Fire Brigade Gallery

LCC-LFB Tooley Street fire station and its crews

Built in 1879, and located at 165 Tooley Street, this station remained operational until 1928 when the new Dockhead fire station was opened and the engines and crews transferred there. This building still stands in Tooley Street today. A Dennis pump and pump escape are pictured and a child can be seen at a first floor window (the firemen lived at the station along with their families)

© London Fire Brigade / Mary Evans Picture Library

LCC-MFB Cherry Garden river fire station, SE London

Built by the London County Council, Cherry Garden river fire station was located at Cherry Garden Street in Bermondsey. It was one of four Metropolitan Fire Brigade river stations and, from 1904, the London Fire Brigade. Fireboat Delta was stationed here, followed later by its replacement Gamma III. Although no land fire engines were stationed at Cherry Garden, as can be seen the station maintained a wheeled escape and a hose cart, together with two hook ladders. It remained open until 1948 when, after the fire service was denationalised, London's river service came under review. Cherry Garden was deemed unnecessary and was closed

© London Fire Brigade / Mary Evans Picture Library

LCC-LFB Merryweather self-propelled Fire King pump

First introduced into the UK by Merryweather of Greenwich, SE London, in 1899, by 1907 twenty-one Fire Kings were in operational use around the country, including the London Fire Brigade. A modified Fire King was stationed at Whitefriars fire station in the City of London. The Fire King could travel at a speed of 20-30 mph but was unable to negotiate a significant gradient without stopping to build a sufficient head of steam. Seen here with crew at the London Fire Brigade headquarters, Southwark SE1

© London Fire Brigade / Mary Evans Picture Library