Heritage panels tell the story of city fire stations
Malc Tovey, a former Sub Officer at Eastern Station, Asfordby Street/Hastings Road, offers a guide to the former fire stations of Leicester, and how they have been commemorated
MANY of us have seen or even read the heritage panels around the city. They are a part of the city council Story of Leicester, giving information on landmarks, manufacturing, transport, buildings and people.
There are now 300 panels. I have been involved with the history of Leicester Fire Service, mainly the fire stations that were and those still standing, from 1836 to the present day.
I wonder how many people realise when they walk past certain buildings in the town centre that there used to be a fire station.
Once, you may have seen the big red appliance room doors automatically swing open and heard the bells ringing in the control room and on the station, with the horses’ ears pricking up as the stable doors also automatically opened.
The horses would trot towards the steam engines, awaiting the collar and harness.
By this time, firemen would be getting dressed in kit and ready to mount the engine. Then, slowly, the steamer would pull out of the station into the street and away at full gallop with sparks coming from the horses.
It must of been a spectacular site to watch, especially for the kids.
Leicester Borough Fire Brigade dates from 1836. It appears the manual fire engines and equipment were stored at the police headquarters at the Town Hall, Guild Lane.
This fire station did not last too long as the police wanted the space for more cells so the machines and equipment were places in various parts of the borough.
No 2 Bowling Green Street – 1849 to 1873
This fire station was erected on the corner of Bowling Green Street and Horsefair Street near the then cattle market where today stands the Town Hall (built 1876).
The police appeared to have been used to supplement the declining numbers of firemen and were known as fire bobbies. This ceased by January 1871.
Horsefair Street – 1873 to 1876
Until the new fire station was built, they found empty stables in Horsefair Street, though no information exists as to its whereabouts.
Bowling Green Street – 1876 to 1892
The fire station was going to be built on part of the police parade ground, but it was said that it would be too small to accommodate all the engines and equipment.
In the end it was decided to built it at the rear of the Town Hall.
Superintendent John Johnson lived above the station and the men lived near the station in Albion Street and Stamford Street.
The panel is on the opposite side to where the fire station stood.
Fire Brigade Horses
Up to the 1890s the brigade did not own any horses to pull its fire but would rent post horses for £3.3.0 up to four miles, £4.4.0 for up to 10 miles.
By 1890/91, the brigade had four of its own horses and at the same time set on fireman Walter Parker as brigade horsekeeper and coachman.
Horses were kept at the stables in Bishop Street. When the Rutland Street station opened in 1892 the brigade owned six horses.
Central Fire Station, Rutland Street – 1892 to 1927
Bowling Green Street was now too small and utterly inadequate to store horse-drawn steam fire engines.
After looking for land to build on, they decided on Rutland Street.
The panel is opposite the LCB Depot.
The city bus replaced the fire station.
Asfordby Street – 1899 to 1973
North Evington was expanding at a rapid rate, with many large factories built, so a new fire station was required.
In 1897, a suitable plot was bought to build the new fire/police station.
The station was opened in Oct ober 1899 with 2nd Engineer George Law in charge of four auxiliary firemen.
Towards the end of 1970s the station was getting too busy for one pump, so another station site was sought.
The station closed on the February 5, 1973 and moved to today’s Hastings Road station.
Asfordby Street fire/police station still stands. There is a panel on a metal fence.
Central Fire Station, Lancaster Road – opened 1927
Rutland Street station became inadequate for the nine motor fire engines plus five ambulances.
A much bigger station was required. A plot was found in Lancaster Road for an eight-bay station with 40 brigade houses plus a 90ft drill tower.
When opened on July 6, 1927, it was said to be the best equipped in the world.
There is a panel outside the station.
Loughborough Road, Belgrave – 1890 to 1909
The Belgrave Police Force belonged to the county when it was formed in 1878 but in 1891 when the boundary changed it became Leicester Borough/City Police Force until 1930.
The Belgrave Fire Brigade belonged to the people of Belgrave when it was formed in 1890. It closed in 1909.
There is a panel outside the now empty building.
Insurance Fire Brigade, Phoenix House, Welford Place
In 1834 Leicester’s first insurance fire brigade was set up as Leicestershire & Midland & County Fire & Life Insurance Company.
In 1843 the company met with financial disaster and the Sun Fire Office & Sun Fire Brigade took over, with two horse-drawn manual pumps.
It worked alongside the Borough Fire Brigade but diminished by 1875 when the Bowling Green Street Fire Station opened in 1876.
This is the oldest surviving fire station in Leicester, although the doors on the front of thebuilding have been replaced with windows.
There is a panel outside.
Rowley Hosiery Factory, Queen Street
One of Leicester’s biggest fires occurred at Rowley’s, Queen Street, on the October 5, 1911.
It was the largest hosiery warehouse in Leicester, where 700 to 800 people worked.
Chief Officer Neal turned out the whole brigade of 27 firemen, two steamers plus the 58ft turntable ladder.
The top floor was well alight on arrival and the fire spread to many buildings including St George’s Church.
There is a panel on the wall of the building, which has been converted into flats.
There are two other fire stations, Western, in Aikman Avenue, which will have been opened 60 years next year and Eastern, which has just celebrated its 50th year.
They will have to wait a few more years before they get a heritage panel.