeChapterTwelve). Whenthealarmwasgiventhere wasaflurryofactivitytogetthingsorganised, andbylookingattheinsurance company records andtheregulations ofthedifferent insurance brigades it ispossible tobreakdownthesequence ofeventsduringandafterafireintoalogicalseriesofsteps.Onecanassess howsuch asituation

wouldhavebeenhandled between approximately 1730and1830inLondon, andsomewhat

laterelsewhere. Examples ofprocedures fromprovincial insurance brigades atvariousdatesgive a clearerviewofhowincidents werehandledin different areas,butmostexamples arebasedon theactionsofLondonfiremen, sincetherecordsforthesebrigades arethemostcomplete. Inthe veryearlyeighteenth centurythefireenginestendedto besmallerandlessmanoeuvrable, and sourcesofwaterfewer,butbasically a similarseriesofprocedures wouldoccur.

CALLOUT

TheAlarm

In London,on the outbreakof a fire,the firemenwereprobablyalertedby the ringingof churchbellsin the immediatevicinity,andthiswouldpinpointthe sitefairlyaccurately as therewerea greatmanychurchesin the city.Ideally, in the eventof a fire,the churchbells weresupposedto be rung in a reversepeal,but no doubt,in a somewhatpanic-ridden situation, thebellsrungatrandomwouldgiveclearwarningofa nearbyfire.Duringthenight thewatchmenemployed bythecitycarriedbellsor warningrattlesto raisethealarm. The part-timeLondonfiremenworkedon the riveras watermen,and mostinsurance companyofficesandtheirenginehousesweresituatedwithina mile(1.6km)oftheriver.Yet theydo not seemto havehadtheirownalarmbellson theirbuildings, presumably because

thereweremanychurchbellsandpublicclocks, andunless thebellswereverylarge,their

soundwouldhavebeenlostamongthecriesofstreetvendorsandthesoundsofironcarriage tyresonthecobbles. Mostcompanies hada fewportersworkingattheirofficeinanotherrole suchasclerksor messengers, withtheothersbasedatvariousaddresses inland.

Summoning theMen

Duringthedaythecompanyknewatwhichoftheriverstepstheirfiremenweretobefound whenwaitingfora customer. Ifnoticeoffirewasfirstsenttothecompany’s office,messengers

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Insurance FireBrigades 1680-1929

would be sent to inform the firemenand,if no officestaffwere available,youngboyscould

easilybehiredto runmessages fora penny,andtheSalopFireOfficecertainlyemployed the ‘streeturchins’of Shrewsbury for thispurpose.However, it mustbe remembered thatthe generalpopulationknewthatwatermen-firemen wereto be foundat the riversteps,and sopeoplewouldgo to theriversideto summonfiremendirectly, andthiswasprobablythe quickestmeansofgettingimmediate actionduringtheday.Ifthefirebrokeoutatnighteach policyholderwassuppliedwitha listoftheaddresses ofthecompany’s firemensotheycould sendforhelpto thenearestone. Certainlybythefirstquarterofthenineteenthcentury, andpossibly somewhat earlier,alist ofallthe firemenin the districtwasput up in eachwatchhouseor policepost.Thewatch or police,perhapsassisted bywillingvolunteers, wouldrushroundto summonthefiremen, althoughthechurchbellswouldgivethefirstwarning. Themenlivedwidelyscattered(see pagesI15—6), soatnightit tooklongertogetthemtogether. Towards theendoftheeighteenth centurysomecompanies in Londonbeganto havea fewmenlivingat theenginehouseso that‘ ... assistance maylikewise be hadatallhours.’ In countrytownsthepositionwassomewhatdifferent, andalthoughtheringingofbells,

orbeatingofdrumsin Scotland, wouldgivewarning offires,somecompanies had a fire belloutside theofficewhichwasrungtosummon theirfiremen fromtheirplaces ofwork. TheKentInsuranceCompanyin Maidstone rangthebrassbellin theofficeyardif thefire wasin thecountry,andthetownhallbellifit waswithinthetownboundaries. Towards the endof thenineteenthcenturytheKentFireOfficeinstalled ‘firebells’in eachman’shouse of theirCanterburybrigade,andthesewerepresumably electricbellsactivatedfromeither

thecompany’s officeorthefirestation. TheBirmingham FireOfficeemployed aboywitha

knocking-up stickto rousethemenat nightwhen a fireoccurred,anda similarsystemwas usedbytheSheffield FireOfficewhoprovideda special ‘knocking-up stick’forRobertHeald, their‘callboy’in the 1850s. MrsSayce,wifeofthecaptainoftheNorwichUnionInsurance Society’sbrigadeat Worcesterbetween 1926and 1929,would rush round the town to rouse

thefiremenwhileherhusbandwasgettingupsteaminthefireengine.Intheearlydays,both

inLondon andcountry districts, themessenger carrying newsofafirewouldarriveonfoot

or horseback, butduringthenineteenthcenturyincreasing usewasmadeofthetelegraphto givenoticeofa fire. Housenumbersdidnotbegintobeintroduced untilthelateeighteenthcenturyinLondon andmuchlaterelsewhere, sotomakethehousesoffiremenmoreprominentmanycompanies markedthem.Asearlyas1726theSunFireOfficeorderedthatMrGriffold, apainter,prepare fiftyboardsto put on thehousesof thefiremenandportersat a costof 2s6deach.During thenineteenthcenturytheKentInsuranceCompanyalsosupplieda paintedwoodenboard to eachofitsfiremenwhichboretheinscription ‘Fireman to theKentFireOffice’, butlater theyusedan ovalbrassplateengravedwiththe man’snumberand‘KentOfficeFireman’. TheEssex& SuffolkInsuranceSocietyin 1866ordered‘ironplateslikethoseplacedat the entranceto ourstreetsat a costof2s6deach’,whichwereto be fixedto thehousesoftheir

Colchester firemen.These boards andplates remained theproperty ofthecompany andhadto

bereturnedwhena manceasedtobea memberofthebrigadeandwassubsequently reissued to hisreplacement.

Notification ofCompany Officials

Authorisation for takingout the fireenginewasusuallyvestedin anycompanyDirector presentor a seniorclerkin the office,althoughthe foremanof thebrigadecouldalsotake the responsibility for orderingthe engineto leavethe enginehouse.The Essex& Suffolk hada rulethatit woulddispatchanengineanyreasonable distanceaslongassomeonefrom thesceneofthefirearrivedto giveitsexactlocation,whilethe CountyFireOfficebrigade in Londonwasnot allowedto passthrougha turnpikewithoutthe expresspermission of a

‘Fire,Fire!’

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Bronze,silverandgoldDirectors’ medallions oftheWestminster InsuranceOffice.Thesewerecarried bytheDirectorsto identifythemselves to theircompany’s firemenwhenattending afire.

Director, asthiswouldhavetakenit beyonditsnormalareaofoperation. Mostinsurance companies requiredone or moreofficialsto attendfires,preferably includinga company Director. In 1726a listofthenamesandaddresses oftheSunFireOfficeDirectorswasgiven to eachoftheirfiremenandporterswhowereinstructedto informthe onenearestto the

outbreak ofthefireimmediately. Someinsurance companies issued theirDirectors withsmall medallions toenable themtomakethemselves knowntothefiremen atthesceneofafire.

Thesemedallions boretheemblemofthecompany, andthoseoftheWestminster Insurance Officehadinscribedon thereversethenameoftheDirectorandtermofoffice. Thesewere madein gold,silver,bronzeandcopper,whiletheHandin HandFireOfficeandtheUnion FireOfficeissuedsilveronesbut withoutthe Director’s nameon them.Theywereusually suppliedin a specialvelvet-lined caseto protectthemwhentheywerecarriedin thepocket. In 1835theYorkshire InsuranceCompanyorganisedallits Directorswholivedwithin 2 miles(3.2km)ofthecityintothreegroups.Eachformeda committee, to serveforamonth in rotation,to attendfiresandwiththe powerto summonallthe Directorsshouldthey thinkit necessary. TheScottishUnionInsurance Companyexpectedthecompanysecretary to attendallfires,andin 1833gavehima flatat thetopofthecompany’s officebuildingin Edinburgh sothathe mightbe immediately available to attendthescene,whiletheEssex&

Suffolk required thata clerkofthecompany notonlybeinattendance atthefirebutalso

takeanactivepartin thedirectionor workingofthefireengine.In 1806theSunsupplied itscollectors, whowereemployed to collectpremiums, deliverlettersandfixfiremarksto buildings, witha smallgiltmedallion asidentification sincetheywerealsorequiredto attend fireswithintheirowndistrictsto givewhatassistance theycould.

Leaving theEngine House

Thearrangements forgettingthefireenginesfromthe enginehouseto thesceneofa fire variedfromoneinsurancebrigadeto another.If it washand-drawn the enginewouldbe pulledto thefireassoonassufficient peoplehadturnedup,butthemajorityoffireengines, ifnothorse-drawn, wereplacedonahorse-drawn carryingcart.In 1722theSunwerehiring

acarttocarrytheirengines, butby1747 theyhadpurchased theirownenginecarriage from

Newsham&Ragg.Horseswerenotgenerally ownedbythebrigadeuntiltheadventofthe full-timeLondonFireEngineEstablishment, but manyengineswerestationedat innsor liverystablesandsohorseswereeasilyhiredforthe occasion. In London,certainlyduring

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Insurance FireBrigades 1680—1929

theeighteenthcenturyandupto 1833, thedriverusuallyseemsto havebeensupplied bythe ownersof the liverystable.Provincial brigadesusedeitherciviliandriversfromthe places wheretheyhiredthehorsesor hadfiremen-drivers fortheengines.

OnTheirWay

Whensufficient firemenwerepresenttheengineslefttheenginehouseandspedthrough the streetstowardsthe fire.Dependingon the sizeof the fireenginebetweenfourand eightfiremenactuallyrodeon the engine,whilethe otherfiremenhad to maketheir ownwaythere,andin Londonthiswasusuallyaccomplished byrunningon foot,but in ruralareashorseswereused,andit seemsthatin somebrigadesa numberof menmight be designated to maketheirwaystraightto the fire,if theycouldfindout whereit was, withoutreportingto theenginehouse.Toclearthewayandwarnpeoplethata fireengine wascoming,severalmethodswereusedat differenttimesandbyvariousbrigades.In the eighteenthcenturytheratchetrattle(asusedbyfootballsupporters) wasthemostcommon warningdevice,butpost-horns, whistlesandshoutingwerealsoemployed. The firebellon engineswasa muchlateraddition. It musthavebeena stirringsightto seethe brightlypaintedfireenginespulledby the straininghorses,theirhoovesclatteringon the cobblesandthe iron-shodwheelsstriking sparksfromthestones.Astheycametowardsthefiretheenginesconverged andthedrivers urgedon theirhorsessoasto bein thefirstthreeatthefire,sotheycouldearna rewardfor themselves andtheircompanyunderthe 1708Act.In thetowns,therewouldbe a crowdof peopleracingto thefire,notjustto watchtheaction,butbecausemanywishedalsoto take

anactivepartinthefirefighting. Theexcitement andrushtoafire iswellexpressed inthe

contemporary poem,‘RejectedAddresses’, by HoraceandJamesSmith,publishedin 1812 (seep.67),whiletheenginesofvariousinsurance companies dashingtoa fireabout1825are depictedinplate21.

Journey Time

Becauseoftheproblems ofgatheringtogetherthemen,horsesandfireenginesit oftentook muchlongerto arriveatthefirewhencompared witha call-outtimetoday.Forexample, in February1814a firebrokeoutat theCustomHousein LowerThamesStreetat 6 a.m.,and TheTimes reportedthattheenginesarrivedsoonafter7a.m.WhentheRoyalExchange, right

inthecentreofthecity,caught firein1838, theengines werereported asbeingonthescene ‘within anhour’.Inruraldistricts itcouldtakeuptotwohoursormoretoreachthescene ofa fireifit wasattheedgeofabrigade’s areaofoperation.

ATTHEFIRE Arrival

Whenthefireenginearrivedat thesceneofthefirethefirsttwoprioritieswereto getthe engineintothebestpositionto fightthefireandto secureasupplyofwaterforit.Theideal positionfortheenginewaswindwardoftheblazeandnearenoughto theflamesto usethe minimumofhose,but not so closeasto be in dangerif thebuildingshouldcollapse. The foreman,deputyforemanor firemanin charge,wouldissuea streamof ordersto themen to enablethe fireengineto be preparedforuse.The driverwouldun-harnessthe horses andtakethemto a suitableplaceawayfromthefireand,if it lookedlikebeinga longjob, wouldtakethembackto theirstables. However, theymightalsohavebeenusedto carrymessages to the company’s officeor otherfireenginehouses.Equipmentsuchasaxes,ropes,crowbarsandbucketswouldhave

‘Fire,Fire!’

149

Horsesgotthefireengine,in thiscaseon anenginecart,to thefirefastandthenhadto be takento a placeofsafety.AdrawingbyW.H.Pyne,1805.

beenunloadedfromthefireengine,hosesunrolledand,on thelargercarriageengines,the longpumpinghandleswereunfoldedandlockedinto position.No doubtin manycases theforemanofthe differentbrigadeswouldcollaborate witheachotherat thesceneof the fireassoonaspossible, andalthoughrivalrycouldon occasionleadto onebrigadeactually obstructing another,thiswasnowherenearascommonasisgenerally believedtoday.

Water Supplies

It wasnot alwayseasyto securea goodsourceof water,andasearlyas 1726a reporton thewatersuppliesin allpartsof the Cityof Londonwascompiledbythe RoyalExchange Assurance andgiventotheforeman, alongwithalist ofallthemostexpensive propertywhich thecompany hadinsured. Mostcompany brigadeswereprobably givensimilarlistsandreports on the watersituationin theirareaof operationtogetherwitha listof the locationof fire plugssotheycouldgainaccessto waterin themains.TheYorkshire Insurance Companypaid oneoftheirfiremen, JohnTurner,6sforcompiling alist ofallthefireplugsinYork.A copy of thiswasgivento eachfireman,andin 1854thelistwasincorporated in the officialrules forthebrigade.Oneor twofiremenwereoftenspecifically detailedto getthewatersupplies organised. If a lake,riveror canalwasnearenoughthena suctionhosewouldbe dropped intothewaterto takeit directlyintotheengine,butif therewasa pipedwatersupplythen thiswouldhavebeenused,andduringtheeighteenthandearlynineteenthcenturythisoften consistedof hollowed-out elmtrunks,oneendbeingtaperedto fitintothe next,although ironpipescameintousein someplacesfromtheearlynineteenthcentury. Underthe FireActsof QueenAnne,fireplugswereto be placedin thepipesat intervals to allowaccessto thewater,andtherewasa signfixedto nearbywallsto marktheposition of these,muchasfirehydrantsaretoday.The plugsweremadeof woodandfittedinto a right-angled projection fromthewatermain,andwereremovedbytappingthesidesnearthe topuntiltheplugbecamelooseenoughto be forcedoutbythepressureofthewater.Iron

pipesweresometimes fittedwithironplugs. Iffireplugswerenotprovided theroadhadto

be dugup andtheelmpipepiercedwitha specialtoolto getat thewater,a damagingand oftenwasteful operation. Onceaccessto thepipedwaterhadbeengaineda standpipecould be insertedagainsttheflowof thewaterandsecuredbywedgesdrivenin aroundit usinga mallet.Unfortunately thefiremandoingthisoftengotdrenched, whichiswhyhesometimes

50

Insurance FireBrigades 1680-1929 we

Above: Aninsurance companyfireengine, pulledbyhand, arrivesat a firejust asthebuilding’s inhabitants exitthe

houseusingnewly

inventedescapeshutes. Insurancecompanies oftenencouraged theinventorsofsuch devices.C.1780. Left:A turncockturns on thewaterfor

thefirebrigade just

arrivingat thesceneof

thefire,although the

childrenseemalready to haveremovedthe

fireplug.

‘Fire,Fire!’

IsI

gotanadditional paymentforthisduty.Somestandpipeshadanumbrella-shaped metalshield

aroundthemtopartially protecttheoperator.

In 1848theballhydrantwasinventedandfirstinstalled atWarrington in Lancashire. This enableda standpipeto be screwedinto the hydrant,graduallydepressing a ballvalve,so allowingthe waterto enterthe standpipein a muchmorecontrolledway.Analternative wayofutilisingthewaterwasto opentheplugandthenputa dammadeofwood,leather or canvasovertheholeand,asthisfilledwithwater,it couldbe usedasa reservoirto draw waterintoseveralfireenginesat onceor forfillingbuckets.Manycompanies hadto paya yearlyrentto thewatercompanyfortheuseofwater,butin 1847anActwaspassedwhich allowedallpersonsatalltimesto takeandusewaterforextinguishing fireswithouthavingto paycompensation to thewatercompany. However, brigadesmightstillhaveto payanannual feefortherightto usewaterduringpractisedrills;theEssex&SuffolkInsurance Societypaid

theColchester Waterworks Company £12forthisprivilege.

Somebrigades weresupplied withkeystothewatermainsandthesewereputinthecharge

ofafireman knownastheturnkey, butothers, suchastheYorkshire Insurance Company, had

to sendforawaterworks turnkeytoopenthemains.Inmanycasesthewaterwasnotsupplied continuously butwasavailable foronlya fewhoursa dayto fillcisternsin thesubscribing premises, anditwasnotnormallyturnedonatallatnight.Duringafirethebrigademightalso requirewaterto be divertedfromotherareasandthiswouldbe donebyopeningor closing variousvalves inthewatersystemusingthekey.Sometownsandcities,forexampleLiverpool, hadnopipedwatersupplyatalluntilthesecondhalfofthenineteenthcentury, andtherethe brigadeforemanwouldhaveto arrangeforwatercartsto supplythe engine.Duringa fire manybucketswouldbe available besidesthosecarriedbytheinsurance brigadessincemost households hadsome,insuranceagentswereoftensuppliedwiththem,andsomeforpublic usewerekeptin thechurchesandothermunicipal buildings. Ifnecessary, theforemanwould detaila firemanto organisea bucketchainbypickingvolunteers andarrangingthemin two linesbetweenthesourceofthewaterandthefireengines,themenbeingplacedin theline whichpassedthefullbucketsalongto theengines,andwomenandchildrenin thesecond linepassing backtheemptybuckets.

Calling forVolunteers

Themanually pumpedfireenginestooka lot of effortto work,andsotheforemanwould callforvolunteers fromamongthebystanders to manthepumps,whilethefiremendirected thejetsofwaterandcarriedouttheirotherduties,althougholdprintsdo sometimes show enginespumpedby firemenor a mixtureof firemenandvolunteers. The foremanwould choosethe strongestandfittestmen,althoughthe rivalrybetweenthe brigadesif several insurancecompanies wererepresented mighthaveledto a rushto securethemostsuitable volunteers. Theinducement ofpayandfreebeermeantthatinmanycasesthereweresufficient

peopleavailable, andindeedsomecontemporary accounts describe how,onthearrival ofthe

engines,therewassucha crusharoundthemofwould-bevolunteers thattheenginescould

not be put to work and even,on occasion,becamedamaged,so the firemenwould haveto

beatoffthepeopleto restoreorder.

Pumping Begins

When all wasreadythe order‘Downwith the pumps’wasgivenand the volunteers commenced pumping, slowlyatfirstuntilthewaterstartedto flowandthensettlingdownto aroundthirty-five to fortystrokesperminute.

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Theinsurancefirebrigadestackledallfires.Herea Sunfiremanattends‘ANotoriousHotelon Fireat Midnight’. An illustration fromDonJuanbyAlfredThornton,1828.

Saving Lives

The foremanwould havedecidedhow he wasgoingto tacklethe blaze,at leastinitially,and

wouldhaveseenifanybodyneededrescuing, althoughstrictlyspeaking thiswasnotofprime importanceasinsurancebrigadeswereonlyconcernedwithsavingproperty.From1836a Londonbrigadeforemancouldsendfora wheeledfireescapemaintained by a voluntary organisation, althoughin manycasesoneofthesemayhavearrivedatthefireindependently.

Removal ofGoods

Theforemanofthefiremenwoulddecidewiththeforemanofthecompany’s portersifgoods couldbesavedfromtheburningbuilding, andifsohowtheyshouldberemoved. Theywould alsodecidewhetheradjoiningpropertywasin dangerandrequireditemsto be removedto

safety. Smaller objects werecarried outinfirebagswhicheachporterwassupplied with,while

largeritemswouldhavebeencarriedoutbodilyandplacedawayfromthefirewherethey wouldhavebeenguardeduntilwagonscouldbebroughtto takethemto a placeofstorage ownwarehouse. In 1714the SunFireOffice nominatedbytheowner,or to the company’s issuedeachmanwitha numberedticketto giveto the ownerof goodstheyremovedasa

formofreceipt, andmanycompanies urgedpolicyholders tonotethefireman’s orporter’s

numbersasitemswereremoved. Toencourage ownerstoremoveendangered insuredgoodsthecompanies wouldreimburse anyexpenses incurred,andoneLondoncompanyasearlyas1738addedatthebottomofthe renewalreceipts, “Toencourage theremovalofgoodsin casesoffirethisofficewillallowthe reasonable chargesattendingthe sameandmakegoodthe sufferers losswhetherdestroyed, lostordamaged byremoval. Thelevelofsuchcostsisshownbyanentryintherecordsofthe SunFireOfficefor18November1762:“To fourfarmers15sforuseoftheircarts&horses. To BenjaminKing£2 3sodfor7 men& 4 womenassisting in removinghisfurniture&Stock intrade.Theporterswererequiredto co-operate withthefiremeninfirefighting ifnecessary, andthefiremenin removinggoodsifrequested.

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Theinsurance company portersformedasalvage corpswhoserolewastorescue itemsfromburning buildings andremove goodsfromendangered properties toaplaceofsafety. Adrawing byW.H.Pyne, 1805.

CrowdControl

Theforemanmightalsosendfortheassistance ofthelocalmilitia,constabulary oranynearby armyunitsto controlthecrowds, butmanytimesthebrawnyfiremenhadto takemattersinto theirownhandsto keeppeopleback.

Preventive Measures

A firemanwouldprobablyhavebeensentto visitthe surrounding housesto warnpeople to stayinsideandkeeptheirdoorsandwindowsclosed,althoughif theirhousewasdirectly threatened, thenpreparation fortheremovalofgoodsmighthavebeeninstigated.

Attendance Records

Whileissuingtheseordersandgettingthingsorganisedthe foremanwasalsorequiredto note in a book which of his firemenwere in attendanceand their time of arrival.No doubt,

in manycases,distraughtownerswouldhavebeenrushingfromone foremanto another urgingthemto increasetheireffortsto savetheirpropertyandgoods,andownersofnearby threatened buildings wereprobablyalsoclamouring forattentionandgivingadviceor orders. However, not allownersofthreatenedpropertystayedaroundto helpfightthefire.In 1725 therewasa reportthatduringa firein a villagethe ownerof a housein dangergoton his horseandrodeto aneighbouring villagetofindaninsurance agentsohecouldpaythearrears onhispolicy.

IstheProperty Insured?

Theforeman wouldtrytofindoutiftheproperty wasinsured, andifsowithwhichcompany. It wasa generalrulethatonceaninsuredbuildingwasonfireit wasregardedasbelongingto theinsuringcompany, andthiswasclearlystatedin theregulations issuedto thebrigades. The NorwichUnionInsurance Societyregulations read:

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Theforeman, orfireman incommand oftheengineistoremember thatwhenpremises are onfiretheyautomatically becomethepropertyoftheOfficeinwhichtheyareinsuredand therefore hemustactaccording to hisownjudgement asto thebestmeansofpreserving thepropertyindanger. Thereforethe brigadeof the insuringcompanyhadmoreauthorityin the conductof the firefighting thanthe otherbrigades, althoughin manycasesit wasprobablynot clearif the buildingwasinsureduntilafterthe firewasextinguished. Companiesdid markbuildings

withmetalbadges knownasfiremarks, whichidentified insured property foradministrative purposes initially, andlaterwereprimarily usedforadvertising, sowerenota reliable guide to companybrigadesasto whethera propertywasinsuredor withwhichcompany, asthey remainedonbuildings longafterthepolicylapsed,andsomehousesboremarksofmorethan onecompany.

Working thePumps

InacitylikeLondon,therewereusuallyenoughpeopletomanthepumps,andlargenumbers couldberequiredforamajorfire,upto 400wasnotuncommon, whileata fireinWarrington, Lancashire in the 1850sover600pumperswerepaid.Becauseof the considerable numbers of volunteersrequired,therewereoccasions, particularly in countrydistricts,whenthere werenotenoughto manthepumpsefficiently, andseveralcontemporary accountsendwith suchstatements as,‘thefirewasnearlyundercontrolwhenthepumpers,beingcompletely

exhausted, thewateratthebranch pipesfailed andthesituation immediately gotoutofhand’

Boththe costandthe effortrequiredto pumpthe engineswasconsiderable, andThomas Ewbank in Hydraulics andMechanics, publishedin 1856,saysthat,‘the labour is so severethat

fewcancontinueit abovea minuteortwoata time,whenifrelaysarenotready,buildings on

fireareleft to their fate”The reliefteamswould,in practice,takeoverat five-minuteintervals

andwouldbeorganised whilethefirstteamofpumpersbeganwork. A medium-sized fireenginewouldrequiretwentymento pumpit witha furthertwenty men to relievethem,whilethe largesttypeof engine,as usedby the Leeds&Yorkshire Insurance Company, requiredsixteenmen a side, sosixty-four menwererequiredto keepjust oneof theselargemachinesoperating. Lackof skillandroughhandlingof the fireengines causeda varietyofproblemsasEwbankmakesclear: thejarsor concussions produced bytheviolentcontactoftheleverswiththesidesofthe carriageat everystrokeisa sourceofwasteoffiremen’s energy, andwantofuniformity in theirmovements whenatworkisanother. Thevelocity withwhichenginesaresometimes workedalsooccasions useless expenditure oftheirstrength; wehaveseensomedrawing water throughlongsuctionpipes,andthepumpers working soquickly thatthewatercertainly had nottimetopassthroughthehoseandfillthecylinders whenthepistonsbeganto descend. Theforemankeptan eyeon thepumpers,buthe hada lotofthingsto do andthinkabout, andsoit waseasyfora mannotto pullhisweightbyjustmovinghisarmsupanddown,and ifthevolunteers didnotestablish a steadyrhythm a lotofeffortwaswasted.

Keeping thePumpsGoing

Themenwouldoftenpumpto thechantof“‘beer-oh, beer-oh’,andit wasnotunknownthat, ifbeerwasnotquicklyproduced, themenwouldstoppumping. Theforemanwasauthorised to orderbeerfroma nearbyinnandwouldgivetheinnkeeper a voucherorreceiptsothatthe companywouldlaterpaythebillwhenit waspresented. Thebrigadeswouldtryto extinguish thefireassoonaspossible, butinmanycasesthefiremenwouldbeonthesceneformanyhours.

‘Fire,Fire!’

1$5

Fireat theCircusTheatre,Exeter,Devon,whichcaughtfirein February1887withthelossof 188 lives.It wasfoughtbybrigadesoftheWestofEnglandFireInsuranceCompany, NorwichUnion InsuranceSocietyandtheSunFireOffice.

Although beerwassupplied to thepumpersandfiremen, somewhat surprisingly thecompany recordsdonotseemtoshowanypayments forpurchasing foodatafire,withtheexceptionof theCountyFireOfficewhowouldsupplybreadandcheeseaswellasbeerforthevolunteers. Itmustbesupposed thatin generalthefiremenmadetheirownarrangements to obtainfood if necessary fromnearbyeatinghousesor someothersource,andthemen’swivesmaywell havesentfoodalongto thesceneofthefire.Inmostcasestheinsurance brigadeswerequite wellorganised andthanksto regularpractises andattendance at firesthe menworkedwell together. Theprinciples offirefighting at thistimeweremuchthesameastodayandclearly setout.Forexample, theNorwichUnionInsurance SocietyrequiredFiremanNumberThree to directthehosewithanotherfiremanto assisthim. If therewasa partywallcontainingan entrancebetweenthe burningbuildingandan unaffectedone, then two or three firemenwith bucketsof water would be stationedat the

doorwayto dampit downandpreventthefiregettingthrough. Thefirewouldbecontained to preventit spreadingandthenthe brigadeswouldattemptto put it out.However, due to the inevitabledelayin reachingmostfiresandsometimesin findingandobtaininga suitablesourceofwater,thebrigadeswereusuallyfacedwitha firewhichhadgota good holdon theproperty.Soin manycasesthebuildinginvolvedin themainfirewaslost,but thebrigadecouldsaveadjoiningbuildingsandremoveasmuchportablepropertyto a place ofsafetyaspossible. The demolitionor blowingup of housesto createfirebreaksstilloccurredduringthe nineteenthcentury,but wasa lot lesscommonthanit hadbeen,andif thiswasnecessary thecompanywouldpaycompensation to theownerofthepropertywhichwasdemolished. Duringthecourseoffirefighting themenoftengothurtandmostcompanies suppliedtheir brigadeforemanwiththenameofa doctorwhowouldbewillingto treatfiremeninjuredon duty,latersendingthebillto thecompany.

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Additional Problems

Duringa firethebrigadessometimes hadproblems withpoliceorsoldierstryingto interfere, andthe companies clearlystatedin theirregulations thattheyhadno rightto do so.The NorwichUnionInsurance Societyremindeditsbrigadethat: Firemen areatalltimesto keepin viewthatthefireengineestablishment istheproperty of andissupported at thesoleexpenseof theNorwichUnionSocietyandtherefore is notsubjectto thecontrolor ordersofthepolice,military, oranyotherpersonorpersons whatever.

In 1763a largefireoccurredin the StrandandMr Harrison,a firemanof theWestminster Insurance Office,wasattacked byanensignofthe3rdRegimentofFootGuardswhotorehis clothesandtriedto imprisonhimin theSavoy Barracks.TheBoardofDirectorsinterviewed EnsignGreenfield whoexplained that,whilehe wastryingto helpat thefire,Harrisonwas

abusive andthreatened to‘wash himawayorwordstothateffect.’ TheBoardwereunhappy withGreenfield’s explanation anddecidedto prosecutehim for assault. Ajury foundthe indictmentagainsthimprovedandGreenfield hadto pay£2 16sexpenses andfiveguineas to firemanHarrisonin compensation. Thiscompanycontinuedto haveproblemswiththe army,asalittlewhilelatertheirforeman, JohnMaiden,wasknockedto thegroundbyapiece ofbrickthrownat himby‘acommon soldier’.Thismanwasarrestedandcommittedto the Gatehouse bythemagistrate SirJohnFielding. Alsoin 1763fourfiremenoftheSunFireOfficewereputin theStMartin’s Parishlockup byJonathanDurden,a justiceofthepeace,whileactuallyengagedin fightinga fireinYork Buildings. Whythemenwerelockedupisnotclear,butDurdenwaslatermadeto apologise. TheSunfiremenseemto haveencountered problems onseveraloccasions whilecarryingout theirduty.IntheSunminutesforMarch1822isfoundthefollowing entry: TheSecretary statedthatRobt.StoreyoneoftheEngineers on dutyat theFireat Mr. ListsSugarHouseonthe21st.MarchhadbeentakenbeforetheSittingMagistrate at the Whitechapel OfficeforStriking a Boywho,withseveral others,wasimpeding theFiremen intheexecution oftheirDuty,andplundering theSugar. ThattheMagistrate haddischarged thecomplaint andhadreprimanded theOfficer whohadtakenhimintocustody. ThatSirR. Burniehadsincesummoned StoreytoBowStreettoanswer theAssault andthattheParties whowitnessed it hadbeenboundovertoprosecution. Thecompanydecidedthattheywoulddefendtheirfiremanagainstthechargeand,whenthe casecameup,RobertStoreywasacquitted, theSunpayingthesolicitor’s billwhichcameto £52 7s6d,a verylargesum.

InLondon in1830 SirRobertPeelsetupthepoliceforce, butthefiremen oftheLondon

Assurance didnot regardthisnewbodyasgivingthemthe co-operation andassistance at firesthattheythoughttheyhada rightto expect.On 25August1830,thecompanywrotea letterto SirRobert:

Sir,1amdirected bytheCourtofDirectors oftheCorporation ofTheLondon Assurance to represent toyouthattheirFiremen &Portershavemadevariouscomplaints ofobstruction fromthenewPolicein theexecution oftheirarduousduties,andfromtheinvestigation whichtheyhavemadetheCourtfeelssatisfied thattheservants ofthedifferent FireOffices donotmeetwiththatassistance andco-operation fromthePoliceforcewhichtheobject andnatureoftheiremployment appears toentitlethemto. Thelettergoesonto statethat:

‘Fire,Fire!’

1$7

TheCourtofDirectors feelassured thatit wouldbeyourwishtoaffordtheFiremen every protectionandthattheyneedonlyrequestyourattentionto thisimportantsubjectto procuretheissueofsuchinstructions tothepoliceaswillensuretheirgivingtotheFiremen the mostefficientaid towardsthe extinctionof firesand the preservationof that property

in whichin mostcasestheFireOfficesaresodeeplyinterested andwherein allcasesthe exertions oftheirservants areofsomuchimportance to thepublic.

Itwasnotonlythepoliceandarmythatgavetheinsurance brigades problems. Forexample

on 31January1755twoLondonAssurance firemen,ontheirwayto a firein HoggLane,were assaulted bythree‘gentlemen’, presumably drunken‘bucks’, thatismembersofthearistocracy. The firemenstucktogetherandmanagedto get theirassailants arrestedandthe company prosecuted them.Theywerefoundguiltyandhadto payfifteenguineascompensation, ten ofwhichwasgivento the twofiremenandtheotherfivewenttowardsdefraying the costs

incurred bytheLondon Assurance inhiringanAttorney.

Various ‘technical’ problemsmightbe encountered, asforinstancehappenedinApril1785 whentherewasa largefireatHorsleydown on thesouthsideoftheThames.Manybuildings andwarehouses wereinvolvedandturpentineescapedintotheriver,andwas,unfortunately, drawnintothe fireenginesandthenthrownontothe flamesalongwiththewater,which wassaidto haveaddedgreatlyto the severityof the fire!In 1864the driverof the Royal Insurance Company’fireengineinBirmingham wassummoned for‘furiousdriving’ toa fire inBirchallStreet.Hisdefencewasthathewasonlydoinghisdutyandthecasewasdismissed, butimmediately the companyorderedthata brakeshouldbe fittedto thefireengine!This companycontinuedto haveproblemsinvolvingits engineas on anotheroccasion,when on itswayto a fire,it swervedandcrashedintoa shopwindow. Theowneroftheshop,Mr Thompson, a seedsman, presentedthecompanywitha billfor£11 3s4dfordamageto the window, andincludedin theclaim£7 forpotentiallostbusiness sincetheBritishAssociation of Sciencewasmeetingin Birmingham at thattime.No doubttherehavebeen‘notable’ incidentsonthewayto firesforaslongasfirebrigadeshaveexisted, butfulldetailsofonlythe mostrecenthavecomedownto usasfarastheinsurance companybrigadesareconcerned. Forinstance,one night,aroundthe turn of the nineteenthcentury,the KentInsurance Company brigadeatCanterbury wascalledoutto afireatWhitstable, whichwasabout6 miles (9.6km)fromthecity.Thefireenginewasdispatched butwhentheyreachedPeenHill,which wasfairlysteep,thefiremenrealised thattheskidpan,anironshoeusedto restraintheengine, hadbeenleftbehind.Thisdevicewasneededasthebrakesontheengineswerenotcapableof slowingthemonsteepslopes.Initsabsencethedriverlashedthebackwheelsto theframeto actasa dragasit descended thehill.Unfortunately assoonastheenginestarteddownthehill theropebrokeandtheweightoftheenginepushedthehorses’ collarsforwardnearlystrangling them.Thedriveractedat once,shoutedto the crewtojumpclear,andwhippedthehorses

intoa gallop andtookthematthisbreakneck pacerightdownthehill,amazingly without mishap. Atthebottomofthehillthehorses weregivenablowbefore thecrewremounted and continuedontheirwayto thefire.

FIREOUT Oncethefirewasextinguished therestillremaineda numberoftasksto beperformedbefore the brigadecouldleavethe scene.The foremanwouldmakesurethatthe volunteershad theirtokensor voucherswhichwouldenablethemto claimthepaymentfortheirlabourat thecompany’s or agent’s office,andin 1717theWestminster Insurance Companyrequiredits firemento geta vouchersignedbythe‘inhabitants’ at thesceneofa firestatingthathe had beenatthefireandthelengthoftimehewasthere.Thefollowing yearthecompanydecided thatthesevouchersshouldbe signedandfilledin by the ownerof the damagedproperty,

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but thissystemwaslaterdispensed withand,likemostbrigades,theWestminster foreman wouldkeepa noteofthefiremenwhowerepresentandtheirhoursatworksotheycouldbe paidin duecourse.Duringtheeighteenthcenturyin Londontheforemenofthefirstthree brigadesat thefirewouldgeta signedletterfromtheowneroftheproperty, countersigned

byawitness, tostatethattheyhadarrived first,second orthirdonthescene. Thisletterwould alsogivethedate,thetimethatthefirebrokeout,whentheenginesarrivedandincludethe standardphrase,‘... andthatthesaidenginewasthenandtherecompleteandin goodorder withsockethoseandleatherpipe”Sometimes thetypeofincidentwasgiven,forexample‘a Chimelyonely.

Theforemen wouldestablish whether theproperty wasinsured, andifsoinwhichcompany ifthishadnotalready beenascertained. Anysurviving goodswouldhavetobemadesecure

or removedtoa placeofsafetybelongingto or arrangedbytheowner,or to thecompany’s ownsecurewarehouse which,certainlyin London,mostcompanies leased.It mightalsobe necessary to placea watchmanto keepguardon thepremises to preventpilfering, andagain thismightbe arrangedby the owneror the foremanwhoprobablyknewof trustworthy watchmenin the district.Afterthe damagedbuildinghadbeendouseddownit mightbe considered necessary to leavea firemanor twoon the sceneto ensurethatthe firedidnot flareupagain.Thesefiremenwerevolunteers drawnfromthebrigadeandwerepaidextrafor thetimespenton thisadditional duty.

Preparing toLeave theScene

Theforeman wouldthenorganise hismentoleavethescene. Standpipeswouldberemoved

andfireplugswouldhaveto be reinsertedin the watermains,andif it hadbeennecessary to digup theroadto gainaccessto thepipes,thenthiswouldhaveto be madegood.Fire bucketswouldbegatheredtogetherandsortedoutsotheycouldbereturnedto theirowners, andthe companies wouldcounttheirbucketssincetheyusuallyfoundsomemissingafter eachincident. Whilethefiremenweresortingoutthe equipmenttheforemanwouldmake

enquiries aboutthefireandtrytoascertain howit started. Thiswasparticularly important ifthebuilding wasinsured withthatforeman’s company. Hoseswouldberolledupandput

backonthefireenginealongwithcrowbars, axes,firehooksandotherequipmentwhichhad beenused.Anybrokenitemshadto be reportedto theforeman.On thelargerfireengines theleverswouldbe foldedupandlockedintopositionfortravelling, andthehorsesbrought backandhitchedup.

BacktotheEngine House

Thedriverwouldtakethefireenginebackto itsenginehouse,no doubtwithanymenwho needed alift backto theirneighbourhood ifit wason thewayto theenginehouse.Therest wouldmaketheirwaybackto theirhomesfora well-deserved restanda mealbeforegoing tobedorreturningto theirnormaloccupations. Theirwiveswouldpresumably havethetask ofcleaning, dryingandrepairingtheiruniformsin preparation forthenextcall.

AFTERMATH TheForeman

Induecoursetheforemanwouldgivea reportto hiscompany’s Directorsabouttheincident, anyproblems encountered andthepossible causeofthefire. Theforemanwouldgivedetailsto thecompany clerkofthemen’sattendance sotheirpaycouldbecalculated, anyexpenses which hadbeenincurredforsuchitemsasthesupplyofbeerandhireofhorses,andanygratuities givento thebrigadebygratefulownerswouldalsohaveto be declaredto thecompany. The

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foremanwasalsorequiredto reportanyequipmentlostor damagedandinjuriesreceivedby hismen,andthenamesandaddresses ofpeoplewhohadbeenparticularly helpful.

TheEngineer

Attheenginehousetheengineer, perhapswithsomeassistance, wouldcleanthefireengine,

flushing clearwaterthrough itiftheyhadbeenusingdirtywateratthefire,oilingthemoving

partsandtightening upnuts.Anymajorrepairsto theenginesusuallyseemto havebeendealt withbythemakersratherthantheengineer. Alltheequipment wouldbecleanedandchecked and,iffitted,thelampswouldbefilledwithoilsothatthefireenginewasreadyto attendthe nextfire.Theleatherhoseswouldhaveto be hungup sotheydriedout,andthenoiledto

keepthemingoodcondition beforebeingrepacked ontheengineorenginecarriage. Many

brigadeshadtwosetsofhosesothatonewasalwaysreadyforuse.

AttheOffice

Oncethefirehadbeenextinguished, thecompany thentookoveranddealtwiththematter. Whentheproperty wasnotinsured somecompanies required theoccupier to defraythe expenses fortheirbrigade attending thefire;on18March1812 theKentInsurance Company chargedtheMayorandCorporation ofSandwich inKent£5 11sforextinguishing thetown hallwhichwasnotinsured,althoughthehousesofthepoorwereusuallyputoutfreeasanact ofcharity.Ifthepropertywasinsuredthecompanywouldsendtheirsurveyor alongto assess thedamage, andduringtheeighteenthcenturythiswasnormallydonewithinthreedaysin Londonandfiveinthecountry.Fromthemid-eighteenth centurythesurveyors wereinmany casesemployed full-timeandwererecruitedfrombuildersor carpenters, sincetheywerenot onlyfamiliarwithbuildings, butwerewellableto dealwiththeworkmenwhorepairedor rebuilttheproperty. Iftheclaimwasapproved, themoneywaspaidto thepolicyholder or,in somecases,thecompanyorganised therebuilding directly.

Thecompanies tookadirectinterest intherebuilding oftheproperty, andbecause ofthis therecords ofthecompanies showpayments suchasthefollowing fromtheSunCommittee

minutesdated25February1762:“To ThomasTaylorCarpenterTenshillings &Fourpencefor ShoreserectedattheSugarHousein CarterLanelatelyburnt.Afewweekslater,on 10June 1762.°To ThomasTayloronepoundoneshillingandninepenceforerectingshoresto prevent thefallingofa ChimneyatMr.Bellmans, SugarBakerinCarterLanewhosehousewasburnt. On 19May1774:“To ThomasHarveySevenPounds,fourteenShillings forBricklayers work andmovingRubbishattheFirein ChandosStreet’Theinsurancecompanies hadreciprocal arrangements fordealingwithfires,sothatif'abrigadeputouta firein a propertyinsuredin anothercompany, thenthelattercompanywouldreimburse theformerwhenit receivedthe billforfirefighting fromtheothercompany. When afire occurredinabuildingthepropertyorgoodsautomatically becametheproperty oftheinsurance company, andoncetheyhadpaidorallowedtheinsurance claim,anysalvaged goodsbecametheirs.Todefraysomeof the expenses theycouldsellthe goodsor materials at auction,andthe moneyraisedwentintothecompany’s funds.Ifarsonwassuspected the companies mightissuea noticeofferinga rewardforthearrestorprosecution ofthepersons whocommittedthe act,andif theysuspected anyonethentheirdetailswouldbe passedon to theBowStreetRunnersorpolice.Quiteoftensmallmonetaryrewardswouldbemadeby thecompanies to volunteers or peoplewhohadgivenparticularly goodassistance atthefire, andcompensation paidto peoplewhohadsuffered lossbytheactionoftheirbrigade. These matterswouldbe discussed bytheBoardofDirectorsand,if approved, thepayments would be authorised. Theincidentwouldthenbe relegatedto the company’s booksandformpart oftheexpenses ofmaintaining theirfirebrigade.

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Appreciation

The insurancecompanies oftenreceivedlettersaftera firepraisingthe workof theirfire brigades. In October1811theDirectorsoftheGreenwich Hospitalsenta letterto: express theirbestthanksto theDirectors oftheEagleInsurance Company fortheprompt andsuccessful assistance oftheirengines &firemen inextinguishing thelatecalamitous fireat theInfirmary, andthattheyentertain a highopinionofthesteadiness andjudicious conduct ofthelatteronthisoccasion.

Following theirattendance atafireatCanterbury Cathedral in 1872thePhoenix Assurance Company brigadetherewerepresented withthefollowing testimonial bytheDeanand Chapter:

Sir,I am desiredby the Chapterto returntheirgratefulthanksto you,andthe Fire Brigadeunderyourdirection, foryourmostpraiseworthy effortsonTuesday last,which weresoeminently successful in extinguishing theFirewhichbrokeoutin theroofofthe Cathedral. Ourthanksaredueto manyotherswhozealously co-operated withyourendeavours, but especially toyou,onwhomthechiefdutiesofthedaydevolved, andtowhom,aboveall,we areindebtedforthepreservation oftheCathedral. Considering thegreatdifficulties with whichyou had to contend,the skilland abilitywith whichthey wereovercome,and the

zeal,activity, andenergywithwhichyouperformed yourduties,weoweyouourwarmest gratitude, whichI nowhavemuchpleasure inexpressing. I am,Sir,yourfaithfulServant,J.Thomas.Cannonof CanterburyandViceDean.

In 1854the foremanof a NorwichUnionInsuranceSocietybrigadewaspresentedwitha silvermedalinscribed: Presentedto Mr.JamesWood, Foremanof the

NorwichUnionFireBrigade forhiscourageous conductat Mr.Wright’s Fire LeedsJune12th1854 bytheInhabitants inthe Neighbourhood.

CHAPTER TWELVE

WORKING TOGETHER

Duringtheeighteenthcenturytherewasgreatrivalrybetweenthebrigadesoftheinsurance companies, buta certaindegreeofinformalco-operation wouldusuallyprevailatthesceneof afireensuringthat,betweenthem,thefirefighting wascarriedoutasefficiently aspossible, but

moreformal agreements occurred between anumber ofcompany brigades towards theendof theeighteenthcentury. Thebrigadesworkedtogetherfromtheirbeginnings in the 1680sto combatfires,althoughtheearliestreference to insurance firemenworkingtogetherisfoundin a minuteoftheHandin HandFireOfficedated5January1702.Paymentof Is6dto eachof thefourteenmenoftheFriendlySocietyandninemenofthePhenixFireOffice(thenew

nameoftheFireOffice) isrecorded forthehelptheygavetheHandinHandbrigade ata fire inLawrence Lane, thenames ofthemenbeingsupplied bytheothertwocompanies. Other

references to thesethreebrigadesworkingtogetheratfiresalsooccurfromtimeto time. Proposals weremadeat intervalssuggesting thatif thebrigades joinedtogetherit would makefor a moreefficientfirefighting force,but it wasnot until1791that anydegreeof officialco-operationcameabout,whenthe Sun FireOffice,RoyalExchangeAssurance

andthePhoenix Assurance Company setupajointFireWatch. Theobjectofthiswasto

patrolthe areain andaroundthe Citiesof LondonandWestminster (anareaknownasthe Billsof Mortality)to givethe earliestpossiblewarningandassistance shoulda fireoccurat night.TheSunwastheprimemoverin establishing thisfirepatrol,andin theminutefor27 October1791,recordsthatthe payformembersof the patrolwasto be $sa nightforthe engineers, 4spernightforfiremenandportersand2s6dpernightto thewatermenactingas supernumerary (orassistant) patrolmen. Thirtygreatcoats andbadges,numberedoneto thirty,wereorderedanda rotadrawnup of firemenandporterswho wouldservein the patrol.The Suncontributedtwelvemen and the othertwo companiesnine each,whilesupernumerary men for the patrolwere recruitedfromamongstwatermenwhomeasuredatleastsft 7in(1.7m)withoutshoes,and anyvacancies forpatrolfiremenwereto be filledfromamongsttheseextramen.The Fire Watchcommenced on 12November1791andthefireenginehouseswhichweretobeused asitsbasesweresuppliedwithcoalandcandles. Theprospectus oftheSundatedNovember 1794statesthat: FortheFurtherEncouragement ofPersons Insuring, thereareprovided several Fire-Engines, andtherearealsoemployed intheServiceofthesaidOffice(withintheBillsofMortality) a numberofEngineers andfiremen, whopatrolethestreetsin different divisions allHours ofthenightfromthefollowing PatroleStations, whichisa considerable Additionto the publicsecurity.

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Stations oftheFireNight-Patrole. Engine-House, WoodStreet,Cheapside. Engine-House, Wilde-Court,WildStreet,Loncoln’s-inn-Field’s.

Engine-House, Swallow Street,nearConduit-street. Engine-House, Wellclose-square. Engine-House,Morgan’sLane,Tooley-street. Other Stations.

Swan-Inn, Holborn-bridge. Messrs. Gubbins andCook,No.82,UpperThames-street. Mrs.Bristow, EngineMaker, Ratclifte-highway. Mr.Cleaver,Carman,nearJohn-street,Horsleydown.

Messrs. Gubbins andCook’s Yard,Cuper’s Bridge, Lambeth. A watch-boxwiththe words‘FirePatrole’ andanilluminated Sunemblemwasprovidedat eachofthenightpatrolfirestations. However, thisco-operation onlyextendedto patrolling, sinceassoonasthealarmwasgiventheenginesofeachrespective companywouldendeavour to reachthe firefirstwheretheywouldact independently. By thisdatethe otherengine housesof the Sunwereapparentlymannedby one or two full-timefiremensincethey announcedthat“Assistance maylikewise behadat allhours.’ Thisjointwatchcontinuedfora numberofyears,buton 12December1805thePhoenix

Assurance requested a meeting withrepresentatives oftheSunandRoyalExchange asthey wereworriedaboutthecostofmaintaining thepatrol,particularly asno otherLondon insurancecompanies werecontributing. Following discussions, thejointpatrolceasedat the endofJune1806,buttheSuncontinuedto maintainitsownpatroluntiltheendofJuly1824. Bythisdatethepatrolwasprobablymoreeffective foradvertising thanasanefficient body,as a Sunminuteof 8July1824records, “ThattheFirePatrolebe discontinued andthatthreeof

thembemadeFiremen andthattheremaining two(being fromageandsickness incapable of muchlabour) bepensioned at£15pr.ann.eachduringpleasure’

In 1808SirFrederickMortonEdenofthe GlobeInsuranceCompany, proposedthatthe Londonfireinsurancecompaniesshouldeachprovidetwentyfiremento forma united brigadewhichwouldberunbya committeeto dealwiththeappointment offiremenandall otherbusiness concernedwiththeproposedcombinedbrigade, andthateachcompany should

payanequalcontribution towards therunning costs.Thissuggestion didnotmeetwithmuch

enthusiasm andonlytheAtlasAssurance Companywaspreparedtojointhescheme. However, in thesameyeartheBathFireOfficeannouncedthat‘Fortheadditional securityofpersons insuring,properFire-Engines areprovided, anda companyofableFiremenareemployed in the serviceof thisoffice,in conjunctionwiththeBathSunFire-Office’, andfromthenon thesetwoprovincial insurancecompanies shareda firebrigade.

In 1813theSunco-operated withtheCountyFireOfficeto setup ajointpatrolin

Reading,Berkshire, to be in constantreadinessto workthe engines.The followingyear the Londoninsurancebrigadeswereforcedto worktogetherby the weather,whichhad alternatedbetweenbittereastwindsanddensefog,withtwenty-four successive sunlessdays. Firerisksduringthisperiodincreaseddueto the greateruseofheatingandlighting,while

watersupplies werefrozenandmuchreduced, eventheThames beingcovered withice.

Duringthisverycoldspellajointnightpatrolwassetupinvolving menoftheEagleInsurance Company, LondonAssurance, PhoenixAssurance, RoyalExchangeAssurance andSunFire Office,butdidnotcontinueonceweatherconditions improved. Whileit lastedthisgrouphad

at its disposalfourteen engines,fivefire floatsand 120firemenbut, like the Sun’searlierfire

patrol,probablyactedindependently ata fire.

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In 1824Edinburghhadthreemajorfires;thefirstwasin FebruarywhenmostofNiddrie Streetwasdestroyed, thenextwasin Marchwhen a largenumberofbuildingsin theNorth Bridgeareaweredamaged, andanotheroccurredinJunewhenbuildings oppositetheRoyal Exchange wereburnt. InAugustthepolicecommissioners, magistrates andinsurancecompanies metto consider theprovisionoffirefighting, andit wasdecidedthata unifiedfirebrigadewasrequiredand suggestions wereput forwardto createan EdinburghFireEngineEstablishment (E.FE.E.). Thisissometimes claimedto be thefirstmunicipal firebrigadein Britain,butit onlycame intoexistence thankstothosefireinsurance companies whohadinterests inEdinburgh. When thecityhadproblems raisingmoneyto formthebrigadetheCaledonian Insurance Company, FriendlySocietyofEdinburgh, HerculesFireInsurance Company, theInsurance Companyof Scotland, theNorthBritishInsurance CompanyandtheScottishUnionInsurance Company eachsubscribed £200 towardstheinitialcostof£1,400,theremaining £200 comingfrom cityfunds.Thecitygaveanannualgrantof£50 andthecommissioners £200towards running costs,witha muchlargersumcomingfromtheinsurance companies. The E.FE.E.purchasedthreetwenty-manmanualfireengines,alongwithfoursmaller enginesandten watercarts.Eightypart-timefiremenwereappointedandgivena uniform ofa bluejacket,whitecanvastrousersanda leatherhelmet.Overallcommandwasgivento a youngman,JamesBraidwood, whoorganised thebrigadeintoanefficientfirefighting force andwhowas,laterin hiscareer,to takechargeof the LondonFireEngineEstablishment. Braidwood, thesonofanEdinburghcabinetmaker,wasbornin 1800andattendedtheRoyal HighSchool,andon leavingwenton to becomequalifiedasa surveyorandcivilengineer and,duringthistime,showedan interestin the problemsof fightingfiresin buildings, possiblyat one timebeingemployedas an insurancesurveyor. Braidwood joineda local volunteerfirebrigadeandwhen,in 1824,thenewlyformedE.FE.E.waslookingfora chief

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InsuranceFire Brigades1680—1929

officer,he appliedforthepositionin competition withtheforemenofvariousinsurance and volunteerbrigades.He wasgiventhejob at the ageof twenty-three dueto hisexperience andqualifications plustheenthusiasm whichhe exhibitedathisinterview. Hewasappointed fora trialperiodofthreemonths,andhiscareercertainlygotoffto aneventfulstartasonly threeweeksafterhisappointment a majorfirebrokeoutin thecity. Thefirefighting wasveryconfusedandthefirewasextinguished ontheseconddaymainly duetoaheavyrainstorm. Braidwood wascriticised buthadnothadlongenoughtoreorganise andtrainhisbrigade,sowasgrantedmoretimethanksto theconductandpersonalcourage hehadshownatthefire,despitebeingslightlyinjured.Heintroduced gymnastic trainingand drilledhismenat4 a.m.everyWednesday, explaining: It doesnotinterfere withthedailyoccupation ofthefiremen. Thechanceofcollecting a crowdis alsoavoided, astherearethencomparatively fewpeopleon thestreets; thisisa matterofsomeimportance, asa crowdofpeoplenotonlyimpedes themovements ofthe firemen, but,fromsmallquantities ofwaterspiltontheby-standers, quarrels aregenerated, anda prejudice excitedagainstthecorps,to avoidwhicheveryexertionshouldbeusedto keepthefiremenongoodtermswiththepopulace. Themornings, too,atthisearlyhour,aredarkformorethanhalftheyear,andthefiremen are thusaccustomed toworkbytorch-light, andsometimeswithoutanylightwhatever, except thefewpubliclampswhicharethenburning. And,asmostfireshappenin thenight,the advantage ofdrilling inthedarkmustbesufficiently obvious. Theinhabitants havesometimes complained ofbeingdisturbed withthenoiseoftheenginesatsoearlyanhour;butwhen theobjecthasbeenexplained, theyhavegenerally submitted, withagoodgrace,tothisslight evil.Adifferent partofthecitybeingalways chosenforeachsuccessive drill,theannoyance occasioned to anyonedistrictisverytrifling, andofveryinfrequent occurrence. Braidwood wasableto claimthatan engine,completewiththreelengthsof coupledhose, couldberunoutbyhismeninoneminuteandtenseconds. In 1830hepublished a book,The Construction ofFireEngines andApparatus, theTraining ofFiremen andtheMethod ofProceeding in CasesofFire,in whichhe laiddownprinciples offirefighting whicharestillapplicable today, somakinghimtheprimecontenderforthe titleof the‘fatherofmodernfirefighting’. The SocietyofArtsawardedhima silvermedalforhischain-ladder fireescape,buthe wasvery muchapractical firemanandtookanactivepartatfires,ononeoccasion dragging ninepeople to safetyfroma burningbuilding. In 1826the PhoenixAssurance Companysubmittedproposalsto the RoyalExchange Assurance and Sun FireOfficefor puttingtheirrespectiveLondonbrigadesunderone superintendent. Thisscheme,whichcameinto beingon 1January1827,meantthat the PhoenixandRoyalExchange eachhadtwoengineswithanengineerandeighteenmen.The Suncontributedthreeenginesandengineers, onefloatingfireengineandtwenty-twomen, soreducingtheirbrigadefromfourenginesandthirtymenandenablingthemto rentout the RegentStreetfireenginehouse.The companies eachretainedtheirownbrigades, but

theywouldallultimately beunderthecontrol ofonesuperintendent, MrS.M.Hubertofthe

Sun,althoughhe wasrequiredto applythe menof eachcompanypreferentially to protect the interestsof the companyto whichtheybelonged,but hadthe powerto combinetheir servicesifrequired. Thisschemeparticularly appealedto theRoyalExchangewhich,at thistime,wasgetting worriedaboutthecostsofmaintaining theirbrigadesinbothLondonandtheprovinces, and joiningthiscombinedbrigademeantthattheirbrigaderunningcostsfellfrom£3,276in 1825to £1,741in 1827.MrJ.A.Beaumontofthe CountyFireOfficewasimpressed bythe amalgamated brigadeandin September1830suggesed thathisbrigadeshouldjoinwiththat oftheAtlasAssurance, but thelatterdeclinedthesuggestion. ThePhoenix,RoyalExchange andSunthenpersuadedtheAtlastojoin theirschemeinJanuary1831,andlatertheUnion

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FiremenoftheEdinburghFireEngineEstablishment in around1850wearingtheuniformdesignedby JamesBraidwood whenhebecameSuperintendent. Thedark-blue jacketsandwhitecanvastrousers

replaced thecolourful uniforms oftheindividual insurance brigades. Eachwatchworealeather helmetpainteda differentcolour.

FireOfficealsotookpart.Thisjoint brigade,thoughstillsomewhatpartisan,workedwell and probablyencouragedMr CharlesBellFord,Secretaryof the Sun,to put beforehis company’s DirectorsinApril1832a plan,‘forimproving andmakingmoreeffective the Fire

EngineEstablishments oftheLondonFireOffices, withtheviewofbringing themunder oneManagement. AmonthlatertheDirectors oftheSunapproved thedraftregulations of

thisproposedorganisation andgaveMr Fordpermission to puttheproposals to theleading insurance companies in London. On 21June 1832JamesBraidwoodof the EdinburghFireEngineEstablishment was appointed superintendent ofthejointbrigadeinplaceofMrHubert,receiving a salaryfromthe Sunof£150a yearontheunderstanding thatthiswouldcontinueonlyaslongasthebrigade waslimitedto fivecompanies. On leavingEdinburgh, wherehe hadbeensuperintendent for eightyears,the CityCouncilpresentedhimwitha goldwatchanda voteof thanksforhis workin trainingthe firemenandcreatingan extremelyefficientfirebrigade.Hismengave hima silvercupbearingtheinscription, ‘Presented to Mr.JamesBraidwood, bythe Cityof EdinburghFiremen, asa tokenoftheiradmiration ofhimastheirleader,andofdeeprespect forhimasa gentleman. Braidwood wasdelightedto be offeredthisappointment, whichwas to be aninterimonewhilethedetailsofthenewcombinedbrigadewereworkedout. On 20Julya meetingwasheldto considertheformationofa combinedfirebrigade,and wasattendedbyrepresentatives oftheAlliance Assurance Company, AtlasAssurance Company, GlobeInsuranceCompany, ImperialInsuranceCompany, LondonAssurance, ProtectorFire InsuranceCompany, RoyalExchange Assurance, SunFireOffice,UnionAssurance Society and theWestminster InsuranceOffice.The representatives unanimously resolvedto place beforetheircompanies thesuggested planandrecommend itsadoption. Allthe companies agreedwiththe proposedscheme,withonlyminoramendments, and on 6August1832it wasdecidedthattheplanshouldbeputintoeffectfrom1January1833. TheLondonFireEngineEstablishment, astheamalgamated brigadewasto be called,wasto consistofa superintendent, fiveforemen,nineengineers andeightyfiremenequippedwitha totaloffourteenenginesonactiveservice(withanotherfiveenginesin reserve), twofloating fireenginesandnineteenfirestations. Allthemenwereto be transferred fromthebrigades

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of the companies whojoinedthe Establishment. The estimatedrunningcosts(£;7,700per year)wouldbebornebythecompanies, ‘inproportionpartlyto theextentoftheirbusiness in Londonandpartlyto the amountof theirpresentexpenses’, but no companywasto contributelessthan£400 per annum.Braidwood playeda majorpartin itsformationand histalentswereofimmensevaluein weldingtogetherthevariousinsurancebrigadesintoa cohesiveunitto protectLondonwithitspopulationofover1.5million. Interestwasexpressed by othercompanies whooperatedbrigadesin Londonandthese subsequently joinedthe L.RE.E. TheGuardian Assurance CompanyandPhoenixAssurance Company joinedin 1833, theHandinHandFireOfficejoinedin 1834, theBritishFireOffice andNorwichUnionFireInsurance Society joinedin 1835, theCountyFireOfficeandRoyal InsuranceCompanyin 1849,and theWestof EnglandInsuranceCompanyin 1858.The L.FE.E.wasrunbya committeeconsisting of a Directorfromeachmembercompany, and on I January1833anannouncement wasplacedin severalnewspapers to informthepublic thattheDirectorsofthecompanies: Witha viewto thebetterprotection of thepropertyandlivesof the Inhabitants of the Metropolis, anditsvicinity, confident thatsoimportant anobjectwillbe moreeffectually attainedbytheemployment ofa permanent bodyof Firemen, readyat allhoursto afford promptattendance at Fires,thanfromoccasional servants, haveformeda FIREENGINE ESTABLISHMENT, consisting ofmenintheirpermanent employ, agreatmajority ofwhom havebeenselectedfromtheFiremenhithertoin theirserviceandwhohaverelinquished allotheroccupations on beingappointed to thisestablishment. Insteadof themenbeing underdistinctOfficers appointed byeachCompany, andtherefore notactingin concertat fires,theyarenowembodied underthedirectionofa Superintendent, withForemen and Engineers underhim,andappointed tocertainStations, according totheaccompanying List, wherea proportion ofthemwillbeinconstant attendance, dayandnight,prepared to give themostpromptassistance onalloccasions offire. Not allthe insurancecompanyfiremenwerefoundto be suitableto join the L.FE.E.as Braidwood sethighstandards, andanagelimitwasimposedoffortyyearsforfiremen,fifty forengineersandfifty-five forforemen. A surveyof theLondonAssurance brigadeshowed

thatonlythreemenweresuitable forthepostofengineer andsevenmeneligible asfiremen,

allofwhomwerewillingto serve.However, the companywasonlyaskedto nominateone engineerandfourfiremen,andthosenotselectedweregivena smallpension,apartfromtwo whoweregivenemployment at the company’s office.Mostothercompanies appearto have hada largernumberofsuitablemen,butthosenotchosenweregivenpensionsrangingfrom £,5-60peryeardependingon company, rankandlengthofservice. The uniformsof the individualinsurancebrigadeswerereplacedby bluejacketsand trouserswith a blackleatherhelmet,and BraidwooddividedLondoninto four districts,each

underthe commandof a foremanwhohadthreeengineersandthreesub-engineers under him.Everyfiremanwasrequiredto getto knowhisdistrictbywalkingaroundit to become familiarwiththelocationofwatersuppliesandthosebuildings whichpresenteda particular

risk.Thisisstillrequired offirefighters todayalthough the‘rounds’ areusually doneinafire

appliance. Drillsof the typeusedin Edinburghwereintroduceddespitethe factthat the Londonfiremenattendedanaverageofthreecallsa day.Atfirstthesedrillswerehelddaily, but laterwerereducedto twoor threea week.In EdinburghBraidwood hadpreferredto recruithismenfromamongstslaters, house-carpenters, masonsandplumbers, butin London witha full-timebrigade,he preferredto gethisnewmenfromamongseamen,“astheyare taughtto obeyorders,andthenightanddaywatchesandtheuncertainty oftheoccupation are more similarto their former habits,than those of other men of the samerank of life’

Gradually theoldwatermen-firemen werereplacedbyex-seamen, andanavaltraditionbegan to be established whichlastedin theBritishfireservicefora century. Thefiremen,atleastin

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the earlydays,wererecommended by oneof the contributing companies andweregivena month’strialbeforebeingtakenonpermanently. TheL.FE.E.hada continuousdutysystemwheretwomenwereput on a twenty-fourhourwatch,whiletherestof themenwereon standby. Whena callwasreceivedoneduty firemanfetchedthehorseswhichwerekeptbehindthefirestationsandrantheengineout,

whiletheothermanrousedthecrew. Themenwererequired tostayintheirsmallhouses neartheenginehousewhenonstandby duty,andwouldbesummoned when afire broke outbythedutyfireman whowouldrunfromdoortodoor.Themenhadhardlyanyleave periodsandonlyleftto attendfiresor drill.WhenBraidwoodreplacedthe enginehouses withfirestations, themenwereconfinedto thestationitselfor theirquartersabove it. There was no lack of recruits,and vacancieswere rare,but when one did occur a few men from

thetopofthewaitinglistwereallowedto apply. TheEstablishment’s doctorchosetheman whomhe considered the fittest,andalthoughthe finaldecisionwasup to the committee, theyusuallyseemto haveleftit to Braidwood to decidewhichcandidategotthejob. Newrecruitswereagedbetweeneighteenandtwenty-five and,if selected,hadto find someonewillingto provide£25 suretyforgoodbehaviour. Thefiremengot21soda week, althoughrentwasdeductedfromthis,1sodforunmarriedmenand2s6dformarriedmen, witha further6d deductedfor paymentinto a superannuation scheme.On joining,each

manwasgivena number and,asothersleft,hewasgivensuccessively lowernumbers andso

movedhigherup thelist.Allmenwithnumberslowerthanfifty-sixwerepromotedto the rankof seniorfiremanandwerepaidan extra3s6da week.Engineersandsub-engineers werechosenfromamongthe seniorfiremenand,whenqualified, werepaida furtherIs 6d a week.Soonaftertakingup hispositionin London,Braidwood madethe acquaintance of MosesMerryweather andW,J.Tilley,bothfire-engine makers.TheL.FE.E.hadinheritedtheir enginesfromthe insurancebrigadeswhohadobtainedthemfromseveraldifferentmakers, andtherewasnostandardisation inthesizesofhosesandcouplings, soquiteoftenequipment wasnotinterchangeable whichcausedproblems atfires.Therefore Braidwood, inconjunction withthesetwomanufacturers, designedandbuilta standardfireengineknownastheLondon Brigade ManualEngine.Evenwith laterimprovements Braidwoodonlyconsideredsteam enginesto be of useon floatingfireengines,not thoseusedon land,sincehe thoughtthe pipedwaternotadequateto supplythem. CharlesDickensgaveagraphicdescription ofthesequenceofeventswhichoccurredwhen a firealarmcallwasreceivedat theWatlingStreetHeadquarters oftheLondonFireEngine Establishment: Thecryof‘Fire’suddenly resounds froma distantstreet.Theheavybootsofa policeman clatteralongbeneathourwindow. Thecryisrepeated byseveral voicesandmorefeetare heardhurryingalong.Thefireisin a squalidcourt,leadingintoa mewswhichrunsclose tothebacksofthehousesofonesideofa greatsquare. Wehastily struggle intoanovercoat, snatchupa hatandissueforthto followthealarming cry. Thetumultsoundsin thecourt;thecryof‘Fire’iswildlyrepeatedin a woman’s voice fromone of the windowsof the mews;nowfromanotherwindow,nowfromseveral. ‘Fire!’,

‘Fire!’ cryvoicesofmanypassengers instreetsandawayscamper thepolicemen tothenearest stations ofthefirebrigade, passing thewordtootherpolicemen astheyrun,tillalltheforce areclattering alongthepavement, sometowards thesceneofthefirebutmostofthemeither towards anengine-station, tooneofthefireescapes oftheRoyalSociety, ortopasstheword tothepolicemen whosedutyit willbeto runtotheenginestationnextbeyond. Bythismeansofpassing theword,somebody arrives atthegatesofthechiefofficeoftheFire Brigade inWatling Streetandseizing thehandleofthenight-bell, pullsawayatitwiththevigour whichsuchevents always callforth.Thefireman ondutyforthenightimmediately opensthegate andreceives theintelligence, cutting shortallloquacity asmuchaspossible andeliciting thespot wherethefirehasbrokenoutandtheextenttowhichitwasragingwhenthepersonleft.

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Thefiremanthenrunsto thebell-handle, whichhe pulls;andapplying hisearto the mouthpiece ofapipe,hearsa voiceask‘Whatisit?’.Thefireman hearshisownvoicesound, asifata distance, whilethevoice,actually remote,soundsclosein themouthpiecewitha strange, preternatural effect. Thebellwirereaches uptothesuperintendent’s bedside andthe bellbeingrung,Mr.Braidwood himself ononeelbowandapplying hismouthtotheendof thetube,answers andgivesorders. Afewwordsofdialogue conducted inthiswaysuffice. UpjumpsMr.Braidwood, crosses thepassage to hisdressing room(armoury weoughtratherto callit)andin threeminutes isattiredin thickclothfrock-coat, bootsandhelmetofthefirebrigade, fixingbuttonsand strapsashedescends thestairs.Meanwhile allthemenhavebeenequallyactivebelow.No soonerhasthefiremanarousedMr.Braidwood thenheringsthebelloftheforeman, the engineerandthe‘single men’sbell’—whichmeansthebellofthedivision wherethefour unmarried mensleep.Hethenrunsouttothestables callingthe‘charioteer’ bythewayand twootherfiremenlodgingcloseby,afterwhichhereturnsto assistharnessing thehorses. Owingtothesimultaneous action,eachaccording tohisspecial andgeneralduties, bythe timeMr.Braidwood reaches thebottomofthestairs, theenginehasbeengotoutandputin workingorder.Allitsfurniture, implements andtoolsareplacedwithinorpackedaboutit. Shortscaling laddersmadeto fitintoeachotherareattachedto thesides,sixlengthsof hose,branchpipes,Directorpipes,sparenozzles, suctionpipes,goosenecks,dogs’tails(the firstto deliverwaterinto the engine,the secondareironwrenches),canvassheetwithrope

handles roundtheedge(tocatchpeoplewhowillboldlyjumpoutofwindows), damboard (toprevent waterfromtheplugflowing madlyaway), portable cistern, stripsofsheepskin (to mendburstinghose),ballsof cord,flatrose,escapechair,escaperopes,mattock,saw,shovel,

pole-axe, boathookorcrow-bar toburstthroughdoorsorwallsorbreakupthepavement; instruments foropeningfireplugsandkeysforturningstopcock ofwatermainsetc. Allbeingready,the superintendentmountsthe engineto the rightof the driver,andthe

engineerandforemenandfiremenmountalsoandrangethemselves on eachsideofthe longchestatthetopwhichcontains themultifarious articles justenumerated. Offtheystart —brisktrot,canter—gallop. Abrightredgleamoverspreads theskyto thewestward. The superintendent knowsthatthefireinthecourthasreachedthemewsandthestables arein flames. Fullgallop. The L.EFE.E. tackledfireswithan efficiency thatimpressed both the insurancecompanies andthepublic,buton 16October1834,onlytwenty-onemonthsafteritsformation, it had

todealwithafirewhichwastoprovea national calamity —thedestruction oftheHouses of

Parliament, a collectionofmedieval andearlierbuildings. Thefirewasfirstseenat 6.30p.m. andwascausedbytheoverheating offluesleadingfroma furnaceundertheHouseofLords. Thefirerapidlygaineda holdandspreadthroughthecloselypackedbuildings whichlacked

partywalls andcontained alargeamount oftimberwork. Twelve engines oftheL.EE.E. were

sentto the scenewithsixty-fourfiremen,but whentheyarrivedBraidwood knewthatthe situationwasextremely serious.Heandhismenhadnotbeenallowedto inspectthepremises asParliament hadnotthoughtthistobeworthwhile, andsothemenhaddifficulty infinding theirwayaroundandlocatingsourcesof waterin additionto theThames,whichwasat lowtide.SomeMPsbeganto issueordersto the firemenregardinghowthe fireshouldbe foughtandgotveryupsetwhentheywereignored,sotheyandsomeParliamentary officials attemptedto seizesomeof the enginesandput themto workthemselves, but weresoon pushedawaybytheburlyfiremen. Braidwood realised thathecouldnotpossibly savethewholecomplex, asbynowtheLords, StStephen’s Chapelandvariousotherbuildings on thesitewereburningfiercely, andrather thanjustpouringwaterontobuildings whichhe obviously couldnotextinguish, he decided hewouldconcentrate allhisbrigadeon saving Westminster Hall.ThiswasbuiltbyWilliamII between1097-99andhada magnificent hammerbeamroofaddedbetween1394-99 to cover

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TheHousesofParliament on fire,16thOctober1834. ThiswasthefirstmajorincidentthatJames Braidwood andtheLondonFireEngineEstablishment hadto dealwithafteritsformationin 1833.

thegreathallwhichissome240ft(73m)longand68ft(21m)wide.Hethereforeorderedthat

twooftheL.EE.E. engines weretobemoved inside theHall,anddetachments oftheBrigade of Guardswereorganised to pumpthemandassistthefiremenbycuttingawaypartof the House. roofofthehallwhereit adjoinedtheburningSpeaker’s Hall,showsscaffolding erected A paintingby G.B.Campion,TheSavingofWestminster insidethe Hallandthe firemenstandingon the highplatformpouringwateron the roof, injured,and windowsandwalls.Duringthecourseof the nighttwofiremenwereseverely

laterhadtobeinvalided outoftheEstablishment, butbymorning thehallwassaved andstood amongst theblackened ruinsoftherestofthebuildings. Large crowds hadwatched thefireall

throughthe nightandthe followingdayTheTimesstatedthat,‘thegeneralfeelingseemed to be thatof sorrow,manifested eitherby thoughtfulsilenceor by occasional exclamation ofregret.Immediately following thefireBraidwood wrotea letterto TheTimesgivingthe reasonswhythefirecausedsomuchdamage: Thecausesofthefireproceeding sorapidlyin theworkofdestruction I believeto beas follows: 1.Thetotalwantofparty-walls. 2.Thepassages whichintersected thebuildingin everydirection, andactedasfunnelsto convey thefire. 3.Therepeatedalterations in thebuildings whichhadbeenmadewithmoreregardto expediency thantosecurity. 4.Theimmense quantity oftimberusedintheinterior. 5.Thegreatdepthandextentofthebuildings. 6.Asmartbreezeofwind. | 7.Anindifferent supplyofwaterwhich,thoughamplysufficient foranyordinary occasion, wasinadequate forsuchanimmense conflagration.

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8.Myownandthefiremen’s totalignorance ofthelocalities oftheplace.Infiresinprivate dwellings, warehouses, ormanufactories, someideamaygenerally beformedofthedivision oftheinsideofthepremises fromobserving theappearance oftheoutside, butinthepresent casethatrulewasuseless. Criticismwaslevelledat the insurancecompanies concerningtheirinabilityto saveallthe buildings, and thiscausedsomeof the companies to considerwhetherthe settingup of the L.EE.E.wasa mistake, sincethe Government expectedthe insurancecompanies to be responsible forfirefighting andwasunwilling to domuchaboutit itself. The Parliament buildingswerenot insuredsincethe Government carriedits ownrisks,

astheystilldotoday. Therefore theinsurance companies wrotea letterto theDukeof

Wellington, thePrimeMinister, clearlypointingoutthattheyhadfoughtthefireasa favour sincetheywereundernoobligation to doso: Theengines andmenemployed bythefireinsurance companies, although always readyand anxious toaffordalltheassistance intheirpoweruponeveryoccasion offire,arenevertheless privateestablishments, maintained fortheimmediate purposeofprotecting theinterestof theiremployers. Theystillformthemainsecurityofthepublicagainst thespreadoffires;butwheretheir servicemightrequireto be absorbed in the protectionof the peculiarinterestof the insurance companies, theuninsured portionofthepublicandtheGovernment worksmust necessarily belefttothecareofotherengines. Thus,if duringthelateconflagration atWestminster, anyinsuredpropertyin danger,or anysimultaneous fireor firesin otherpartsofthetown,hadimperatively calleduponthe Superintendent to devotetheservices oftheengineselsewhere, Westminster Hallandthe publicproperty adjoining musthavesharedthefateofthetwoHousesofParliament. Theletterwentontorecommend thatalltheparishenginesshouldbeplacedunderthecontrol oftheCommissioners ofPolice, however, theGovernment didnotfeelitshouldbecomedirectly involved in firefighting andrepliedto thecompany’s letterto thiseffect. ThislefttheL.FE.E. andalltheprovincial firebrigades withoutanyofficial standing whichdid,onoccasion, leadto difficulties, asforexample in 1849whenanactionfortrespass wasbroughtagainstsomeofthe L.FE.E.firemenwhoenteredahouseinStGeorge’s StreetEastwhichwasinimminent danger froma nearby fire. Theexpenses incurredinfightingthiscasecosttheEstablishment £'438. Duringthe Chartistriots whichbrokeout at intervalsin the 1840sthe insurance companieshad to usetheirfiremento protecttheirfirestationsand fire enginesfrom rioterswith no help fromthe militia.However,the Governmenthad no hesitationin callingonBraidwood to giveadviceonpotentialfirerisksandhowto reducethemin such Government propertyastheNavalDockyards, andin 1845Braidwood agreedto inspectthe firefighting facilities attheBritishMuseumannuallyandpresenta reportto thetrustees; and gaveadviceconcerningthe firerisksforthe GreatExhibitionof 1851,the CrystalPalace in 1853,and manyothersuchevents.Firemenof the L.FE.E.werepresentat St Paul’s CathedralwhenstandswereerectedfortheDukeofWellington’s funeralin 1852,andwere thereagainwhentheyweredismantled. In 1857thePrussianAmbassador gavea ballat the Embassy in CarltonTerracewhichhe expectedwouldbe attendedbyQueenVictoriaand requestedthatsixfiremenbe on dutyat theball,andtheL.RE.E.complied. TheL.FE.E.becamethemostefficient brigadeinBritain,however, thingsdidnotalways go smoothly duetofactorsbeyondtheircontrol,asforexampleatafireon 10January1838atthe RoyalExchange. Thishadbeenbuiltin 1666aftertheoriginalbuildinghadbeendestroyed in the GreatFireof London,andhadbeenenlargedandimprovedin 1760.Thefirebroke

outonabitterly coldandfrostynight,andsoonBraidwood arrived witheightfireengines andsixty-three men.Thefireplugswerefrozenandgreatdifficulty wasexperienced bythe

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firemenin openingthem.Whenaccesswasfinallygainedto the watersupplythe engines beganpumping, butsoonthewaterinsidethecisternsfrozeandtheycouldnolongerbeused, sothefireburntunchecked andthebuildingwastotallydestroyed. TheRoyalExchangehad a largeclockwhichplayedtwelvedifferenttunes,andcontemporary writersdescribehow theheatofthefirecausedthemechanism tojamsothatit playedthetune“There’s naeluck aboutthehouse’overandoveruntiltheclocktowercollapsed. Otherimportantlossesoccurredin the nineteenthcentury,asforinstancein 1841when partof the collectionof armsandarmourat theTowerof Londonwasdestroyed by fire, withthelossof over2,000items.In 1853a fireoccurredatWindsorCastleandBraidwood chartereda specialtrainto sendenginesandfiremento fightthefire.Following thisa letter wassenttotheCommitteeoftheL.EE.E.onbehalfofQueenVictoriawithachequefor£/50

tobedistributed amongst thefiremen, ‘asamarkofHerMajesty’s approval oftheirconduct onthatoccasion. Duringthecourseofitsexistence therunningcostsoftheL.RE.E. becameevergreater.In 1833theywereestimated at£7,700,butby 1843theyhadrisento £11,904andwereshared

among seventeen companies proportionally: Alliance Assurance Company

AtlasAssurance Company GlobeInsurance Company GuardianFire&LifeAssurance Company Handin HandFireOffice ImperialFireInsurance Company

Licensed Victuallers Fire&LifeInsurance Company

£610

£400 £,050 £550 £438 £800

£400

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Insurance FireBrigades 1680-1929

LondonAssurance Corporation NorwichUnionFireInsurance Society PhoenixAssurance Company Protestant Dissenters &GeneralAssurance Company RoyalExchange Assurance ScottishUnionInsurance Company SunFireOffice Sun(onbehalfoftheBritishFireOffice) UnionInsurance Company Westminster Insurance Company

£450 £350 £1,675 £400 £1,015 £200 £2,406 £200 £,570 £790

The costsof runningthe brigadecontinuedto rise,and by 1850had reached£14,030, increasing to£25,104by 1864. AstimewentonBraidwood becamea well-known figure,not onlywithinfirebrigadecirclesin Londonandelsewhere, butalsoto thegeneralpublic. Hemarriedin 1838andtheL.EE.E. Committee presented himwithapieceofsilver“asa mark oftheregardofthisCommittee forMr.Braidwood, theirSuperintendent, andtheiropinionof hisvaluable services.” He was,according to contemporary descriptions, a gentleman anddeeply

committed Christian, totally dedicated totheartoffirefighting, withfewoutside interests beyond

visiting andassisting theraggedschools in London. Bythe1840s hewassufficiently wellknown to warranta burlesque verse,TheFireDemon, whichwaspublished in themagazine Town and concerned thevillainous FireKing,whichwaslatertoprovetragically prophetic: ‘Tl do for thatBraidwood’, then saidhe,

‘Andthewholeofthebrigadier brood.

I'll makethemrespectmydignity, Aseveryfiremanshould. Ill settheThameson fire,andsee

Ifhebilksmeoutofmyfood’ ThenawayhetooledtoTooleyStreet, Andselected a warehouse ofoil. TheThamesalloverwasin a flame,

Aswithlightedoil’twasrunning.

Tosavethe craftwaseachone’saim;

Buthiscraftexceeded theircunning: AndtheFireKinglaughedwhenhefoundhecouldtame TheFireBrigade withhisfunning. In 1850J.R.Planchein hismusicalKingCharming givesoneofthecharacters thelines: Myheart’s onfire—notalltheFireBrigade could subduetheflames, tho’ledbyMisterBraidwood. Braidwoodwasloyaland protectiveto his men,regularlyvisitingthe fire stationsand encouragingthe firemenin both their work and their hobbies,whichinspiredloyalty anddevotiontowardshim,andhe attendeddemonstrations of newfireenginesandother equipment, alwaysseekingto improvetheapparatus available to hismen. Thefirstpriorityoftheinsurance brigadeshadbeenonthesavingofproperty, butasmore andmorefiresoccurredin a rapidlyexpandingLondon,peoplebeganto worryaboutthe ever-increasing numberofliveslost. In 1828a FireEscapeSocietywassetup specifically to rescuepeoplefromfire,but this receivedlittlesupport.In 1836a better-organised institution, The RoyalSocietyfor the ProtectionofLifefromFire,wasfounded,fundedentirelybyvoluntarycontributions, which

Working Together

173

startedwithan incomeof £800 andsixescapestationsmannedat night,the escapeladder beingpushedto thefirebytheConductor. By 1850it maintainedeighty-fiveescapestationsand 100staff,andhad an incomeof £10,000ayear.BetweentheL.FE.E.and theR.S.P.L.E, Londonwasapparently wellprotected, butBraidwood andtheinsurance companies werebecomingincreasingly concernedwithfire risksof industrialpremisesandthe largeriversidewarehouses filledwitha greatvarietyof

highly flammable materials. Duringthe1850s a numberoflargefirescaused theinsurance companies greatunease regarding theirresponsibility formaintaining themainLondonfirefighting force,andthis

cameto a headin 1861.It wason Saturday 2June1861thata firebrokeoutin a warehouse occupiedbyJ.H.& G.Scovellon Cotton’s Wharf,TooleyStreet,Southwark, a roadrunning parallelto the southernbankof theThames.Formanyyearsthe riversidewarehouses had

worried Braidwood because oftheircloseproximity toeachother,andtheirhighly flammable contents, althoughbuiltattheriver’sedgetheirquaysweresft(1.52m) abovetheriverathigh tideandupto 25ft(7.62m)abovethewateratlowtide. Whilethethree-to five-storey warehouses wereconstructed ofbrick,theyhadbeenbuilt at differenttimeswithlotsof additions,althoughby thisdatemostwerefittedwithiron fire-resisting doors.ThatparticularSaturdayhadbeena hot sunnydaywitha gentlewest-

north-west breeze, andtheheathadbuiltupinthewarehouses. At4.30p.m.James England, adelivery foreman, wasonthesecond floorofScovell’s newlyextended warehouse whenhe sawsmokecomingfromabaleofjutewhichhadspontaneously combusted. Hegotabucket ofwaterandthrewit onthefirebeforerunningto findMrDoyle,thewharfsuperintendent, who wentto examinethe firebut,misunderstanding England’s instructions, wentto the wrongfloorandcouldnotfindit.MrDoylereturnedto theyard,sawsmokecomingfrom

awarehouse window andsenta messenger tothefirestation inTooley Street.

Anengraving ofJames Braidwood, Superintendent oftheLondonFireEngine Establishment,who became

a popularandwell-known figurein London.

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InsuranceFireBrigades1680—1929

Ceremonial axe(88cm long)witha mahogany handlewhichbelonged toJamesBraidwood.

A firemanoftheLondonFire EngineEstablishment wearinga

morestreamlined jacketthanhis

predecessor wouldhaveworn twentyyearsearlier.c.1855—60.

Withina fewminutesflamesbeganto appear,andat4.45p.m.afireenginefromtheTooley

StreetFireStation arrived, followed fiveminutes laterbyanenginefromtheWatling Street Headquarters oftheL.RE.E. withMrBraidwood accompanying it.Bythistimethefire

hadspreadto adjoiningbuildings sincethefire-resisting doorshadbeenleftopenbyfleeing employees, andBraidwood immediately realisedthe seriousness of the situation,so ordered a largeproportionof the L.FE.E’sfireenginesto attend.At thisdatethe Establishment

consisted offourforemen, twelveengineers, tensub-engineers, forty-seven seniorfiremen,

forty-threejuniorfiremenandfifteendrivers,andwasequippedwithone landsteamfire

Working Together

Auniformed conductor oftheRoyalSociety fortheProtection ofLifefromFirewithhis escape ladder. Founded in1836, andfunded byvoluntary contributions, theysaved many lives, something thatwasnotapriority fortheinsurance brigades.

175

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Insurance FireBrigades 1680-1929

engine(ontrial),twenty-seven largehorse-drawn manualengines, eighthand-drawn engines andtwofirefloats.Themainswateravailable inTooleyStreetwaslimited,andwatercould onlybe obtainedfromtheriverbybringingashorelinesfromthefloatingfireengines,asit waslowtide. Thebuildings on firecontaineda largenumberofflammable goodsamongstwhichwere cotton,hemp,jute, sulphur,oil,paint,saltpetre,chicory,variousspirits,butter,lardand tea.By

a fewminutespast6 p.m.threewharfswereon fire,whiletallowandoilflowedoutof the warehouses andfloatedontheThames.Fouryoungmentookouta boatto scoopuptallow fromthesurfaceofthewaterin frontofHay’s Wharf,buttheanimalfat,usedin themaking of candles,suddenlyignitedandsettheThameson firedestroying the boatandkillingits occupants. AlfredTozer,Braidwood’schief clerk,but still a servingfireman,was on the roof of a

warehouse directing ajet ofwateroveradjoining roofswhenat7.15p.m.anexplosion cut offhisretreat bystaircase. Hetherefore tiedthenozzle endofhishosetoa secure partofthe

buildingandsliddownit to thesafetyoftheground.By7.30p.m.theheathadbecomeso intensethatthepainton thefloatingfireenginesbeganto blisterandthehandsandfacesof themenaboardwerescorched, sooneofthefiremenranupto Braidwood to tellhimofthis andaskforinstructions. Braidwood decidedtowalkdowntotheriverbetweenthewarehouses to lookatthepositionofthefirefloats. Thishe did,accompanied bytwofiremen,WilliamMetcalfandJamesSargeant, alongwith Mr E.R. Cutler of the WestminsterInsuranceOfficeand Mr Scott,a leathertrader.On the

wayBraidwood stoppedto speakto someof hismenovercome by smokeandtiedup the handofPoliceInspector May,whichwasbleeding, withhisownneckerchief. Braidwood then

continued onhisway, buta fewseconds latera wallofa warehouse bulgedoutwards anda section ofbrickwork measuring 80ft(24.3m) by4oft(12.2m) fell,burying him.Hewaskilled

instantly, sofulfilling theprophecymadebytheFireKingin theversepublished sometwenty yearsearlier(seep.172). NewsofBraidwood’s deathsoonspreadamongthefiremen, whowere already disheartened bythesheersizeofthefire,andnowdespaired ofbringingitundercontrol. The firemenstruggledon withthe helpof hundredsof exhausted volunteerpumpers,but lackedoveralldirectionasnosecondin command to Braidwood hadeverbeenappointed.

By10p.m.thewholeareaofTooley StreetfromStOlave’s Churchto Hay’s Wharfwas

on fireandallthefiremencoulddowasto tryandstopthefirespreading, andbynowthe L.FE.E’sfireengineswerereinforcedby thosefromvariousparishes,two steamengines fromHodgesDistillery, andfloatingenginesfromtheStKatherine’s andtheLondonDocks, withanotherfromthe dockyards at Deptford. Thousands of peoplewatchedthe firefrom the oppositebank,LondonBridgeandeven,despitetheburningtallow,fromboatson the river. Justbeforemidnightthe‘fire-proof’ warehouses on Hay’s Wharfignitedaddinggreatlyto thesizeoftheconflagration, andin withdrawing thebrigadelosta fireenginewhichslipped ontallowandfellintoa dock.AllthroughSundaythefirecontinuedto burnwithenormous

clouds ofblacksmoke whichcouldbeseenfromagreatdistance, whileatnighttheglowof theflames wasvisible fromatleast20miles(32km) away. Bygoodfortune therewasnowind

andthefirewasconfinedto thesouthsideofTooleyStreet. Attempts torecoverBraidwood’s bodyonthatSundayfailedasadjacentcellarswereblazing furiously withburningoil,andit wasnotuntil5p.m.onMonday24JunewhenAlfredTozer anda groupoffiremenfoundBraidwood’s body,whichwasnotburntasit hadlainunder

suchathicklayerofbricks.

The fire,the largestin London since the Great Fire of 1666,continued to burn for the

nextfortnightandwasnot completely extinguished until22July.Nearly11acres(4.s5ha) wereinvolvedandfourwharfsandtwelvewarehouses werecompletely destroyed, whilea

largepartofTooley Streetwithitsshops, offices, shipchandlers andprivate houses wasalso in ruins,alongwithSt Olave’s Church,witha numberofboatsdestroyed or damaged. The

Working Together

Right:TheTooleyStreetfireof

1861 involved manyoftheriverside warehouses. Below: Hugecrowdsturnedup to

watchtheprogress oftheTooley

Streetfirefromthebridgesandthe riverside.

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Insurance FireBrigades 1680—1929

fireconsumedmorethan1,000tonsofhemp,3,000tonsofsugar,500tonsofsaltpetre, 5,000 tons of rice, 18,000bales of cotton, 10,000barrelsof tallow,1,100tons of jute and huge

quantities ofbacon,spices,teaandothermerchandise. Braidwood’s deathstunnedeveryoneinLondon,andmanypeoplerealisedthevalueofthe workdonebythisquiet,unassuming manwhohaddiedinthecourseofhisduty.Hehadbeen ahighlycompetentchieffireofficerwhohadbeenfirmandinsistedonstrictdiscipline being maintained amonghismen,butwhohadalsobeenregardedasfairandkind.QueenVictoria senta personalmessage ofcondolence to MrsBraidwood, anda publicfundwassentup for hiswidow,buttheinsurancecompanies feltthattheyshouldundertakethis,andaccordingly provided£7,000to setupa trustfundforthebenefitofhiswifeandfamily. Thepublicfund wenttowardsmaintaining twoofhiselderlysisterswhomhe hadalwayssupported. MrsCraik,a well-knownauthoressat the time,composeda funeralode,whileobituary cardsbearingBraidwood’s portraitwereon salein everyLondonstationer’s shop.One examplereads: InMemoryof Mr.JamesBraidwood,

Superintendent oftheLondonFireBrigade wholosthislifeattheGreatFireinTooleySt.,

June 22nd,1861, in his61styear.

He diedat the postof duty;andwhetherit wasthe battlefield,or at the headof the fire-

brigade, theholiestplaceonearthonwhichtoliveordiewasatthepostofhisduty. The funeralprocession, heldon 29June,was1%miles(2.4km)longandwasledby Mrs Braidwood andmembersofthefamily, thechairmanoftheLondonFireEngineEstablishment Committee,and the Duke of Sutherlandand Earl of Caithness,both keen volunteer

firefighters andclosefriends ofBraidwood. Therestoftheprocession contained almost all

Manyoftheshops, offices andhouses inTooley Streetitselfweredestroyed bythisdisastrous fire.

Working Together

A memorialtoJamesBraidwood, setup bytheMetropolitan Policeon a rebuilt

warehouse inTooley Streetnearthespot wherehewaskilled.

179

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InsuranceFireBrigades1680—1929

thefiremenoftheL.FE.E.,400membersofthecitypolice,700policemen fromotherforces, representatives of manyprovincial, privateandvolunteerfirebrigades,representatives of all thewatercompanies, 700menoftheLondonRifleBrigade(inwhichthreeofBraidwood’s sonsserved)andthebandoftheRoyalSocietyfortheProtectionofLifefromFire,withthe society’s secretaryanda numberof escapeconductors. Manythousandsofpeoplelinedthe routeoftheprocession. Thebellsofeverycitychurchrangoutslowlyastheprocession took place,manyshopsclosedfortheday,andlargecrowdslinedtheroutetoAbneyParkCemetery, StokeNewington, wherehewasburied. Lettersofcondolence camefromallpartsoftheworld.AtypicalexamplewasthatfromMr T.J.Brown,superintendent oftheSydneyfirebrigadeinAustralia, dated22August1861: Onreceiptofthesadnews,ourlargefire-bell wastolled,theBritishensignhoistedhalf-mast high,andcrepeattached tothefiremen’s uniform, asatokenofrespect foroneofthenoblest andmostself-denying menthateverlived,whospentandlosthislifein theserviceofhis fellow-creatures. The Southwarkdivisionof the MetropolitanPoliceerecteda memorialto him which wasplacedon the rebuiltwarehousecloseto the spotwherehe fellso thathe wouldbe remembered. However, hislegacywasto liveon in theformofthemodernfirebrigadethat he devisedin histhirty-seven yearsasa firefighter.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

THELONDONFIREENGINE ESTABLISHMENT 1861-1865

OnceJamesBraidwood wasburiedtheinsurancecompanies beganto calculatehowmuch theTooleyStreetfirewasgoingto costthem.The lossamountedto overtwo million pounds,andit wasrumouredthatsomeofthe insurancecompanies wouldnotbe ableto

payout,butin theeventalldidsoandsurvived. However, almostimmediately theSun

FireOffice,RoyalExchangeAssurance, GlobeInsuranceCompany,ImperialInsurance CompanyandRoyalInsuranceCompany,who hadbornemostof the loss,raisedtheir premiumsformerchandise storedin the riversidedistrictsbybetween50andwellover 100per cent,dependingon howhazardoustheythoughtthe risk.Thisnaturallyupset the ownersof thewarehouses whocalleda meetingon 25July1861to discussthishuge increasein premiums. The InsuranceCompanieswererepresentedat thismeetingbythe Secretaryof the Globewhopointedout thatforten yearspastmercantileinsurancehad notbeenprofitable, andthe companieswouldreducetheirpremiumswhenthebuilding regulations concerningwarehouses werefullycompliedwith,andwhenlimitsforthesize ofwarehousing wereintroduced,alongwithclearclassification ofthehazardsofdifferent typesofgoods. Aftermuchdiscussion the companies agreedto reducetheirpremiumsslightly, but this didnot satisfythe warehouse ownersandmerchants, whosuggested thattheyshouldstart theirowncompanies. Twoinsurancecompanies specialising in mercantileinsurancewere setup,oneofwhichonlylastedfora year,buttheother,theCommercial UnionAssurance Company, survived, andtodayformspartofNorwichUnionGroupofAvivaInsurance. The insurancecompanies hadto considerwhowasto replaceBraidwood asthe superintendent of the LondonFireEngineEstablishment, sincehe hadrun it fortwenty-eight years;they recognised thatit wasgoingtobedifficult tofindasuccessor. OntwodaysinAugust1861the CommitteeoftheL.FE.E.placedanadvertisement in TheTimesaskingforapplications but gotnoresponse —nottoosurprising sincethewordingsuggested itwasjusttobeatemporary appointment. However, beforetheadvertisement hadbeenplacedthecommittee hadbeencontactedby twomenwhosaidtheywerewillingto takeon thejob:Mr G.H.Birkbeck, a civilengineer fromLondon,andCaptainEyreMassey Shaw, superintendent ofpoliceandchiefofficerofthe

Belfast FireBrigade, sotheycalled themforinterview. Birkbeck demanded anannual salary of

£500,buttheL.EE.E.Committee wasonlypreparedtopay£400,andsotheychoseCaptain Shawwhosaidhewouldbehappyto acceptthelowersalary. However, amonthafterhetook uptheappointment, on 15September 1861, hemanaged to persuadethecommittee notonly to raisehissalaryby£100a year,but to backdateit to the timeofhisappointment! Shaw hadoriginally beendestinedfora lifein holyorders,andwenttoTrinityCollege,Dublin, butleftbeforecompleting thecourse.AfterspendingsometimeinAmericahe returnedto

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InsuranceFire Brigades1680—1929

Irelandwherehisfamilyobtaineda commission forhimintheNorthCorkRiflesin 1854, and withinthreeyearshehadrisento therankofcaptain.Hisregimentwasduetobe disbanded in February1860,bywhichtimeShawwasmarriedwiththreechildrenwitha fourthonthe way,sohewaslookingaroundfora suitableoccupation. Followinga disastrousfirein Belfastin 1859,at whichthe firebrigadeseemto have beenquiteincompetent,the citycouncildecidedto combinethe postof headof the policeforceand chiefof the firebrigade,and advertisedthis newpositionat a salary of £300 poundsa year.The successful applicantalsohad to supervisethe sanitaryand licensingdepartments ofthecity.Shawappliedforthejob,wasshortlisted,andeventually wasgiventhejob despitehisobviouslackofbothknowledgeandexperience. Theother forty-ninecandidates presumably didnotmakesucha goodimpression, andit wasShaw’s militaryexperiencethat impressedthe council,as theyconsideredit essentialto instil

somediscipline inthefirebrigadeandmaintain it inthepoliceforce.Onceinchargeof

thefirebrigadehe decidedto readup on the subjectoffirefighting sohe couldbeginto trainthe brigade,but foundthatthe onlypublishedworkon thiswasBraidwood’s book TheConstruction ofFireEnginesandApparatus, theTraining ofFiremenandtheMethodof Proceeding in CasesofFire,publishedin 1830,sohe hadto teachhimselfashe wentalong.

Hemademistakes, butwithhisabilitytolearnfromthemanda certainamountofluck, hebuiltupthebrigadebybuyinganotherthreefireenginestobringthetotalavailable to histwenty-twofiremento seven. It wasjust fifteenmonthsafterbecomingheadof the BelfastFireBrigadethathe was appointed bytheCommittee oftheL.FE.E.to fillBraidwood’s positionasheadofthelargest

andmostimportant firebrigade inBritain. Onhisfirstdayofduty,almost withinminutes of sitting downathisdeskintheWatling StreetHeadquarters oftheL.EE.E., analarmwasgiven

thata firehadbrokenoutat StKatherine’s Docks,justto theeastoftheTowerofLondon, andwithmemoriesoftheTooleyStreetfirefreshin everyone’s mind,Shawcalledupallthe fireenginesin the vicinityto go to the scene.Thiswasquicklycontained, but the damage costthe insurancecompanies a lossof £200,000and,not surprisingly, a certainamountof criticismwasaimedat Shawandhisbrigade,buthewaswellableto dealwithhisdetractors

andgotonwiththebusiness ofunderstanding allaspects ofhisnewjob,getting toknowhis

menandmodernising theL.RE.E. LikeBraidwood, thenewheadofthisLondonbrigadewas apractical firemanaswellasa goodtheoretician, andwasnotafraidto takehisplacealongside hismen. Shawwasverymuch in favourof steamfireengines,and wasableto persuadethe insurancecompaniesto buysometo addto the fewtheyalreadyhad,whichbeganthe

gradual replacement oftheoldmanualengines. Toimprove communications hehadthe

telegraphinstalledbetweenhis headquartersand the fire stations,and withina short timeShaw,whohadbecomea firemanalmostby accident,wasto representthe L.FE.E. beforea Parliamentary SelectCommittee.In 1833,the yearof itsformation,the L.FE.E. hadbeencalledout to $92fires,whichby 1850had increasedto 1,038.Eachyearsaw increasingincidents,sothatin 1863theyattended1,404fires,plus139chimneyfiresand turnedout to eighty-onefalsealarms.AftertheTooleyStreetfire,the largestsincethe GreatFireofLondon,theinsurancecompanies receiveda lotofcriticismonthewaytheir brigadehadhandledthesituation,andthis,coupledwiththehugecostoftheloss,finally convincedthemthattheyshouldno longerbe responsible forthebulkof firefighting in London.Overten yearsearlierSamuelBrownhadsaid,in describingthe LondonFire EngineEstablishment: Theskillandintrepidity ofthechiefandtheexertions ofthemenhavepreserved thisgreat cityfromcalamities, whichissucha massofbuildings, occupied bymanyhazardous trades, insomecasesfullofcombustible materials, andinsomepartsofthecityexposed fromage andnatureofconstruction to themostfearfulconflagration, ifa fireoncebegins, it ismost

TheLondon FireEngineEstablishment 1861-1865

EyreMassey Shaw, Superintendent oftheLondon FireEngine Establishment from1861-65, andChief FireOfficer oftheMetropolitan FireBrigade from1866-91. Heisseenhereintheuniform ofthe Metropolitan FireBrigade.

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Insurance FireBrigades 1680—1929

surprising thatweshouldsolongcontinueto escape. It isstillmorecreditable thatsucha bodyofmen,soorganised, sodevoted tothepublicservice, sozealous andintelligent, should bepaidandsupported, not,asin othercountries, bytheGovernment forthegoodofthe State,whichit undoubtedly is,butbythecombined efforts, thewealthandthepublicspirit oftheprivatecompanies. Thesecouldnothavebeenblamediftheyhadleftthepublicto thetendermercies ofthe Government protection. Theirpeculiarbusiness wasnot to diminish, but to indemnify against loss;andiftherisksweregreater, thepublicmusthavepaidanadequate premium. Buthappily theyhavetakena noblerviewoftheirresponsibilities, andtheestablishment of theirvaluable brigadehastendedasmuchto theserviceofhumanity asto theinterests of thecompanies themselves. It is at thesametimea standingreproofto the Government of thiscountrythatthe protection whichweowefromtheravages offireisduetothemerecasualness ofprivate enterprise, andif anycausetendedto disunionof the companies, or if the effectof competition ledthosewhoareoldestablished to thinktheforcetoocostlyto maintain forthebenefitofthefew,a Citywithtwomillionsofinhabitants wouldbeleftto the notoriousinefficiency ofparishengines, orthedesultory effortsofindividuals impeding eachother. Asub-committee oftheL.RE.E.Committeewassetupin 1861to considertheirposition in relationto firefighting in Londonandthe responsibilities whichtheyhadundertaken for manyyears.In February1862representations weremadeto Sir GeorgeGrey,the HomeSecretary, makinga numberof points,suchasthe factthat no othermajorcity in Europeor Americareliedon privatefirebrigadesfor its protection,that manyUK

municipal authorities nowranbrigades paidforoutoftheratesandhaddonesofor

someyears,andthatthe insurancecompanieshadassumedresponsibility forfirefighting without chargeand without receivingany contributionsfrom the Governmentor localauthorities.The companieshad thereforedecidedto disbandthe L.FE.E.,but werewillingto handoveralltheirfirestations,fireenginesandotherequipmentto any authoritythe Governmentmightappointto takeoverthe responsibility forfirefighting in London. The subjectwasraisedin the Houseof Commonsanda SelectCommitteewasformed to lookintotheexistinglegislation andarrangements fortheprotectionoflifeandproperty in the metropolis. The insurancecompanies agreedthattheywouldcontinueto run the L.FE.E.untilthe SelectCommitteereportedand somenew arrangements put in place regardingfirefighting in London—but hintedthatthishadbetternot taketoo long.The

SelectCommittee consisted offifteen members headed byThomas Hankey, MP,andhadits

firstsittingon 25February1862.It wentat an exceptionally fastpacefora Parliamentary Committee, andby 1Apriltheyhadfinishedhearingtheevidence, andproducedtheirreport on 8 May.Forty-twowitnessesappearedbeforethe committeeincludingCaptainShaw, the LordMayorofLondon,the commissioner ofpolice,thechieffireofficersof Liverpool, Manchester andGlasgow, alongwithrepresentatives oftheLondonBoardofWorks, insurance companies, parochial authorities, watercompanies, Londonratepayers andpeoplewithvarious commercial interests. Whatquicklyemergedwasthatthe mainlegislation concerningfirefighting in London wasanactpassedin 1772(12Geo. III. c.73),whichwasbasically thesameastheActsof 1707 (6Annec.58)and1708(7Annec.17),withminoramendments, andmainlyconcernedthe provision ofparishfireengines, keepingthemmaintained andgivingawardsto thefirstthree fireenginesat thesceneofa fire.Theacthadnotbeenverywellenforced, andequipment providedby the localauthoritieswasancient,badlymaintained andtheirmainreasonfor rushingto a firewasto claima reward. Thepolicehadno powerto enforcetheAct,anda surveyofLondonparishesshowedthat106possessed fireengines,but 104didnot,andthe

TheLondon FireEngineEstablishment 1861-1865

185

generalopinionwasthatatlargefirestheygotin theway,andat smallfirestheirattendance wasunnecessary. Thecommittee heardofparishenginesinthechargeofveryoldmen,ofenginesthatwere not capableof pumping,of an enginein oneparishthatno oneknewhowto use,while anotherparishhadsolditsfireengine!Becausetheparishenginesweresouselessthepublic hadgotintothe habitof sendingforthe L.FE.E.andtotallyignoringthe parishengines. Therewere,however, a fewexceptions amongthelargerparishes, andCaptainShawhimself

listedsixteen whichheconsidered hadefficient firefighting provisions, thetwobestbeing

Marylebone andHackney. Thelatterhadfivefireenginesandemployed a full-timeengineer anddeputywhohadbothservedsixyearsin theL.FE.E.,andtheparishspent£400a year ontheirbrigade,regularly drillingitspart-timefiremen. Thebuilding regulations inLondonwereconsidered tobeinadequate andwereoftenevaded orsimplyignored. Thedocksareawasexemptfrommanyoftheregulations anyway, andlarge warehouses nearSt Paul’sCathedralwerenot classedaswarehouses undera technicality of theLondonBuilding Act.TheSelectCommitteealsoconsidered thestrengthoftheL.RE.E. which,at that time,consistedof 127full-timefiremenwith fiftyhorsesand thirty-sevenlarge

engines.Sinceitsinceptionit hadonlyincreased thenumbersofitsfiremenbyforty,despite themassive expansion inboththesizeofLondonanditspopulation, andit wasestimated that ifLondonhadthesamesizebrigadeasManchester, prorata,it wouldrequire500men. The insurancecompanies admittedthatforthe mostparttheirbrigadeoperatedwithin a 3-mile(4.8km)radiusof the RoyalExchange, sincemostof the expensive andhigh-risk propertywassituatedin thatarea.The expensesof the L.FE.E.reducedthe profitsof the insurance companies and,althoughtheywouldputoutallfires,astheyhadalways done,they

treatedthenon-insured properties ortheproperties insured incompanies notcontributing

to the L.FE.E.differently oncethe firewasextinguished. Aftera firea fewmenwereleft in chargeofthepremises to ensurethatthefiredidnotbreakoutagainandto protectany salvageable goods,butif thepropertywasinsuredin a non-contributing company, theydid notdothisandtreatedthepropertyasifit wasuninsured. The mostrecentfiguresforthe L.EE.E.showedit cost£25,000a yearto run,andthe companies agreedthatmorewasreallyneededtobespentonthebrigade,andthatit wastoo smallforthe areait hadto cover.Not withstanding this,everyoneagreedthatthe L.FE.E. wasa highlyefficientbodyofmenwhohaddonea verygoodjob formanyyears.Among therepresentatives oftheinsurance companies theSelectCommitteecalledbeforethemwas JohnDrummond, ManagingDirectorof the SunFireOfficeandchairmanof the L.FE.E. Committee. Hesaidthattheprotectionofpropertyandlivesfromfireinlarge,moderntowns andcitiesshouldbe the responsibility of the municipalgovernment, but then,somewhat surprisingly, wenton to saythathe personally wasnot anxiousto seeanyalterationin the presentsystem. He agreedthatit wasverymuchin the interestof the insurancecompanies to run fire brigades, but thoughtthatthe publicshoulddo somethingto helpitselfin the matterof firefighting. Despitehispersonalmisgivings, it wasthe viewof hiscommitteethatthe fire brigadeshouldbe run by the municipality. However, if the publiccouldraisethe sumof £10,000a yeartowardsrunningthe L.FE.E.the insurancecompanies mightcontinueto maintainit. Alternatively the companieswouldbe willingto subscribemoney,in some reasonable proportion, if a publicfirebrigadeweresetup.WhenMr Drummondwasasked why,aftermorethan 150years,the companiessuddenlywishedto be relievedof their responsibility forfirefighting in London,he citedthecontinually risingcostsofrunningthe brigade,andstatedthatthedeathofBraidwood wasthelaststraw: Wewerethenlikeashipatseawithoutanybody tolayholdoftherudder;hehadperformed thesedutiessolongandsowell,thatwereallythoughtit impossible toreplace him.

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WilliamBrowne,secretaryof the L.FE.E.,put it to the SelectCommitteethat the principleoffireprotectionshouldbe no differentfromthesystembywhichpropertywas

insuredagainst theft,andthatit wouldbegrossly unfairif,asproposed byonemember

of the SelectCommittee,Parliamentshouldforcethe insurancecompaniesto maintain moreenginesandemployadditionalfiremento covera widerareaof London.Why,he wenton,shouldthe insurancecompaniesbe askedto bearthe wholecostsof protecting London,althoughasMr Drummondhadsaid,theywerepreparedto contributetowards a brigade? Thesecretary oftheGlobeInsurance Company, William Newmarch, camebeforetheSelect Committeeanddidnot mincehiswordsin puttingforwardthe attitudeof the insurance companies. He statedthatthe insurancecompanies didnot havethe slightestobligationto maintaina firebrigade,andthatthepublicshouldbe gratefulthattheyhaddonesoforso long.Hemadethepointthatit wasno morethebusiness ofthefireinsurance companies to runa firebrigadethanit wasthedutyofa lifeinsurance companyto maintainphysicians or sendpeopleto Madeirato convalesce! He thenwenton to statethattherequirements and responsibilities ofrunninga firebrigadein Londonhadbecomesogreat,thatit wastotally beyondtheabilityofanyprivateorganisation to doso: especially whenI remindtheCommittee thattheLondonFireEngineEstablishment isa bodyofpersons altogether unknown to thelaw,whohavenocharter, noactofparliament, evenno deedof partnershipamongthemselves, who haveno powerto askthe servicesof

a singlepoliceman, whohavenopowerto asktheservices ofa singleturncock, andwho goaboutLondonputtingouteverybody’s fireandaskingnoquestions andaskingforno payment. Newmarch,nowverymuchin his stride,pointedout that onlyaboutone-thirdof the propertyinLondonwasinsured, butthatthesepolicyholders hadtobeartheexpenses ofafire brigadewhoalsoprotectedthetwo-thirds ofLondoners whowereuninsured. Heagreedthat it wasin theinterestsoftheinsurancecompanies to seethatfireswereextinguished, butin hindsight regarded it asamistaketo havesetuptheL.FE.E.,sincetheyhadendedupputting outeverybody’s firewithoutanyrightsorrecognition bythelaw,andthattheirpresencehad causedtheexistingactsconcerning firefighting tobeignored. Theinsurance companies were thereforequitedetermined to disbandtheLondonFireEngineEstablishment, butwouldnot actrashly, andwouldnotdosobeforesomebettersystemhadbeendevisedandintroduced. It wasnowup to the SelectCommitteeto try andbringtogetherthe L.FE.E.,the parish fireengineswiththeirequipmentandthevoluntaryRoyalSocietyfortheProtectionofLife fromFire,to forma bodywhichwouldfightfiresefficiently andsavelives;andthento find somemeansoffinancing it. Sir RichardMayne,commissioner of the MetropolitanPolice,thoughtthat the fire brigadeshouldformpartofhispoliceforce,sincehe didnot seethatthepreservation of lifeandpropertyfromfirewasanydifferentthanthe protectionof lifefrommurderers andpropertyfromthieves.Itwould,ofcourse,benecessary to provideadditionalmen,but he stillthoughtit wouldbe moreeconomicalthanan independentbody,andsuggested that it couldbe financedby the additionof a pennyon the policerate whichwould raise£56,000.Mr D.W.Harvey,the commissioner of the CityPoliceForce,agreedwith himandpointedout thata greatdealofco-operationalreadyexistedbetweenthepolice andthe firebrigade.The chiefconstableof Liverpool,whowasalsochiefofficerof the LiverpoolFireBrigade,thoughtthatthiswouldbe thebestsolution,andexplainedhow the LiverpoolPolice-FireBrigade,foundedin 1837,wasorganised.They had fifteen manualfireenginesandone steamfireengineto protecta populationof 475,000,and the yearlyrunningcostsamountedto £2,871,of which£350 wascontributedby the

insurance companies. Hesaidtherewasa considerable savingin wagesovera separate

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firebrigadebyusingpolicemen asfiremen, andthefirefundprovided wagesforthe superintendent in chargeandhisdeputy, with2sa weekto policemen whoalsoacted asfiremenwhenrequiredin additionto theirpolicewageof 25sa week.Outof a total

police force of 1,000,there were 155who also acted as firemen.

CaptainShawsawno objectionin principleto thenewbrigadebeingpartofthepolice force,butdoubtedthatthepoliceconstables ofLondoncouldbetrainedintobeingskilled

firemen, andpointedoutthatalthough inBelfast hehadbeenbothchiefconstable and chieffireofficer, theywereseparate organisations onlylinkedbyhavingthesameperson

in charge.Representatives of commercialinterestsandthe insurancecompaniesdoubted if a police-firebrigadewouldbe enoughon itsown,andthe insurancecompaniesstated that theywouldprobablyset up a salvagecorpsastheyhad donein Liverpool,sinceit wastheiropinionthat manynon-insurancefirebrigadescauseda lot of damageby the overzealous useof water. Therepresentatives oftheparishbrigadeswereagainsta police-fire brigadeastheyfeared thecostontherateswouldbetoohigh,andconsidered thatcombining thetwotypesofduty wouldimpairtheefficiency ofbothtypesofjob.Theythoughtthatthebrigadeshouldremain separate andthedutyofthepoliceata fireshouldbelimitedto thecontrolofcrowdsandthe protectionofpropertyfollowing fire.Mostofthosewhowereagainstapolice-fire brigadesaid it shouldbe theresponsibility oftheMetropolitan BoardofWorks,whichwasestablished in 1885to supervise allbuildingworkswithinthelimitsofitsjurisdiction. Itwasalsoresponsible forconstructing andmaintaining a newmaindrainagesystemon bothsidesoftheThames. It wasempowered to raiseloansforcarryingout publicworkssuchasthe construction of theThamesembankments, the repaymentand interestof whichwereguaranteedby the Government, andsecuredby a tax on allpropertyin the Metropolis. However,everyone agreedthattheinsurancecompanies shouldpaya contributionto thenewbrigade,possibly up to thevalueof £25,000perannum,the sumtheyhadspenton the L.FE.E.in the last financial year. The reportof the SelectCommitteewaspublishedon 8 May1862andtotallyrejected anynotionsof basinga new firefightingforceon the parochialauthorities,praisedthe efficiencyof the L.EE.E.and recommendedthat, whateverarrangementswere made for a new fire brigade,the men of the L.EE.E.shouldbe incorporatedinto it. They thereforemadethreerecommendations. 1.Thatthe brigadeshouldbe in the chargeof the Commissioners of Policeand formpart of the generalestablishment of the police. 2.Thatthe costsof thepoliceforceandthe firebrigadebe keptseparate.3.Thatthe area to be coveredby the newbrigadewouldbe the sameasthatof the MetropolitanBoard ofWorks,withthe optionto includeotherparishesif theywerewithintheMetropolitan policearea.Theymadenorecommendations abouttheRoyalSocietyfortheProtectionof LifefromFire,whichwaswhollyfundedbypublicsubscription andmaintaineda number ofwheeledfireescapesat variouspointsin andaroundLondon. Following the publication of the SelectCommittee’s report,CaptainShawwasaskedto workoutdetailsofa firebrigadewhichwouldcovertheMetropolitan BoardofWorksarea. Thiswasa largeundertaking astheL.FE.E.areacoveredabout10squaremiles(25.9sq.km), whiletheBoard’s areainvolved anareaof 117squaremiles(303sq.km). Shawdidalotofwork on this scheme,and when completesubmittedit to the Home Secretary.However,when Sir

GeorgeGreyrealisedthatthecostofShaw’s proposedfirebrigadewouldbe about£70,000 a year,he saidthattheGovernment couldnotpossibly payforsuchanextravagant plan,and thatShawmustdrawupa cheaperplan. Shawmodifiedthe plan,reducingthe numberof men,fire stationsand enginesto bringthe costdownto an estimated£52,000a year.He resubmittedthe planandwas toldthe Governmentwouldbe willingto acceptthisaslongasthe runningcostswere furtherreducedto £50,000per year,a sumthat wasto be raisedby a halfpennyrate,a Governmentgrantof £10,000andthe contributionsof the insurancecompanies.Shaw

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Horse-drawn salvagetendersoftheLondonSalvage Corps.,c.1905. TheCorpswassetup andrun by theLondoninsurancecompanies whentheLondonFireEngineEstablishment wasreplacedbythe Metropolitan FireBrigadein 1866.Itsrolewasto saveandsecureinsuredproperty, a dutyundertaken bytheinsurancecompanies sincetheseventeenth century.

wasnot happyat havingto plana firebrigadewith the firstprioritybeingits running costsratherthanthe mosteffectiveforceto protectthe area.However,he cameup with themodifiedplanwhichhadforty-threefirestationsin anareaboundedbyandincluding Hammersmith, Hampstead, Stoke Newington, Bow, Woolwich, Lewisham, Norwood,

TootingandWandsworth, whilethe numberof firemenwouldbe increasedfromthe 127 menof the L.FE.E.to 232. Aftermuchdiscussion the ideaof a police-firebrigadewasturneddown,sinceit was thoughtit wasgoingto costtoo muchandtherewouldbe problemswiththe twoLondon policeforces.If the Metropolitan policeranit theywouldwanta separatebrigaderun by the Citypolice,aseachdidnot havejurisdictionoutsidetheirrespective areasof operation. In the endit wasdecidedthattheMetropolitan BoardofWorkswouldtakecontrolof this newfirebrigadeandallthefirestations, fireengines,horsesandotherequipmentbelonging to the LondonFireEngineEstablishment, valuedat £30,000,wouldbe transferred to the BoardofWorks,whowouldalsotakeoveralltheliabilities forpensionspaidto ex-L.FE.E. firemen.The brigadewasto be in the chargeof a chieffireofficer,andregulations were devisedconcerningthe powersof thisofficerandthe dutiesof both the brigadeandthe policeduringa fire.Insurancecompanies whichinsuredpropertyin the areaof operations ofthenewbrigadewereto paya contribution assessed at£35 forevery£1 milliongrossof propertywhichtheyinsured,andif theinsurancecompanies setup a salvagecorps,thenit wouldreceivethefullco-operation ofthenewfirebrigade. Theinsurancecompanies’ contribution forthefirstyearwasestimated to be£12,000,less thanhalfthecostofrunningtheL.FE.E.Allthesediscussions andfinalising thedetailstook

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A motortenderoftheLondonSalvage Corps,c.1920, whichsavedandsecuredinsuredpropertyfrom itsestablishment in 1866untilit wasdisbanded in the 1980s.

threeyears,soit wasnotuntilJuly1865thatAnActfortheEstablishment ofa FireBrigadein theMetropolis waspassedbyparliament andbecamelaw.BeforetheL.FE.E.wasdisbanded, a letter,signedbyallthefiremen,wassentto theirCommitteeofManagement: 31stDecember1865. Gentlemen, We,the undersignedofficersand men of the LondonFireEngineEstablishment, desire,

beforequittingyourservices, to tenderto youoursincerethanksforthemanykindnesses andfavours wehavereceived atyourhandsduringourrespective periodsofemployment in yourEstablishment, andwetrustthatourconducthasgivensatisfaction. WeareGentlemen,

Yourobedient Servants. TheMetropolitan FireBrigadecameintobeingon 1January1866,so ending186yearsof firefighting byinsurance brigadesin London,butinsurance brigadeswerestillgoingstrong elsewhere in Britain.The insurancecompanies diddecideto setup a salvagecorpswhich alsocameintoexistenceon I January1866,andPeterSwanton, a long-serving firemanof theL.RE.E., wasmadeitschiefofficer.However, it immediately createda fewproblemsfor CaptainShaw,whowasappointedthefirstchieffireofficerofthenewbrigade,asmanyof thefiremenwantedto continuetoworkfortheinsurance companies, solefttheMetropolitan FireBrigadetojointhesalvage corps. The existenceof a London‘firerate’causedproblemsfor the RoyalSocietyfor the ProtectionofLifefromFiresincetheyfoundthatmanypeoplewerenowreluctantto give

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donationsto thisentirelyvoluntarysocietyand,aspartof the Metropolitan FireBrigade’s dutyincludedthesavingoflives,unliketheL.FE.E.,theSocietythoughtthebrigadeshould takeovertheirwheeledescapeladders.TheMetropolitan BoardofWorksdidnot haveany moneyto dothis,soinitiallydeclinedto takeovertheirequipment, butthepressure ofpublic opinionfinallyforcedthemto changetheirmind,andtheytookoverresponsibility forallthe escapeladderson 1July1867.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

THELASTDAYSOF THEINSURANCE BRIGADES

In 1833theinsurancecompanies in Londoncombinedtheirindividual brigadesto formthe LondonFireEngineEstablishment underonechiefofficer,Superintendent JamesBraidwood, whichmeantthattheycouldact togetherto fightfiresmoreefficiently andcheaplythan theyhaddonepreviously. Elsewhere in the countrythe situationregardingfirefighting was oftencomplex,varyinggreatlyfromone areato another,witha numberof differenttypes ofbrigadesoperatingwithvariousdegreesof efficiency. Therewasno nationalrequirement to providefireenginesandbrigadesin provincial cities,townsandvillages, andsuchlocal legislation as existedwasoftenantiquated, sometimesdatingbackto the earlyeighteenth century,beforethe industrialrevolutionhadcausedmanyvillagesto growintotownsand townsintocities,witha continually increasing population. This,alongwiththeestablishment ofmanyhazardous industries, onbothasmallandalargescale,changedmanyplacesdrastically, andin additiona hugeamountofcloselypackedhousingwasbuilt,withoutanythoughtof theconsequences shouldfirebreakout. Itwasnotuntil1835thattheMunicipal Corporations Actenabledmanyplacesto establish a properform of municipalgovernment.For examplethe townof Bradford, Yorkshire, wasin a largesheeprearingarea,andthe woollentradewasfirmlyestablished therein the eighteenthcentury,butit wasnot until1847thattheBradfordCorporationwasformedto takeoverfromthetowncommissioners theresponsibility forthetownwhich,bythatdate, hada populationof 70,000,andcontainedeightyworstedmills,200woolwarehouses and manyothersmallindustrialpremises. Thetownhada smallmunicipal brigadesetupin 1803, alongwithtwoinsurancebrigadesbelongingto theLeeds&Yorkshire InsuranceCompany, andtheHalifax,Bradford& KeighleyFireInsuranceCompany. Oneofthefirsttasksofthe newcorporationwasto setup aWatchCommitteewhodrewup regulations forboththe policeandthefirebrigadeifa fireshouldoccur,andalthoughthefirstpriorityofthepolice wasto summonthetownfireengine,theywerealsorequiredto sendnoticeto theinsurance brigades.In 1849the brigadewasreformed,andin 1854the firstfull-timesuperintendent wasappointed, perhapstheresultofoneoftheinsurancecompanies, theHalifax, Bradford& Keighley, beingsoldanddiscontinuing theirbrigade. Thelastremaininginsurancecompany brigadeceasedto operatein 1864when the Leeds&Yorkshireamalgamated with the Liverpool& London& GlobeInsuranceCompany. The townbrigadeboughta steamfire enginein 1867,makingit betterequippedthanthetwoinsurancebrigadeshadbeen. Manchester alsoformeda municipal brigadequiteearly,andby 1832thetownbrigadehad

become soefficient thattheinsurance companies, whichuptothattimehadmaintained fire

enginesthere,withdrewthem.Until1861the townbrigadeconsistedof part-timefiremen paida retainingfee,but in thatyeartheyappointedAlfredTozer,a seniorofficerfromthe L.FE.E.astheirfirstfull-timesuperintendent. Hisfirstsuggestion wasthatit wouldbemore

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efficientif therewerea smallernumberof full-timefiremenratherthana largenumberof part-timers. Ittookayearandafatalityinafiretoconvincetheauthorities, buttheyeventually appointeda full-timebrigadeconsisting of an assistant superintendent, threeengineersand

thirtyfiremen. Notalltownandcitybrigades wereefficient, evenwhengiventheassistance offireenginesfromothertypesofbrigades. ThecityofCambridge hada police-fire brigade, withfireenginesoperatedby the collegesandinsurancebrigades,but withoutanyonein overallcommandthesceneata firewasoftenchaotic,asisclearfroma newspaper accountof a firein 1849whichdestroyed twelvehousesin MarletHill: FireenginesoftheBorough, thevariousInsurance Officesandthosebelonging toTrinity andSt.John’sweresoonon thespot,butalas;thekeysof Hobson’s Conduitcouldnot be found.Thefinaldiscovery of the keysonlyincreased the prevailing excitement and confusion, forthefiremenweresoonvigourously squabbling overthelimitedsupplyofthe conduit.Matterswereimproved, however, bythenumberless bucketsandpailswhichwere literally showered uponthecrowds ofwillinghelpers, whosoonformedthemselves intolines to supplythetenenginesnowuponthescene,someoftheselinesextended downGarret HostelLaneasfarastheriver.ThehighhatswornbythePoliceafforded manytimesa mark forthefacetious youngmaninthechargeofthePhoenixengine,whoscoredseveral direct hitswiththewaterjet,muchtothemerriment oftheonlookers. Manyplaceswerereluctantto establishmunicipalbrigadessincetheythoughtthat the additionalcoston theirrateswouldbe too unpopular. Theinsurancecompanies themselves tendedto bolsterthislax attitudeto firefighting by localauthoritiesbecause,if adequate protectionwasnot providedby them,the companies wouldmakecontributions of money or equipmentto localvolunteerbrigadesor wouldsetup andmaintaintheirowncompany brigade.However, themaintenance ofa brigadebyaninsurancecompanywascloselylinked to the amount of businessthey had in an area,and it wasnot unknown that, if the amount

ofinsuredproperty felltoolow,theywoulddisband theirbrigade. TheRoyalExchange

Assurance hada FireCommitteewhichmonitoredthecosteffectiveness oftheirbrigades, and in 1826it recommended theclosureoftheirbrigadesatBristolandBirmingham, andoneof thetwobrigadeswhichtheymaintained inDublin,especially asothercompanies hadrecently established theirownbrigadesthere.By 1857the premiumincomefromDublinhadrisen to above£3,000perannum,andsothe committeefeltjustifiedin replacingtheremaining brigade’s forty-year-old fireenginewitha new,morepowerfulmachine. TheRoyalExchange alsodecidedthatthecostofmaintaining itstwofloatingfireengineson theThames,£429a year,wasnoteconomical, andsotheysoldthem. Inruralareas,wheretheamountofinsuredpropertywastoolowto encourage aninsurance companyto setup a firebrigade,the gapmightbe filledby otherprivatebrigades, suchas thosebelongingto largecountryestates, manyofwhichweresomedistancefromthenearest townor villagethathada firebrigade,sotheownerswouldoftensetup theirownandbuy a fireengine,andevenprovideuniformsforestatestaffwhoformedtheirbrigade.In a few casestheequipmentwassuppliedbythecompanythatinsuredtheproperty, whichwasoften ofconsiderable value,andtheestatebrigadewouldoftenattendanyfireswithinthevicinity of the estate.Manyownersof industrialpremisesalsosetup theirownworksbrigade,and insurancecompanieswoulddonateequipment,and thiswasparticularly commonin the Midlands cottonmills.Thesebrigadeswouldalsoattendallfiresoutsidethemillsandfactories, notonlyforthepublicgoodbutbecausethisalsogavetheWorksFireBrigadepracticeatan actualfire. Bythe 1850s manyinsurance companies feltthatlocalauthorities shouldatleastcontribute to firefighting or preferably takeoversoleresponsibility forit.Betweenthe 1840sand1880s a largenumberof volunteerbrigadeswereestablished, oftenstimulated intoexistenceby a localfire.Thesevolunteerbrigadeshadno authorityor officialbacking,andthe members

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themselves paidfortheiruniformsandequipment, askedfordonationsfromlocalpeopleor appliedtotheagentsofinsurance companies. Someofthefiremenwerelandowners, andthese

volunteer groups wereoftenreferred toasthe‘gentlemen’s brigade’ todistinguish themfrom

themunicipal orinsurance brigades.Theywereattheirmostnumerous in the 1880s, thesame timethatmanyinsurance companies werebeginningto decidethatit wasbetter,particularly in ruralareas,to occasionally subscribe to thefundsofa volunteerbrigaderatherthanhaving theexpenseofmaintaining theirown. Britainhadfirefighting coverage, butin an entirelyuncoordinated way,andthe existence oftheseprivatebrigadesmeantthatmanyauthorities didnot evenconsiderthatfirefighting shouldbetheirresponsibility. Withsomelocalauthorities, eventheoutbreakofamajorfiredid notconvincethemthatfirefighting shouldbe theirresponsibility. Forexample, Gateshead in CountyDurhamhadapopulation of25,568in 1853, butnofirebrigadeatall,whileNewcastle, on theothersideoftheriverTyne,hada population ofover100,000, withmanywarehouses andbuildingsassociated with shippingand otherindustries. The onlyfireprotectionwas

provided bythebrigade oftheNorthBritishInsurance Company withonefireengine, the

brigadeof the Newcastle-upon-Tyne FireOfficewith two fireengines,and fireengines belongingto several largefactoriesandthelocalbarracks. NewcastleCorporationdid oncehavetwo fireenginessincepaymentsto two engine keepersarerecordedin the eighteenthcentury,but theseengineshad‘disappeared’ by the

beginning ofthenineteenth century, theirplacefilledbyinsurance brigades. Thequestion ofsettingup a cityfirebrigadewasdiscussed bythecouncilin 1837,andit wasagreedthat thiswouldbe a goodidea,withmostmembersin favourofa combinedpolice-fire brigade, whosemembersperformedbothroles.The councilthereforeapproached variousinsurance companies to seeiftheywouldpaythepolicesuperintendent’s wagesashe wasalsoto be in chargeofthefirebrigade,butallthecompanies refusedandthesubjectwasdropped. In 1845manyNewcastle citizenssigneda petitionaskingthecouncilto setupandrunan efficientfirebrigade,andthisproposalwaspassedto theWatchCommitteewhodecidedthat a cityfirebrigadewouldbe ‘ofgreatadvantage andextensive utilityin thepreservation of lifeandproperty’, andrecommended thata firebrigadeconsisting ofthirtymenandfivefire engines,shouldbe setup underthe controlof thepolicesuperintendent. Severalinsurance companies wereapproached to seehowmucheachwaswillingto contributeto thescheme,

butmostreplied that,asonlyhalfoftheproperties inNewcastle wereinsured, theyfeltthey

couldnot contributemorethanhalfof the annualcost,andalthoughthe NewcastleFire Officewaspreparedto donateitsfireengines,theSunFireOfficeandNorwichUnionFire Insurance Societywouldnotcontributeatall,andthissoupsetthecouncillors thatthewhole ideawassetasideonceagain. Yearafteryearthesubjectofsettingupa firebrigadewasraisedanddiscussed bythecouncil, whowerealways worriedabouttherunningcosts,andinevitably concluded thatnotonlywas it theresponsibility oftheinsurancecompanies to fightfires,butfelttheywoulddoit much moreefficiently thana citybrigade,holdinguptheL.FE.E.asanexample. Thedebateswent on,firescontinued, andmorefatalities occurred,andthesubjectcameupagainin September 1854, justa fewweeksbeforedisasterstruck.On 6 October,justaftermidnight,flameswere seenbyaNewcastle policeman ontheupperfloorsofaworstedmillontheoppositeriverbank. Herushedoverthebridgeto summonhisGateshead colleagues, whobrokeintotheburning warehouse allowinganinflowofairwhichmadetheflamesburnevenmorefiercely. It wasnotlongbeforetheinsurancefireenginesarrivedon thescene,alongwithengines fromthebarracksandseveralfactories. Around2 a.m.therooffellin andthefirespreadto the adjoiningsixstorywarehouse, whichcontainedover4,000tonsof sulphur,alongwith quantitiesof sodiumnitrate,salt,manganese,alum,arsenic,coaltar,soap,guanoandrags. There

wereno regulations abouthowthesegoodsshouldbe stored,andin one of the vaultsthe ownerhadplaced47tonsofsodiumnitrateinbags,nextto 47tonsofsulphur, onlyseparated fromeachotherby a tarpaulinandpiledup to withina foot(30cm)of the stonevaulted

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TheGateshead andNewcastle fireof 1854whichinvolvedbuildings on bothsidesoftheriverTyne.

ceiling. Theflamescaughtthetopofthiswarehouse andburntdownwards, soheatingupthe sodiumnitrateandsulphur,twoof the threeingredients forgunpowder(onlycharcoalwas missing!).

Justafter3a.m.ahugeexplosion occurred whichblewthewholewarehouse apartandsent masonry andburningbeamshighintotheair.Somefellthrough theroofsofsurrounding houseskillingpeoplein theirbeds,andfifty-threepeoplediedin thisexplosionor shortly after,six of the dead being killed on the Newcastleside of the river,and hundredswere

injured.Following thisexplosion everyone wasstunned,butwhenpeoplecameto theirsenses it wasrealisedthatthefirewasnowspreading in alldirectionsandhadsetbuildingson fire acrosstheriverin Newcastle, whereseveralseparatefiressoonjoinedtogetherto formone greatconflagration. Thefireenginesof theinsurancecompanies, armyandfactorieshadallbeenwreckedby theexplosion orburiedunderdebris,andtherewasno meansoffightingthefiresexceptby usingbucketchains.Messages weresentto Carlisle, Tynemouth andSunderland formilitary andfirefighting assistance, andspecialtrainswerelaidon to bringfiremenandenginesfrom Durham,MorpethandSunderland, whileSouthShieldssentitsfloatingfireengineupriver. Thefiresburntallday,butbynightfallthepumpersweretooexhausted to manthepumps effectively, andto encouragethemthe mayorofferedto payspecialrewardsto volunteers andovertimeratesto corporationemployees to keepthe pumpsgoing.The armyblewup buildings to createfirebreakswhichweresuccessful in checkingtheflames, althoughthefire continuedtoburnforanotherweek.Thedamagewasenormousandagreatmanypeoplewere uninsured, soarelieffundwassetupandQueen Victoriacontributed £100afterstoppingthe RoyalTrainon a highbridgesoshecouldseethe devastation, butpeoplewerelesspleased whentherailwaycompanybeganto runexcursions fordaytrippersto viewtheruins! The firstmeetingof the Newcastlecouncilfollowingthe fire wasconcernedwith the paymentof £900 for the pumpersaspromisedby the mayor.Somecouncillorssaid

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it shouldcomefromthe relieffund(whicheventuallyraised£10,000)andbe madeup by the insurancecompanies, sincetheyinsistedthathadthe mayornot encouragedthe pumpers,thelossto thecompanies wouldhavebeenevengreater,However, it wasfinally decidedthatthecorporationwouldpaythemoneybackintotherelieffund.Thequestion of a municipalbrigadewasagainreferredto theWatchCommitteewhostillthoughtit wasa goodidea,but thattheformationandmaintenance ofsucha brigadeshouldnotbe undertakenbythecouncilandso,almostunbelievably, nopositiveactionwastakenasthey

stillexpected theinsurance companies tocontinue toberesponsible forfirefighting.

In November1859leadingcitizensapproached the mayorwith a documentshowing hownecessary theyconsideredthe formationof a firebrigadeundermunicipalcontrol. Thiswasreferredto theWatchCommitteewhich,inJuly1860,reportedthattheyhadbeen negotiating withtheinsurance companies whohadagreedto handoveralltheirequipment. The Committeerecommended thatthe twenty-twofiremenof the NewcastleFireOffice andthe NorthBritishInsuranceCompanyshouldformthebasisof a corporation brigade, witha furthertwentypoliceconstables to supplement them.However, theyconsidered that theformationofa municipal brigadewouldreducetherisksoffire,thereforetheinsurance companies shouldbearalloftheexpenses ofthebrigade,excluding wages.Negotiations with theinsurance companies ledto an offeroffinancialassistance whichwasconsidered bythe

council tobe“derisory’, andsotheideacametonothingagain.In 1866theNorthBritish Insurance Company gavenoticetoNewcastle Corporation thatinthreemonths’ timethey

weregoingto disbandtheirbrigade. Thefollowing yearthecouncilfinallysetupapolice-fire brigadewhichincorporated bothinsurancecompanybrigades, but spentthe nexttwenty yearsworryingaboutthecostandtryingto getmoneyoutofvariousinsurance companies to helptowardsthecostofrunningtheirfirebrigade. Birmingham wasanotherlocalauthorityreluctantto providefirefighting facilities. In the 1830sBirmingham hada populationof 180,000but by 1865thishadincreasedto nearly 300,000; however, thecityhadno firebrigadeandevenDester’s parishengine(seepage44) hadceasedto makeitsappearance manyyearspreviously. Fiveseparateinsurance companies maintained brigadesthere,butastimewentontheybecameconcernedabouttherisingcost ofrunningthebrigadesandthewasteofeffortcausedbythemallrushingto thesceneofa fire,evenwhenit onlyrequiredoneengine.In 1867representatives ofthecompanies metto discussthe situationand,asa consequence, a letterwassentto the mayorofferingto hand overalltheirfireenginesandequipment to thecityauthorities iftheywouldruna municipal brigade. Birmingham’s WatchCommitteelookedintothematterandreportedto thecouncilthat the estimatedcostsof the proposedmunicipalbrigadewouldbe £2,000peryear,plusan initialoutlaytogetthebrigadeorganised andso,inthelightofthis,theyfeltitwasundesirable forthecityto maintainitsownbrigade. Thecouncilagreedaboutthecost,andsincethey considered thattheinsurance company brigades weredoingsuchagoodjobtheydeclinedthe offerto takeovertheequipmentandtheresponsibility forfirefighting in thecity.Following thisdisappointing decisiontheinsurance companies metagainanddecidedthat,likeLondon andEdinburgh, theywouldcombinetheirbrigadesunderonesuperintendent, whowastobe paid£120ayearandprovidedwithfreelodgings. Therunningcostsofthecombined brigade weretobesharedequally, andanentrancefeeof£100waschargedforanynewcompany who wishedtojointheestablishment afterit wassetup,andthisnewbrigadewastobecontrolled bya committee madeupofrepresentatives ofeachparticipating company. Thisnewfirefighting force,knownasThe Birmingham UnitedFireBrigade,wasmade up ofthebrigadesoftheAlliance Assurance Company, Birmingham AllianceFireInsurance Company,Lancashire InsuranceCompany,NorwichUnion Fire InsuranceSocietyand the RoyalInsuranceCompany. A newfirestationwasbuiltin LittleCannonStreet,and GeorgeTiviotdale, a foremanfromtheLondonMetropolitan FireBrigadewasappointedas superintendent. However, eventhecostofmaintaining a combinedbrigadewasstillproving

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FirestationoftheBirmingham UnitedFireBrigade,1867.

toohighforthecompanies andso,in 1871,theywroteto thecouncilstatingthatdueto the risingcoststheyweregoingto reducethenumberofstaffin thebrigade,andin thefuture wouldonlyattendfiresin buildingsinsuredby one of the companies participating in the combined brigade.Theyagainofferedtohandoverthefireengines, allequipment andthefire stationsto thecouncilfreeofchargeifit wouldsetupa municipal brigade. The councilrepliedthat theywerestillof the opiniontheyexpressed in 1867andso

declined totakeonanyresponsibility forfirefighting orestablishing amunicipal brigade. The companies weretherefore reluctantly forced tocarryouttheirthreatofselective firefighting, thefirsttimeaninsurance company brigade hadeverdonethisinthe187yearssincethefirst insurancebrigadewasestablished. Birmingham ratepayers andbusinessmen werenaturally extremelyunhappyaboutthissituationandnumerouscomplaints weresentto the council. Nothinghappenedfor months,until,in 1873,theWatchCommitteedecidedto holdan enquiryinto the efficiencyof Birmingham’s fireprotectionarrangements, but whenthe insurancecompanies heardthistheywereabsolutely furious.Theyimmediately senta very curtsolicitor’s letterto thechairmanandmembersoftheWatchCommitteeinformingthem thattheyhaddecidedto completely disbandtheBirmingham UnitedFireBrigadeattheend oftheyear.

TheWatchCommittee metto discuss thisultimatum, andconcluded thattheonlyway Birmingham anditssuburbs couldbeadequately protected fromfirewasbytheestablishment ofa municipal firebrigade.Theywerestillnothappyathavingto providea cityfirebrigade andthediscussions werelongandacrimonious, butinJanuary1874it wasfinallyagreedto set up thebrigade,andBirmingham agreedto paytheinsurance companies £500forthelease

ofthefirestation andtopurchase thefireengines andequipment, allofwhichthecompanies

hadoriginally offeredto handoverforfree!

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Othertownsandcitieswhichhadmunicipalbrigadesexpectedthe insurancecompanies to helpby contributingtowardstheirrunningcosts,as therewasstilla strongbeliefthat fire insurancecompaniesshouldbe responsiblefor firefightingprovision.In 1837the commissioners ofthecityofGlasgow wereveryannoyedbywhattheyconsidered wasa lack ofsufficient supportfortheirmunicipal brigadebytheinsurancecompanies, andsodecided to disbandthecitybrigade,andwereonlypreventedfromdoingsobythecitycounciland magistrates whoobtainedaninjunctionto preventthishappening! Soonafterthis,seeingan opportunityto getmorebusiness in Scotland, theWestofEnglandFireInsuranceCompany offeredto provideanadditional fireengineto attendallfireswithinthecity. TheYork& Northof EnglandAssurance Company(laterrenamedtheYork& London InsuranceCompany)wasestablished atYorkin 1834,and senta letterto the mayorand citycouncilinformingthemthattheyweregoingto setup a firebrigade.Theyrequested the councilappointtwentymento the postof specialconstable, whosedutywouldbe to controlthecrowdatfiressothatthefiremencouldworkunhindered, andsincethecompany feltthiswouldbeofgreatbenefitto thecity,theyrequested thatthespecialconstables should bepaidbythecity.However, thecouncildisagreed anddidnotappointthemenasrequested. The cityofYorkdid at one timehavea municipalbrigade,but laterhandedoverits fire enginesto theYorkshire InsuranceCompanywithanannualgrantto theinsurance brigade, butby 1837theyweretwoyearsin arrears,andsothecompanysentthema notereminding themthattheyhadagainforgottentopaytheircontribution towardsfirefighting provision in thecity.Thecouncildebatedthematterandcameto thedecisionthattheywouldonlypay oneyear’scontribution, thatthe insurancecompanyshouldnowpayrentfortheuseofthe

city’s fireenginehouse, andthatthefireengines belonging tothecity,butwhichwereused

andmaintained bythecompanyunderanearlieragreement, shouldbe sold. This decisionwasjustifiedby the mayor,who saidthat with two efficientinsurance brigadesin thecity,it wasunnecessary forthecorporationto run to the expenseofhaving itsownfireengines,despitethe factthatthe insurancecompanies werepayingthe costof theirmaintenance. The corporationsoldallbut one of its fireenginesfor £67. TheYork Heraldthoughtthatthebrigadewastotallyunsuitable fora citythesizeofYork,andthatthe companyshouldreorganise itsbrigadeandreplaceitsoldmanualfireengineswhich,it said, had‘goneoutoffashion’, withmodernsteam-powered fireengines.TheYork&Londonhad discontinued fireinsurance in 1842anddisbanded itsfirebrigade,buttheYorkshire Insurance Companybrigadecontinuedto servethe cityfor manyyears,althoughin the 1860sits efficiency, according to contemporary accounts, haddeclinedfromitsearlierhighlevel. Inefficient actionbytheinsurance brigadeatseveralfirescausedthecitycouncilto decide thattheywouldsetup a police-firebrigade,andso in 1863theyrequestedtheYorkshire Insurance Companyfordetailsoftheirbrigade,howit wasrun,costsofmaintaining it andso on.Theyalsomadeextensive enquiriesto seehowvariousmunicipal brigadeswererunand howmuchtheycost,andapproached a numberof insurancecompanies to seehowmuch theymightbe willingto contributeto therunningoftheproposedbrigade.However, only twocompanies saidtheywerewillingto makean annualcontribution—the Liverpool& London&GlobeInsurance Company, andtheNorwichUnionFireinsurance Society, sothe corporation, unwillingto imposeanyfurtherincreasein theratesto supporta firebrigade, decidedto droptheideaandcontinueto relyon theinsurance brigade,despiteitsapparent shortcomings. Mattersstoodlikethisfor someyears,but theYorkshire wasbecomingworriedabout runningcostsandtheincreasing numberoffiresin theexpanding city.InJanuary1875they senta letterto theTownClerkgivingnoticethattheyweregoingto disbandtheirbrigadein May,butwerepreparedto handoverto thecounciltheirfireenginesandotherequipment, andmakeanannualpaymentof£120towardsthecostofrunninga municipal brigade. This wasconditional on thecityenginesbeingavailable to attendfiresbeyondthecityboundary, andthatnochargewouldbemadeto thecompanyforextinguishing firesinpropertyinsured

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Mugpresentedto SamuelMartin,InspectoroftheWestofEnglandInsuranceCompanybrigades. He hopefullyhada senseofhumourasit hasa modelofa realisticfrogon theinsideofthebase,which appearsasthecontentsaredrunk!

bythem.Thiswasagreed,andtheYorkshire handedoveritsfireenginesto thecitypoliceon 3August1875,buttheywerefoundto bein verypoorcondition,soit wasdecidedto buya newmanualanda steam-powered fireengine.

Bristol wasanother cityinwhichtheinsurance company brigades worked closely together,

althoughtheyhad not set up a formalisedcombinedestablishment, eachbrigadehaving

a foreman andsixfiremen. Thebrigades presentin Bristolbelonged to theImperial Fire

Insurance Company, theLiverpool &London&GlobeInsurance Company, RoyalInsurance Company, SunFireOfficeandWestof EnglandFireInsuranceCompany. In 1877the five companiessenta joint letterto the citycouncilgivingthemnoticethat theywouldbe discontinuing theirfirebrigadeswithina fewmonths.The citycouncilacceptedthatthey shouldassumeresponsibility forfirefighting and,on 8 May,resolvedthattheywouldsetupa municipalfirebrigadeunderthecontrolofthepolicesuperintendent, andpurchasea steam fireengine. Thoughoutthe 1870sand 1880sthe insurancecompanieswerebecomingincreasingly reluctantto maintaintheirownfirebrigadesor evencontributetowardstherunningcostsof municipal brigades, ascanbe seenbyentriesin theminutesoftheSunFireOffice,although theywerestillconscious asto whetherthemaintenance of a brigadewasofferingvaluefor

moneyasfarasfireprotection wasconcerned. Forexample, on6June1878theDirectors of

theSundebatedthequestionofthefireenginetheymaintained atDublinin Irelandwhich,

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for severalyearspasthadcostthemabout£24 a yearto maintain,whichseemsa modest sum,buttheystillthoughtthis‘inexpedient’. Theydecidedthatsincethe townofTenbyin Waleswasaboutto setupa municipal brigade,theywouldgivethemtheDublinfireengine on conditionthatthecompanywasnotchargedforitsmaintenance, althoughtheywerestill preparedto paya‘fairproportionofthecostsofworkinganddrawing, Theyalsomaintained a fireengineatGreatGrimsbywhichhadbeenkeptinBennett’s Timber Yardsince1864,but in 1880theydecidedit was‘inexpedient to keepit thereanylonger’,andofferedit to the townofTavistock in Devon.InDecember1881theSundecidedto disbandtheirfirebrigade atLeedswhoserunningcostsin thepreviouseightyearshadcostthem£242peryear,while premiumincomewas£2,000perannum,anddecidedto disposeoftheirfireengineby‘sale or otherwise. Duringthisperiodmanypiecesoflocallegislation werepassedconcerningtheprovision

offirefighting facilities, butit wasveryfragmentary andwasoftenincluded amonga great variety ofactsdealing withsuchmatters aspoliceduties, lighting, provision ofwatersupplies

and publichealthmatters.By 1875it wasgenerallyrecognisedthat firefighting wasthe responsibility oflocalauthorities, andonesectionofAnActforConsolidating andAmending the ActsRelatingto PublicHealthin Englandpassedin that year,requiredeveryurban authorityto providefirplugs(anearlyformofhydrant),whosepositionwasclearlymarked, (although thishadbeenincludedundertheFireActpassedin 1707in London).It wentonto includea requirement to provide‘allnecessary works,machineryandassistance forsecuring anefficientsupplyin waterin caseoffireto beprovidedandmaintained ...’ Therewashowever, considerable discussion aboutexactlywhatthismeantandwhetherit requiredcouncilsto providenotonlywatersupplies butalsofireenginesandpeopleto work them.However, localauthorities interpretedthissectiondifferently, andwhilesomecouncils providedonlyfireplugs,otherssetup well-organised andfundedmunicipalfirebrigades, althoughsomewerereluctantto gosofar,andmerelyhandedovertheirancientparishfire engineto a groupof localvolunteerswith a smallannualgrant.However,thiswassoon declared tobeillegalbytheGovernment Auditors, whodeclaredthatpublicmoneycouldnot be givento anybodyoverwhichthecouncilhadno control.Soto avoidthissomecouncils simplygavetheiroldfireengineto agroupofvolunteers onconditiontheyraisedanymoney theyneededthemselves! Gradually manylocalauthorities tookoverresponsibility forfirefighting, raisingthemoney to establish a firebrigadeandcoveritsrunningcostsby an additionalchargeon the rates, knownasthe‘firerate’.Liverpool, Manchester, Salfordanda fewotherplacesmanagedto | getspecialactspassedwhichenabledthemto chargepeopleforextinguishing a firein their property,evenif theyalsolevieda firerate.Otherlocalauthoritiesalsochargedfor their brigadesattendingfires,althoughgivenno authorityto do sobyanActof Parliament, but thispractisewasstoppedfollowing thelocalboardofDrighlington inYorkshire beingsuedby a ratepayer to whomtheyhadsenta billforextinguishing a fire.A courtdeclaredthatit was illegalfora ratepayer to be chargedforhavinga fireputoutwhentheyhadalreadypaidfor theservicein theirrates.However, thisrulingdidnotpreventmanylocalauthorities sending abillforfirefighting to thecompanywhichinsuredtheproperty, butmostcompanies simply ignoredthesedemands, theexceptionbeingwhenthefirewasinpropertytheyinsuredandit waslocatedbeyondtheboundaryofthelocalauthority. Thecompanies wouldalsosometimes payvolunteerfirebrigadesforattending afire ininsuredpropertyoutsidetheirnormalareaof operation, butgenerally theywerereluctantto dosoasit wascleartheywereundernolegal obligation, ashadbeenprovedin thecaseoftheFalmouth Volunteer FireBrigadeversusthe PhoenixFireOfficeheardin February1879. Someinsurancecompaniesstillcontinuedto maintaintheirownbrigadeswherethey consideredthe facilitiesprovidedby the localauthoritywereinsufficient, but by the last quarterof the nineteenthcenturyinsurancecompanyfirebrigadeswerequiteuncommon, andbecomingrarereveryyear.In 1867theImperialInsurance Companyhadbroughta large

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Insurance FireBrigades 1680—1929

TheSomertonFireBrigadein Somerset, withthemanualfireenginepresentedto thembythe ImperialInsuranceCompanywhentheydisbanded theirbrigadeat Bristolin 1899.

manualfireenginefromShandMasonfortheirbrigadein Bristol,butwhenthecitysetup

itsownbrigade in 1877theImperial continued tomaintain itsbrigade mainly todealwith firesbeyondthecitylimits, asthecitybrigadedidnotgenerally doso.Thelastlargefire

at whichthisenginewasin usewasat the BristolChannelMalting& MillingCompany’s premisesat Portishead Dockson the Severnestuaryabout7 miles(11.2km) fromthe city centre.Itcontinuedto attendminorfiresuntil1899whentheImperialdecidedto discontinue itsbrigadeandadvertised theenginefreein variousWestCountrynewspapers to anyparish councilwhowouldguarantee to keepit ingoodworkingorder.SomertonParishCouncilin Somersetappliedto theImperial, andthefireenginewaspresentedto them.It continuedto beusedbytheSomertonFireBrigadeuntil1935whenit wasacquiredbythefirmofWilliam Sparrow&Co.Ltd,althoughwhetherit wasforuseorjustkeptasa curiosityisunclear,but in 1939it wasboughtbyBristolCityMuseum. TheEssex& SuffolkEquitableInsuranceSocietymaintained a firebrigadein Colchester, Essex,amongotherplaces,butin 1879a townvolunteerbrigadewasformedthere,to which the companysubscribedfiftyguineastowardsthe purchaseof a steamfire engine.The companydidnot,however, disbandits ownbrigade,whichis perhapsjust aswell,because whenthe companyconsidered the questionof whethertheyshouldcontinueto maintain theirbrigadein 1886,theFireEngineCommitteereportedthatthetown’svolunteerbrigade wasinefficient andrecommended thatthe companymustretainitsownbrigade.However, whenthequestionofmaintaining theirColchester brigadewasagainconsidered in 1895,the Directorsdecidedthatit wastimethatthelocalauthoritytookresponsibility forfirefighting, andsoapproached thetowncouncilpointingthisoutandofferinganannualgrantof£100 towardstherunningofa municipal brigade.Thecouncildisagreed thatfirefighting wastheir responsibility andso declinedthe company’s offer.Sothe Essex& Suffolkwasnowforced to makethe counciltakeresponsibility forfirefighting, andtookthe ratherunusualstepof

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havingpostersprintedandputuparoundthetownto notifypeoplethatthecompanywould nolongerberesponsible forputtingoutfiresin uninsured property: ESSEX &SUFFOLK FIREOFFICE. EXTINCTION OFFIRES INTHE BOROUGH OFCOLCHESTER. TheDirectors oftheaboveCompany informthePublicthatformorethan70yearsthis Officehasbornetheresponsibility oftheextinction ofFiresintheBorough. Theyhaveforsometimeconsidered thatsuchresponsibility shouldrestwiththeCorporation andwiththisviewtheyhaverepeatedly approached theCorporation in thehopethatthat Bodywouldpublicly announce theirwillingness to assume theworkwhichshouldnotbe delegated to others. Asnostepshavehithertoresulted, theDirectors oftheFireOfficefeelboundtogivenotice thattheirfirebrigadecannolongertakeanyresponsibility fortheextinction ofFireswithin theBorough. TheEssex& SuffolkFireBrigadewillbe maintained fortheprotection of allInsuring Members oftheCompany; theFireEngineStationbeingasheretofore inLionWalk. ByorderoftheDirectors. (s¢d.)Robt.Anderson Colchester, 28thFebruary1895.

Secretary.

Thisisonlythesecondexampleofinsurance firebrigadespractising selective firefighting, and boththeEssex& SuffolkandtheBirmingham UnitedFireBrigadewereforcedintotaking thisactionto makelocalauthoritiesawareof theirdutyto providefirefighting facilities. It is presumably fromthesetwosingleexamplesthatthe erroneousideaarosethatinsurance

brigades wouldonlyfightfiresinproperty insured bytheircompany, whichhaspersisted for solong.Withina fewyearsColchester council hadsetupa municipal brigade tofightfires

withinthe borough’s rateablearea,but the Essex& Suffolkcontinuedto maintainitsown brigadeto fightfiresoutsidethisarea.In 1902thecompanytookthedecisionto disbandall theirremaining brigades, andsincea lotofthepropertytheyinsuredwasin countydistricts outsidethemaintowns,theygavetheirfireenginesto variousparishesanddistrictcouncils in theseareas. In rg01the KentInsuranceCompanyamalgamated withthe RoyalInsuranceCompany, anda decisionwastakento disbandtheKent’slastsurviving brigade,whichwasatMaidstone. Asa finalgesturethecompanyboughtandhandedoverto theBoroughofMaidstone a new ShandMasonsteamfireengine,whichtheycalledTheQueen. Thisfireenginesawservicein Maidstone forthenextfortyyears,havingitsboilerreplacedearlyin theSecondWorldWar whenit wasusedasanemergency pump,butit wasnotreallysuitableforthisrole,andwas soldinJuly1943for£46.Itshistoryafterthisisunclear,butit isbelievedto havebeenused asa stationary pumpformanyyearsbeforefinallybeingbrokenup. TheNorwichUnionFireInsurance Societyformedafire brigadein thecityofGloucester in 1849,andalongwiththe Liverpool& London& GlobeInsuranceCompany, continued

tomaintain theirseparate brigades formanyyears, untileventually it wasdecided thatboth

companieswoulddisbandtheirbrigades,and that responsibility for firefighting wouldbe handedoverto thelocalauthorityon 31December1911.However, asthe dateapproached it becameobviousthatthe corporationwouldnot be readyby thento assumecontrolof firefighting, sothetake-overdatewaspostponedto 31March1912, whenthefireenginesand equipmentof the twoinsurancebrigadeswouldbe handedoverto the city.The Norwich Uniondonateda largeShandmasonmanualfireengine,a handtruck,twostandpipes,80oft

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InsuranceFireBrigades1680-1929

Left:JamesPannifer, a firemanoftheEssex

&Suffolk Equitable Insurance Society brigade atMaldon inEssex, 1890.

Below: BrigadeoftheEssex&Suffolk EquitableInsuranceSocietyat Chelmsford in 1898.Atthistimetheyonlyoperated outsidethetownboundaries wherethe

municipal brigade didnotoperate. This

insurancebrigadewasdisbanded in 1902.

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Thefirestation oftheRoyal

InsuranceCompanyat Shrewsbury, Shropshire in 1905 withthebrigadecaptainin his frogged jacketandpeakedcap, withthebrigadeengineerto theright.

(244m)of canvashoseanda quantityof leatherfirebuckets,anda newmotorfireengine, whichwason order,to thenewmunicipal brigadeat Gloucester, whichconsisted mainlyof retainedvolunteers.

From1891to 1912theNorwich Unionfirebrigadehadbeenunderthecaptaincy of

CharlesEdwardQuilter,thecompany’s agentatGloucester, andthebrigade,atthetimeofits disbandment, consisted ofa totalofeightfiremen.To markthelongservicethatthebrigade hadgivento the city,thecompanyhadcommemorative medalsmadeandthese,alongwith souvenirphotographs, werepresentedto the firemenat a farewelldinnerheldon 23May wherea letterfromJohnLarge,theGeneralManager, wasreadout: I wouldlikeyou,in thenameoftheDirectors oftheSociety, andformyself, to extenda warmgreetingto CaptainQuilterandthemembers ofourlatebrigade, andto offerthem ourverysincere thanksforthevaluable servicetheyhavesoreadily rendered, notonlytothe NorwichUnionbuttotheancientCityofGloucester itself,forI amconfident thatmanyof thebuildings whichourbrigade, inthecourseofitslonglife,hassavedfromfireareofsuch historical andotherinterestonaccountoftheirantiquity, thatinsurance couldnotreplace them,anditisinsaving suchbuildings thatI maintain thatourbrigadehasrendered, I think I maysay,a national service. I find,on lookingback,thebrigadehasbeenin existence forsixtythreeyears,during whichlongperiodI knowofnoincidentthatwouldtarnishitsreputation. It wassoofits

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Insurance FireBrigades 1680-1929

towhom soofthosewhositbeforeyoutonight, anditis,| amsure,equally earliermembers, havehad whichmyDirectors medals I askyoutobe goodenoughto presentthesouvenir specially strucktosignalthetermination oftheirbrigade. andmaybe in themselves, I ventureto thinkthesemedalsof goldandsilveraretasteful as withfavourbytheirrecipients andI hopetheywillberegarded prizedon thataccount, commemorating theirconnection withtheNorwichUnion. Shropshire, Companydisbandedits brigadein Shrewsbury, In r918theAllianceAssurance andShropshire FireOffice Salop o fthe t hebrigades theycombined whichwasformedwhen andgavetheirsteamfire Companyon takingoverbothcompanies, &NorthWalesAssurance thathasthedistinction itisthecityofWorcester engineto theboroughpoliceforce.However,

in 1807 FireOfficeadvertised TheWorcester inBritain. brigade thelastinsurance ofhaving

but the companywasfoundedin 1790andislikelyto thattheyhad‘firemenandengines’, Fire Between1805and 1811the Birmingham havehad a brigadefromits establishment. Fire Lancashire the brigadein the city,andlater OfficeCompanyalsosetup an insurance alsohadits thecathedral addition a ndin there, a brigade Companyalsoestablished Insurance the insurancebrigadesat firesin andaroundthe city.In 1818 ownfirebrigadethatassisted

to whocontinued Company, Assurance wasboughtbythePhoenix FireOffice theWorcester

maintainthebrigadebutnowknownasthe PhoenixFireBrigade. In 1857the NorwichUnionFireInsuranceSocietyalsosetup a brigadein Worcester, whichattendedits firstfirein andequippedit witha manualfireenginecalledthe Niagara, in NovemberandDecember laterin more byseveral Novemberof thatyear,rapidlyfollowed

werethepeoplein Soconcerned started. alldeliberately anareaa fewmilesfromWorcester, therepermanently, engine fire a tokeep Union theNorwich thattheypetitioned thisdistrict andremainedthere wasdespatched andso to helpcombatthiswaveof arson;the Niagara fortheuseof wasordered fireengine powerful anewandmore w hile time, someconsiderable thebrigadein thecity.WhentheNorwichUnionbrigadehadto tacklefiresoutsidethecity it receivedno exemptionfromthekeepersof thetollroads,andthereareseveralreferences in thebrigadeaccountsshowingthattheyhadto paya tollto go throughthe turnpikegate a fire.In 1860thebrigadewasprovidedwith beforetheycouldproceedontheirwayto fight hosecartforusewithinthe city.Therewasa degreeofrivalrybetweenthe a newhand-pulled wouldpayanextrafee companies bythefactthattheinsurance encouraged brigades, different alsoco-operated b utthey a fire, of atthescene to arrive to thedriverofthefirstfireengine witheachotheratfires.

ofa city theestablishment regarding anddiscussions therehadbeensuggestions Overtheyears

between1Januaryand6 mainlybecause andthesefinallycameto fruitionin 1875, firebrigade, anattemptto burndowntheMarket firesin thecity,including Marchthereweretwenty-nine andthe Hall.The counciloffereda rewardof £100to anyonewhocouldidentifytheculprits, a further£50.Inmid-March offered NorwichUnionmatchedthis,whiletheirDistrictManager tobeunder ofa FireBrigade ‘fortheestablishment ascheme, suggested thecityWatchCommittee

connected thefiremen force, ofthepolice toconsist thebrigade oftheHeadConstable, thecontrol

This bythe Committee.’ asshallbeapproved andsuchvolunteers offices insurance withtheseveral thevarious s ince brigade apolice-fire primarily butwas cameintobeingbytheendofthemonth, independently. andoperatetheirbrigades to maintain continued companies insurance stilloperatinginsurance the onlyothercompanies In 1881thePhoenixandtheLancashire, them.TheNorwichUnion,whodecided bothdecidedto discontinue brigadesinWorcester, to continueto operateitsownbrigade,realisedthatit wouldhaveto increaseitseffectiveness, &Sonsfor£449 11s4d,andspenta a steamfireenginefromMerryweather soit purchased theoldPhoenixfireenginestationand£11 10sforatelephone further£98 10son converting heavyleatherhosewitha connectionto the policestation.Theyalsoreplacedthebrigade’s screwcouplings. of theold-fashioned inplace couplings canvashose,fittedwithinstantaneous ‘notexceeding cost ata 1892 i n repaired be b uthadto use, Themanualfireenginewasstillin

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£13. In 1893a newboilerwasfittedto theirsteamfireengine,and£25 wasspenton new uniformsin thesameyear. In May1900discussion beganregardingthe conversion of the horsedrawnsteamfire engineto self-propulsion, andafterreadinglettersfromMr Sayce,theiragentinWorcester andbrigadecaptain,andconsidering estimates, theFinanceCommitteeapproved theideain principal, butrequiredfurtherinformation.This wasforthcoming on 11,18and25June,when

theymadea definite decision that:

The Committeein viewof Mr Sayce’s strongrecommendation recommend that Mr Crowden’s designNo.2inaccordance withwhichtherearwheelswillbefittedwithMotor Power, becarriedoutata costof£220complete. TheSecretary willcommunicate through Mr.SaycewiththeCorporation astotheimportance oftheCitybeingprotected duringthe timetheEnginewillbeoutofuse. InJuly,Mr C.J.Crawden,the engineer,wasinstructedto beginthealterations to thesteam fireengine,andtheyexpectedthemto be completedbytheendof theyear,butit wasnot finisheduntilearlythefollowing year. By May19orthe self-propelled steamfireenginewasin useby the NorwichUnion

brigade, thefirstfirebrigade inBritain touseaself-propelled fireengine, although itwasstill beingtriedout.However, alldidnotgosmoothly, ason28Mayrgorthefollowing entryis foundin theminutesoftheFinanceCommittee:

LettersfromAgentofthe23rdand25thinst.reporting thattheengineonitswaytoarecent fireat Kempsay, fourmilesfromWorcester, hadbrokendown,andfurtherthatit hassetfires

onitsjourneytheretopropertyinsuredwiththesocietyinthreedifferent names. TheCommittee areoftheopinionthattheSocietyhasno claimagainsttheNorwich& London Accident Co.undertheirpolicyofindemnity against negligence onthepartofthe EngineDriver,in respectof damagecausedbytheEngine. Theynotethata furthertrial underthesupervision ofMr.Crawden isto takeplaceandawaittheresult.Publictrialby MajorFox[ChiefofficeroftheLondonSalvage Corps.]alsototakeplacewithMr.Robert Pageinattendance. On 7 October1901theypaida further£14 8sfor‘extras’ on the steamengine,but it was not until21April1902thattheyregardedthat‘Mr.C.J. Crawdenhasnowcompletedthe introduction ofMotorpowerto the Society’s Fireenginein a satisfactory manner.Payment of 3rdinstalment of£200 = £73.6s.8d.recommended. However, whilethe earlyteething problemsmayhavebeensolved,theystillencountereddifficulties withthe convertedfire engine.Forexample, theypaidaMrN.H.Turton’s accountforrepairstothemotorfireengine fromMarch1901to March1903for£78 16s4dless£8 4sodchargedto Mr Crawden,and duringthatperiodtheyalsopaida further£16 18stodforrepairsto itsmotorcylinder.In November1903it wasdecidedto makea chargeto non-policyholderswhentheirbrigade attendeda fireat theirpremises: Thefollowing tariffofcharges formotorfireenginerecommended tobeputinforce. (1)Foruseof steamer£5.5s for 12hoursor shorterperiod.

(2)Forpropulsion ofMotorenginetos.permiletofire. (3)Foruseofmanualengine£2,2s. (4)Firemen asatpresentIos.perfireupto 8hours. Theyear1904sawafurther£21 12s6dspentonrepairstotheself-propelled steamfireengine, butby 1905it seemsto havebeencausingsomeconcern,asisclearfromsometerseminutes oftheFinanceCommittee:

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InsuranceFireBrigades1680—1929

Ahorse-drawn steamfireengineofthe NorwichUnionInsuranceSocietybrigadeatWorcester that wasconvertedto self-propulsion in 1900.

thatMr.JecksDranebeinstructed Recommended re:Engine. Worcester 27th1905. February toproceedtoWorcester, inquireintothewholematterandreport. March13th1905. Worcester Fireengine. Mr.Sayceinattendance Special Finance Committee heldMarch13th1905to discussthismatter. April 25th 1905.Worcester.SpecialFinanceCommitteeheld April 25th to discussthis

question. Messrs. Merryweather’s reportsubmitted. fireengineseemsto haveinspiredfire-engine ‘horseless’ thisrevolutionary Despiteproblems, makerstoproducea self-propelled engine,andon29April1905thecommittee recommended thattheNorwichUnionshouldprovidetheirWorcester brigadewithapurpose-built steampropelledsteamfireenginebuiltby Merryweather & Sons,a typeknownas TheFireKing. thattheold ThiscostNorwichunion£1,050,less2.5percent,andtheyalso‘recommended

MrDranereported On 14July1905 opportunity. ofatthefirstfavourable enginebedisposed

to theboardthathe hadattendeda trialof the newmotorfireengine,‘whichpassedoffin a mostsatisfactory manner. Theboardrecommended thattheoldfireenginebeadvertised forsale,butbyDecember had decidedthattheywouldretainthe oldsteamfireengineforthemoment,but useit asa horse TheFireKingbrokedowninDecember1905duetoa faultinthecrank,which drawnmachine. & Sons,but whenthe crankagainbrokein September1906 wasreplacedby Merryweather theDirectors notedthat‘Messrs. Merryweather tobeinformedthattheSocietyconsiders they areentitledto a guarantee ofthenewcrankfor12months,InJanuary1907theyboughtnonskidding tyresforitatacostof£10,andpaid£5 8sforsixnewbrasshelmets forthefiremen,but it wasnottillMay1907thattheystartedto traina numberoftheirfiremenads rivers.Thenext majoradvance in equipment fortheWorcester brigadecamein 1924whentheywereprovided

TheLastDaysoftheInsurance Brigades

207

A FireKingpurpose-built self-propelled steamfireenginebuiltbyMerryweather &Sons.Thiswas purchased forthebrigadeof theNorwichUnionInsuranceSocietyatWorcester in 1905.

withaHatfield motorfireenginemadebyMerryweather &Sons,andtwoyearslaterthepolicefirebrigadewerealsoprovidedwitha motorfireengine,whichmarkedthestartofa process wherethemunicipal brigadenolongerhadto relyonthehelpoftheinsurance brigade. The DistrictManagerin Worcesterwasalsocaptainof the brigade,and thiswasMr A.P.Watkins from1857until1878whenhewassucceeded byThomasA.B.Sayce,hisnephew, whowascaptainuntilhisdeathin 1926.Hisson,A.B.Sayce,tookovertheposition,having joinedthebrigadein r1gorandrisingto the rankof secondofficeruntilhe tookoverthe captaincy. Evenhiswifeplayedanimportantrolein thebrigade,becausewhenthealarmwas givensherushedroundknockingupthefiremen,getting6dforeverymanshecouldgather, whileherhusbandwasgettingup steamin thefireengine.Duringitsexistencethebrigade performeda varietyof non-firefighting duties,rangingfromputtingon demonstrations to raisemoneyforcharity,wateringthe PitchcriftRacecoursefortheWorcester Yeomanry, to pumpingout variousfloodedpremises, one of which,ironically, wasthe citywaterworks, whilemembersofthebrigadetookpartin thecelebrations to markQueenVictoria’s Jubilee in 1887atOxfordandWindsor. Despitethebrigadebeingin existence forseventy-two years, therewereno deathsor seriousinjuriesto firemenon duty,althoughsomelong-serving membersofthebrigadewerehonouredbya funeralparade. Thefirst,in February1884,was inhonourofFiremanR.Williams, withanotherin October1901whenFiremanB.Pricewas buriedattheageofseventy-seven, havingbeena brigadememberforfifty-twoyears. Anaccountofthelastfireeverdealtwithbythelastfireinsurance brigade,on25February 1929,appearsin Berrow’s Worcester Journalfor2 Marchthatyear: TheNorwichUnionFireBrigadereceived a callat9.35a.m.onMondayto a fireattwo brickandtimbernoggedandthatchedcottages situateatPeopleton, eightmilesdistantand

208

InsuranceFireBrigades1680-1929

usedbythebrigadeoftheNorwichUnionInsuranceSocietybrigadeat fireappliance TheHaitfield Worcester from1924untiltheyweredisbanded in 1929. turnedout by ChiefOfficerSayce,andon arrivalfoundthe roofswellalight.Theoccupants

beforethebrigadearrived. someof thefurnitureforsafety, hadremoved andneighbours theice,andthreejetswere afterbreaking froma poolin closeproximity, Waterwasobtained playedonthefire,whichwassoonextinguished. of the TheBrigadehadto removethewholeof thethatchedroofandtheremainder from wasdone.Itisthoughtthefirestartedbyaspark the damage butconsiderable furniture, to Mr.RolandB.WorthofLickhill belonged alight.Theproperty settingthethatch chimney to fromspreading prevented Thefirewas t o beinsured. believed andis Manor,Stourport, w ere Police T heCounty p.m. a t4 r eturned a ndtheBrigade n ear, c ottage t hatched another alsoinattendance.

The followingweekthe NorwichUniondisbandedtheirfirebrigadeat Worcesterand justnorthofWorcester. presentedtheHatfield motorappliance to thecouncilat Droitwich, so ending249 steamfireenginewentto Upton-upon-Severn, The FireKingself-propelled firefighting. with c ompanies ofBritishinsurance yearsofthedirectinvolvement

APPENDIX ONE

AFIREMAN’S BOND

Thebonditself,signedbythefiremanandtwootherpeoplestandingsurety,washeldbythe company. ThisexampleoftheSunFireOfficewasbetweentheprospective fireman,Charles RichardWright,andHughWattswhowassecretary oftheInsurance Company: KnowallMen,bythesePresents,ThatWECharlesRichardWright,Waterman, ofBrunswick Court,Backof ChristChurchSurrey,ThomasFrickerof No. 64 GoldLaneCoalDealer,

GeorgeBurgessof the Georgein FortensBuildings WhiteStreetVictualar areheldand firmlyboundtoHughWattsofCornhillLondonEsquire inOneHundredPounds, oflawful MoneyofGREAT-BRITAIN, to bepaidto thesaidHughWattsor hiscertainAttorney, Executors, Administrators, orAssigns; forwhichPayment, to be wellandtrulymade,we obligeourselves,and eachof us,for theWhole,our and eachof our Heirs,Executors,and Administrators, firmlyby these Presents,sealedwith our Seals,dated this SixtenthDay

ofMarchin theYearofourLord1796andin theThirtySixthYearoftheReignofour SovereignLord,GEORGEtheTHIRD,by the Graceof God,of Great-Britain,France,and Ireland,King,Defenderof the Faith,&c.

Whereas therehathbeenforsomeTimepast,andnowis,anOfficeforInsuringHouses andGoodsfromFIRE,erectedandcarriedon in London,by a Societyof Persons,calledor

distinguished bytheNameof,TheCOMPANY ofLONDONINSURERS or theSUN FIRE-OFFICE: AndwhereasthesaidSocietyhaveadmittedtheabove-bounden Charles RichardWrightto servethemasa FiremanduringtheirPleasure, andpermittedhimto wearablueCoat,andSilverBadge, onwhichthereisa MarkoftheSUN,provided bythe saidSociety: Now,the ConditionofthisObligationissuch,That,if thesaidCharlesRichardWrightshall, anddo,at allTimeshereafter, asoftenashe shallbe informed,know,hear,or haveNotice,of or

fromanyPersonwhomsoever, ofanyFirehappening, orwhichshallhappen, withintheCities of London,orWestminster, or Suburbsthereof,or in theBoroughof Southwark, or anyof the

neighbouring Villages orPlaces, anddothattendatsuchFire,andthenandtheredohisutmost Endeavour, according tothebestofhisSkillandPower, toextinguish andputoutthesame: Andalso,if thesaidCharlesRichardWrightduringanysuchFire,dothnotpurloinor embezzle anyMoney, Wares, Merchandise, Household-Goods, orotherGoods,orThings, of, orbelonging to,anyPersonorPersons inhabiting at,ornear,thePlaceorPlacesofsuchFire; but,in the bestMannerthe Casewillat thatTimeallow,takedown,remove,carryaway,and

safelypreserve thesameinsomeneighbouring Place,andgiveNoticethereofimmediately to theOwnerorOwnersthereof: Andalso,ifthesaidCharlesRichardWrightshallindemnify thesaidSociety, andevery Memberthereof,ofandfromallDamage, Complaints, orTrouble, arisingfromanyNeglect,

210

Insurance FireBrigades 1680-1929

Omissions,or Commission, of the saidCharlesRichardWright.Andalso,if the saidCharles

RichardWrightshallanddo,at allTimeshereafter, civillyandquietlydemeanandcarry himselftowards eachoftheMembers ofthesaidSociety, andobey,execute, performand conformhimselfto,allthe Orders,Directions,and Instructions,which,fromTimeto Time,

shallbesentto him,signedbyoneormoreoftheTrustees, oractingMembers, ofthesaid Society, fortheTimebeing: Andalso,ifthesaidCharles Richard Wrightdoth,atallTimeshereafter, whenrequired by anyOrderofthesaidSociety, oranyTrusteeoractingMemberthereof, bringhisblueCoat, (ifnotwornbythespaceofoneYear), thesaidSilverBadge,andallotherThingsthenin hisCustody, belonging to thesaidSociety, intotheGeneralOfficekeptbythesaidSociety, in Cornhill,London,and theredeliverthemto one of the Clerksof the saidSociety,to be

disposed ofasthesaidSociety, orTrustees, or actingMembers, thereof,shallthinkfit;and shallnotatanyTimedoanyAct,Matter,orThing,to theHurtandPrejudice ofthesaid Society:Then,thisObligationto be void,or elsetoremainin FullForceandVirtue.

Sealedanddelivered (beingfirstdulystamped) inthe Presence ofChas.Rd.Wright, JamesBarclay Jun. Tho’Fricker, GeorgeBurgess.

APPENDIX TWO

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE WESTMINSTER INSURANCE COMPANY ANDITSFIREMEN KnowAllMenByThesePresents, ThatWe.................0664 Threeof the presentDirectors oftheWestminster Insurance Officein theSumof......Pounds ofLawfulMoneyofGreat Britaintobepaidto thesaid... theiroreitheroftheircertainAttorneys, Executors orAdministrators, towhichpayment wellandtrulytobemade,WeBindourselves, andeach ofusbyhimself, bythesepresents, sealedwithourSeals, Datedthe............. WG1 THE screens enEIRRE SMCS YearoftheReignofourSovereign Lord,Georgethe...............by theGraceof God,of GreatBritain,FranceandIreland,King,Defenderof the Faith,andso Forth.

Whereas TheDirectors of theWestminster Contributionship, Did,on................ Electand Chusetheabovebounden.................. totheirService, tobeEmployed inextinguishing Fire, thatshallormayhappenwithintheLimitsoftheirInsurance. Andtorendertheservice ofthesaid................ Effectual totheSociety, thesaidDirectors have committed to hisTrustandCustody, OnePreventor, andPole-ax, andalsoa SilverBadge, No.......bearingthe Impressionof the PortcullisandFeathers,andalsoa Suitof Cloaths,asa

Testimony ofhisbeingOneoftheirWatermen, theReceiptwhereof thesaid............... Doth herebyAcknowledge: NowtheConditionofthisObligation issuch,thatthesaid.................... hisExecutors or Administrators, Doandshallat anyTimeorTimeshereafter, whenandasoftenashe or anyofthemshallbehereuntorequired, Re-deliver andgiveupuntothesaidDirectors for theTimebeing,or theirAssigns,the saidPreventor andPole-Ax, andthesaidSilverBadge Niven: and the saidsuit of Cloaths,withoutany damagedone to the same,reasonable

wearingexcepted:

Andalsodoandshallbehavehimself Diligently, andfaithfully anddulyexecutetheTrustthat isreposed inhimasaWaterman inthesaidOffice, duringhiscontinuance intheService of thesaidSociety, thenthisObligation tobeVoid,orelseremaininfullforce.

APPENDIX THREE

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THEFIREMEN ANDPORTERS OFTHELONDONASSURANCE COMPANY, 1752 . ThatatallAlarms ofFire,whereanEngineisnecessary the FiremenandPortersdo takeCare,thatone or more

oftheEngines belonging tothisCorporation, be forthwith conveyed tothePlacewheretheFireis,in ordertoextinguish thesame.

That the FiremenandPortersat allAlarmsof Fire,do

makehastetothePlacewheretheFireis,usingtheir bestEndeavours to extinguish thesame,andtosave anyGoodsinDanger. ThattheFiremen andPorters, whenonDuty,doobeysuch OrdersandDirections, asshallbegivenbyanyof theForemen: Andifnoneofthemarepresent, thento actinsuchMannerastheyshalljudgemostforthe BenefitoftheCorporation. ThateveryFireman andPorter,attheirfirstcoming to a Fire,do shewthemselvesto one or moreof the Foremen,andreceiveInstructionsfromhim or them, whereandhowto act;andthatone or moreof the

Foremen takeNoticeaswellastheycan,oftheTime ofeachMan’s firstAppearance; andeveryFireman andPorterthatdoesnotgivesuchNoticeshallbe esteemed asabsent; astheyshallbewhocomenotin to dosomerealService, wheretheFireisoflong Continuance. ThattheFiremen weartheirBadges, andhavetheir Certificates always aboutthemto distinguish them; andifanyhappentobepressed forwantthereof, theChargethatshalltherebybeoccasioned, such Firemanshallbear;AndallFiremenandPortersare

tohavetheNumberoftheirBadges affixed inWhite upontheSleeves oftheirWaistcoats, thatinCase theyworkintheirWaistcoats atFires,theymaybe

Appendix Three known;andifanyfiremanorPortershallbefound workingatanyFirewithouttheNumberofhisBadge affixedasaforesaid, suchFiremanor Portershall

beforthwith discharged theServiceoftheCorporation. 6. ThatnoFireman shallcauselessly deface, pulldown, ordestroy anyThingwhatsoever, thatisnot apparently necessary forpreventing thespreading of theFire. 7. Thatif anyFiremanor Porterin Drink,or otherwise,

dobehaverudely, negligently, ordisorderly, that then the Foremanshalltakefromhim hisBadge,etc., anddeliverit into the Office,withanAccountof suchBehaviour. 8. Thatthe Firemenor Porters,who behavethemselves

courteously, andwithDiligence andFidelity, may acceptMoneythatisvoluntarily offeredandgiven, leaving NoticethereofinWriting,withtheSecretary

or someof the Clerksin the Office,inTwenty-four Hours;but shallnot exact,askfor,or demandany

Moneyfromanysuffering Person(orthatislikelyto suffer);nor shalltheyfavouranyPersonfor Reward,

Promise, orThreat,insecuring hisHouse,preferable toanother; butapplythemselves fortheSecurity of thatwhichismostexposed to Danger. g. ThatatallFires,theForemen doenquireintothesame, andhowit happened, andcertifyfortheFiremen and Porterspresent, theTimeoftheirrespective Appearance, Discharge andDeparture fromthesame, andalsotheirrespective Diligence, Behaviour and Service: AnduponanyAlarmofFiretheForemen, and inCaseoftheirAbsence theFiremen andPortersare togetfromthesufferers a certificate oftheir Attendance,andleaveit at the Office.

10.ThatifanyPerson, whoseHouseisonFire,willnot admittheFiremen andEngineers towork,subdueand extinguish thesame,orthePortersto removethe Goods,the Foremanor Foremen,his,or theirDeputies,

shallthendeclareagainst him,andtakeWitnesses of suchRefusalandDeclaration; andifanyunrulyPersons obstructtheirWork,thento chargea Constable with them. 11.ThatwhenanyGovernor orDirectorshallhappentobe presentatanyFire,theForemen, andallothers underthem,shallimmediately obeytheOrdersofsuch Governor orDirector.

214

Insurance FireBrigades 1680-1929 Lastly, whenOccasion requires, theFiremen and Portersaremutually to assistoneanother, viz:The Firemen thePortersinremoving GoodsinDanger; and thePorterstheFiremen inextinguishing Fires.And theFiremen andPortersarestrictlyorderedto call theirForeman to allFiresandAlarms, onpainof beingdischarged. N.B.The aboveOrders,RulesandDirections

aretobeobserved byallPartiesconcerned, uponpainofbeingcashiered: AndeveryFireman isrequired to givehisName,andPlaceof Abode, inwriting,tobestuckupinWatch HousesneartheirAbode,in orderto be called

onanyOccasion.

APPENDIX FOUR

REGULATIONS FORTHEFIREMEN OFTHEYORKSHIRE INSURANCE COMPANY, 1829 1. ThattheHatoftheForeman bemarkedForeman and thoseoftheFiremen from1to 12commencing with No.1fortheDeputyForeman. 2. OnanalarmofFireeveryFireman istomakethe greatest hastetogetonhisJacketandHatandthose livingneartheEngineHouseareto gothere immediately to assistintakingtheEnginetothe premises onfireandifit begonetheyaretofollow it withallpossible speed. 3. TheEnginemustproceedtotheFireassoonasthe Foreman oroneFireman withhisJacketandHatonis presentwithsufficient assistance todrawit. 4. Allthe menareto be underthe commandof the Foreman andin hisabsence,of the Firemanwiththe lowest numberon hisHat.

5. AnyFireman disobeying theOrdersoftheForeman or Firemanin commandshallbe fined§s.for the first

offence anddischarged forthesecond.

6. ThefirstFireman orotherpersongivingthealarmat theEngineHouseinrealcasesofFireandstaying toassist withtheEngineshallreceive 2s.6d. 7. Thefirstpersongivingthealarmto theWaterWorks inrealcasesofFireandstaying toseethata Turnkey issentshallreceive 2s.6d.reward. 8. Whenarrivedatthepremises onFirethefirstobject istochooseaneligible situation toplayfromandin doingthisit willbepropertobearinmindthatin mostcasesit isdesirable toplacetheEngineto Windward ofthepremises onFireastheforceofthe

216

Insurance FireBrigades 1680-1929 Windwillgreatlyassistinthedischarge ofthe Waterinoneclosecolumnwhileplaying against the Windtendstodisperse it. It isalsodesirable to recommend allpersons residing inthevicinityofa Firetokeeptheirdoorsand windows shut.

10.

TheForeman shouldasearlyaspossible sendnotice ofanyFireto theOffice.

Il.

TheForeman andFireman areatalltimesto remember thattheEngineisthesolepropertyoftheYorkshire Insurance Company andtherefore isnotsubjectto the controlorordersofthePolice, theMilitary orany otherpersonwhatsoever andalsothatwhenpremises orGoodsonwhichanyInsurance existsareonfire theybecomethepropertyoftheofficeinwhichthey areinsuredandconsequently theForeman mustact according to thebestofhisownjudgement topreserve thepropertyindanger.

12.

Whennecessary twosetsofassistants of24meneach maybetakentoworktheEnginetorelieveeachother everyhalfhour.

tobegivento thosepersons ij. Ticketsshallbeprovided whoassisttoworktheEnginewhoshallbepaidat therateof6d.eachforeveryhalfhoursworkthereat. 14.WaterCarriersandotherWorkmenshallreceive3d.

foreveryhalfhoursworkbutareonlytobeemployed bytheForeman incasesofemergency whenwatercannot behadbyanyothermeans.

aticket. IS. Nopersonshallbepaidwhocannotproduce 16. TheFiremen belonging to theEstablishment shall

receiveIs.forthefirsthouriftherewiththe Engineatthebeginning, and6d.foreachhour afterwards including thewholetimeofattendance whetheratworkornot.

¥7:Whencalledouttoa FirenoBeershallbeallowed

duringthefirsthourafterthearrivaloftheEngine andafterthattimeonlyonepintperManeverytwo hourswhichbeershallbeorderedbytheFireman in command andforwhichheshallgivea tickettothe personofwhomheprocures it,statingthequantity. Ticketsforthispurposewillbefurnished bytheOffice.

Appendix Four 18. AnyFireman orderingmoreBeerthanisallowed himby

theForeman orcomplaining abouttheallowance during thetimeofa fireshallforfeit2s.6d.besides payingfortheliquorsoorderedbyhim.

19.AnyFiremanquarrellingor disputingwhenon Duty

shallforfeit2s.6d.

20.

AnyFireman gettingdrunkwhenonDutyshallforfeitss.

21.

AnyFireman notattending ata Fireshallbefined 2s.6d.unlesshecangivea truereasonforbeing absentwhichshallbesatisfactory totheOffice.

22.

Allforfeits shallbededucted fromthepayoftheMen andplacedto anaccounttobegiventoanyFireman suffering fromaninjurysustained ata fireatthe discretion oftheOffice.

217

APPENDIX FIVE

REGULATIONS FORTHEENGINES ANDFIREMEN BELONGING TO THECOUNTYFIREOFFICEIN PROVINCIAL TOWNS,1833 1. AnEngineer andTenFiremen aretobeappointed to eachengine. Theyshouldallbeyoungmen. 2. TheEngineer shouldbea PlumberorWhitsmith by trade,atalleventsa working Mechanic. Someofthe Firemen shouldbeCarpenters, orothertradesmen in thebuilding line,iftheycanbeprocured, others maybecommonLabourers. 3. The menareto be numbered,andin the absenceof the Engineer,one isto actin hisstead,accordingto hisnumber.

4. TheEngineer istobeallowed anannualFeeofOne Pound,forkeepingtheEngineandappurtenances in safetyandgoodorder,andFiveshillings forevery Firehe attendswith the Engine;andif he have

occasion toworkit,Fiveshillings forTrainor Neat’s-foot OiltoliquortheHoseandoccasionally the Buckets,andalsothe ChainsandForcersof the

Engine. 5. TheregularFiremen tohaveSixpence anhourforthe timetheyareatwork,andincomingandreturning, butsoasnotto exceedFiveshillings permaninone dayandnightoftwenty-four hours;nothingfora falseAlarm,or wherethe Fireisextinguishedbefore

theirarrival. 6. CommonLabourersassistingmayhaveThreepencean hour, andbread,cheese,andbeer,to the valueofThreepence

anhourmore;orifnoRefreshment begiven,theymay havenotexceeding Sixpence anhour,according to circumstances.

Appendix Five TheAgentisnotto authorise thesupplyofother Refreshments thanasabove, nortosufferanyto partakeoftheRefreshments hehasordered, whohave

not workedwell:andhe is to rejectbillsfor Refreshmentswhichhe hasnot ordered.

TheEngineisonlytobetakenoutupongood informationthatit isreallywanted;andnot then,

unlessit betoprotectProperty insuredinthe County, oruponanundertaking thatallExpenses will bepaidbythepartyorpartiesinterested. Ifthe Firebe furtherthantwo milesfromtheTown,

notmorethanfourFiremen, including theEngineer, aretoproceedwiththeEngine; theymaybeassisted inpumping byLabourers onthespot. 10.

AftertheFireisthoroughly subdued it isseldom necessary toleavemorethantwomenonthewatchthe following night;andnotthatnumber, unlessproperty beexposed to depredation; ortotakefire,shouldthe remains rekindle.

Dane Whenthe Fireiswithintwo milesof theTown,and

theEngineisnotworkedmorethantwohoursornot atall,theChargefortheuseoftheEngineis£1. ButiftheEnginebeworkedforalongertime,orit beruntoa greaterdistance, thechargeis£2. I2.

WhereanyotherPartythanTheCountyFireOfficeis interestedin a Fire,the FireBillshouldbe

immediately madeout,andcontaintheCharges forthe UseoftheEngine, fortheAttendance oftheEngineer, forOilingtheEngineandPipes,HorsingtheEngine, RepairsofanythingDamaged, theFiremen, Others Assisting, andauthorised Refreshments. 13.ThePartiestobedeemedinterested instopping a Fire aretheOffices insuring theProperty destroyed, orso immediately nearandexposed toit,thatbutforthe exertionsused,it musthavebeenalsodestroyed;

andtheOwnersofsimilar Property, runningtheirown insurance, orbeingunderinsured. 14.TheExpences arethentobedividedrateably between

theseParties, according totheinterests they respectively hadatstake. TheAgentfortheCountyis to paynomorethantheproportion duefromhisOffice fortheexpences incurred. IfotherPartiesfail topayhimtheirproportion fortheuseoftheEngine, &c. heisnottolettheEnginegooutona futureoccasion for theirassistance.

219

FURTHERREADING

1985. FireMarkCirclePublications, Buttons. Company Bain,E &Wright,B.,FireInsurance Routledge&KeganPaul:London,1957. oftheBritishFireService. G.V.,A History Blackstone, 1696-1996. Society, Henham,B.,HandinHand:TheStoryoftheHandinHandFire& LifeInsurance Commercial UnionAssurance: London,1996. Books:Romford,2000. Braidwood Henham,B.,TrueHero:TheLifeandTimesofJamesBraidwood. Henham,B.&Sharp,B.,Badges ofExtinction. QuillerPress:London,1989. andSchemes Projects Institutions, Associations, Companies, oftheFireInsurance Relton,EB.,AnAccount

Swan the17thand18thCenturies. during andIreland Britain inGreat andprojected Established

Sonnenschein: London,1893.

Layton:London,1927. FireBrigades. Office B.,FireMarksandInsurance Williams, Woodhead-Faulkner:Cambridge, 1982. Wright, B., TheBritishFireMark, 1680-1879.

Wright,B.,Firemen’s Uniform, ShirePublications: Risborough, 1991.

INDEX

Italicsindicatean illustration.

Aberdeen26,49 AlbionInsuranceCompany41 Alliance Assurance Company30,35,40,52,103, IIS, 142,165,I7I, 195,204

AtlasAssurance Company30,33,53,69,83,103,

Chance,fire dog 69-71, 72,96

Chartistriots 170 CorporationofLondoninsurancescheme19,22 Cost,offirefighting10,37-8,81-2,90,162,163, 164,I71—2,187,188,195 County Fire Office 74, 101,104,111,112,IIIS,

137,139,146,155,162,164,166,Appendix 5

162,165,I7I CoventGardenTheatre 11 Axes 38,58,84,89, I10,119,133,134,139-42,148, Cudgels$3,134,138 158,168,174 Badges 20,22,23,38,41,47,48,60, 61,73,84,85, 86,87,94,99-103, I6I, 212 Barbon,Nicolas 19,20,21,39

DaysofMarching54,55,58,76,140 Deaths,offiremen39,78-9,176 Drivers,fireengine $I,75,109,112,116-7,118, 120,148,174,206

BathFireOffice25,113,142,162 BathSunFireOffice76,113,138,162

EagleFire&LifeInsuranceCompany30,47,$0,

Benefits,firemen’s 46,47,48,73,76, 85 Beer §0,80,81-82,128,131,I$I, 154,155,158, 216-7,218

EdinburghFireEngineEstablishment (E.FE.E.) 96,163,165

Birmingham FireOfficeCompany49,204 Birmingham UnitedFireBrigade195,196,201 Bonds,fireman’s46,47,48, 52,84,Appendix 1 Boots 49,62, 86,88,89,91, 103,106,120 Bow StreetRunners 37,38,159

$2,43,62,90, 107,I12,117,160,162

Edinburgh Friendly Society24

Essex&SuffolkInsuranceSociety80,81,85, 109,125,142,143,146,147,IS1,200-1,202 Exemptioncertificates47,48

Braidwood, James 10,46,64,94,107,I14,I15,128, FireActs31,32,34,44,47,49,SI,75,149,184, 131,142,163,164,165,166,168,169,170,I71, 172,173,174,176,178,179,180,181,182,I9I

189 Fire dogs 69,71,72,96

Briefs 19 Fireengines: Bristol26,49,123,192,198,200 carriage I10,127,128,149 BristolCrownFireOffice24,91,123 floating38,50,107,116,128—30, 130,132,164, BritishFireOffice 25,112,115,166,172 165,167,176,192,194 Buckets12,13,15,18,25,27,28,30,38,44,49,81, Keeling87,123,123, QI,I10,III, 119,121,133,134—8, 136-8,139,148, ISI, 155,1§8,192,203,218

124,125,126, Newsham 45,107,109,123—4,

127, 147

Burialfund 37

semi-rotary126

Buttons 49,88,89, 104,105,168

steam 128,129,142,174,182,186,I91, 198,200, 201,204,205,206,207,208

Caledonian InsuranceCompany109,134,163

222

Insurance FireBrigades 1680-1929

squirt 13,15,18,31,121,122

Firestationsandenginehouses42,49,74,75; 109,III, 112,113,114,115,117,148,146,160,162, 164,165,167,170,182,187,188,195,196,197,

203 Firebags 45,87,123,134,142,1§2,153 Firehooks 13,14,27,28,30,38,84,85,134,139, 158 Fire marks 20,21,22,23,41,§2, 147,154 Fire Office,the 19,20,21,22, 39,84,99, 121,I61 Firepatrol 38,161,162

Liverpool &London &GlobeInsurance

Company 70,72,102,106,143,I91, 197,198,201 LondonAssurance 24, 31,46,47,48, 53,57,OI, 75579»80,84,85,99, 101,IIT,118,125,130,131,

156,157,162,165,166,172,Appendix 3 LondonFireEngineEstablishment (L.FE.E.)26, 37,38,46, 50,63,79, 80,94,96,107,114,115,128, 120,131,132,142,147,165-89 Mace_ 56,133,

Manchester InsuranceOffice $2 uniform86,89-91 Fireplugs30,31,32,33,51,52,149,150,158,168, Materials,

170, 199

Ford,CharlesBell 165

Foremen§0,$4,57,59,61,62,63,74,75,76,79;

80, 86,90, 95,99, 101,102,103,III, II§, 131,134, 148 158,165,166,174,212-13

NewBristolFireOffice 142 Newcastle & Gateshead fire 193-5 North BritishInsuranceCompany 30, 163,193,

163 Friendly Society ofEdinburgh

195 NorthernAssurance Company75,137 NorwichUnionFireInsuranceSociety§2,54,

GreatFireofLondon16,17,18,19,122,170 Guardian Assurance Company46,$3,63,77,86,

Parishengines33,42,43,44,83,143,170184,185

FriendlySociety, the 20,21,22,61

58,76, 82,84,95,98, 103,107,III, 129,138,140, Globe InsuranceCompany 30, 162,165,I71, 181, 141, 142, 144, 146, 153, 155, 156, 160, 206, 207, 208 186 Number of firemenin London 115-6,185,188 95,103,115,166

Handin HandFireOffice 21,22,23,27,32,36,

47,60,63,64,67,77,85,87,88,91,99,103,104, 116,121,123,147,161,166,171

Hats(beavers)92,93,94 Helmets50,84,87,88,91-9,106,206, HerculesFireinsuranceCompany163 HibernianInsuranceCompany25 Horses 46, 51,54,58,75,77, 106,112,114,116-20, 127,129,147,148,149,150,152,157,158,167, 185,188

Horwood,Richard 35 Hose 37,38,50,54,63, 71,7§,86, III, I21, 122, 125,127,128,131,133-4,149,155,158,159,176,

204 HousesofParliament fire 96,168-71, ImperialFireInsuranceCompany30,46,103, 115,165,171,181,198,199,200

InsuranceCompanyofScotland163 Injuries,firemen’s38,76-9,176,207 KentInsuranceOffice 47,85,90,92,98,103,112 Lancashire FireInsuranceCompany204 LeedsFireOffice26,113 Links,lighting118,143-4

Liverpool FireOffice30 Liverpool &London Insurance Company 97

186,

Pay,firemen’s61,73-76 Phenix Fire Office 20,22 PhoenixAssuranceCompany 25,26, 28,29, 30,

31,33,35,45,46,49,57,62,74,76,84,89,90, 102,103,113,116,125,126,160,161,162,164, 166,172,204

Porters(salvage men) 38,41,42,46,48,49,52,

53,54,57,58,60,61,74,76,77,78,79,84,86,

89,90, 99, 100,101,102,103,106,III, 142,146, 147,148,152,153,156,161,212-4

Povey, Charles22,73,84,116 ProtectorInsuranceCompany41,101,165

‘Rejected Addresses’, poem.66-9

Retirement, of firemen 26, 38,63,64,79-80, 166, 188

Rewards, paidbyinsurance companies 36,38, 82-3,159,194 RomanFirebrigade 12-3,139 RoyalExchangefire 16,31,148,I7I

Royal ExchangeAssurance 24,25,26,28, 36,42,

49,57,58,75,78,80,81,86,89,91,99,103,104,

107,108,115,117,118,124,134,135,139,142,149,

I61, 162,163,164,165,170,172,181,192

RoyalInsuranceCompany25,72,90,91,I17, 143,157,166,181,195,201,203

RoyalSociety fortheProtection ofLifefrom Fire 63, 172-3,175,180,186,187,189-90

Index SalopFire Office 28,40,74,91, 113,136,146,

204 ScottishUnionInsuranceCompany147,163, 172 SelectCommittee to considerLondon’s

firefighting182,184-7 Shaw,Eyre Massey 50,64,98, 106,IIS, 128,181, 183,184,187,189

Shropshire &NorthWales Assurance Society4a, 204 Smokemasks142,143

Sun Fire Office 7, 11,23,2§,26, 27,20, 30,31,

36,37,44,45,50,56,$8,59,60,61,62,63,73,

76,77;78,79,80, 82,84,86,87,88,90,91,99, 100,101,103,104,105,106,107,113,I1§,116,119,

123,126,129,131,133,135,138,140,141,142, 143,146,147,192,1§§,156,161,162,164,165, 172,181,185,193,198,Appendix I Supernumeraries 48, 51-2

TooleyStreetfire 64,173-8,177,178,179,181 TowerofLondonfire 70,171 Truncheons$3,138-9 Turncock 31,44, $1,114,150,186

223

Tozer,Alfred176,191 Tozer,Robert 63,64 Uniforms26,30,37,38,42,47,48,49,52,54,62, 84-106,158,165,166,192,193,205 Union Fire Office 23, 30,32,33,35,40,48, 54, 56,64, 65,102,103,104,147

Volunteer pumpers38,50,75,80-1,83,86,116, 124,128,129,130,131,ISI,154,157,176,194, Watersupplies 10,12,15,16,30,31,128,149-51, 166,199,

WatermanFireman, song 64-6 WestofEnglandInsuranceCompany55,97,98, 103,120,139,166,198

Westminster InsuranceOffice23,48,50,$4,61, 77,84,89,90,91,99,109,IIS,147,156,165,176, 211,Appendix2 YorkshireInsuranceCompany $1,$3,75,77,82; gO,109,IIS, 120,128,135,144,147,149,ISI,

197,Appendix 4

York&NorthofEnglandAssurance Company 197

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TheRomansin Britainhad well-organised firebrigades,but theseceasedaftertheyleft Britainin the fifthcentury.Afterthattherewasno organisedfireserviceandfireswereboth commonanddevastating culminating in the 1666GreatFireof London.It wasnot until1680thatthe firstinsurancecompany, the FireOffice,wasestablished in LondonbyNicholasBarbon.TheGovernment tooknointerestin thesubject so it wasinsurancecompanies thatpioneeredthe fireserviceforalmost200years.Fewpeoplerealisethe importantparttheyplayednotonlyin layingthefoundationforthemodernBritishfireservicebutalsoin preserving so muchof the historicpropertythatweappreciate today.Theyusedmanualfireenginesuntil the 1880s, mannedbyvolunteers whowereoftenpaidin beer.Theinsurancecompanies alsoprovidednew andimproved watersuppliesandpioneeredtheimprovement of fireproofingandFireActs.Eventually, and in manycasesreluctantly, localauthorities tookoverresponsibility forfirefighting andtheinsurance brigades beganto disappear, butit wasnotuntil1929thatthelastinsurance brigadeputoutitslastfire. aseven Thisbookdispelsthe erroneousmyththatthesebrigadesonlyfoughtfiresin insuredproperties, paints t he author fromtheirveryearliestdaystheyfoughtallfires.Usingthehistoricrecordsof the brigades a pictureof thesemenwhowereseenasheroesin theirday—strong,independent, fondof drink,butalso immensely bravedoingajobthatfewtodaywouldtackle,giventheirrelatively simpleequipment. Thefiremen inmajorcitieshadmagnificent uniformsin brightcolours,manyofwhicharefeaturedin thisbookalongside morethan150illustrations, includinga fullcoloursection. | ’s in 2002forTempusandFiremen Dragons BrianWrighthaswrittena numberofbooks,includingSomerset Uniform andFirefighting Equipment forShirePublications. Helivesin Somerset.

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