Firefighting in Sunderland dates back to the time when people first inhabited the area around the mouth of the River Wear, as, history shows, the careless actions of people are the main causes of fires. It is known that the Romans had a large fire service known as the Corps of Vigiles which was equipped with ladders, pumps and other tools to enable them to remove the roofs of burning buildings.
The history of organised firefighting in Sunderland is relatively short, compared with the history of the town itself. The recorded history of the town dates dates back to AD674 but it wasn't until 1855 that attempts were made to properly organise firefighting.
Firefighting in the 18th century was the legal duty of the Church Authorities. In 1707, an Act of Parliament was passed and the churchwardens of each parish were obliged to provide equipment and manpower to deal with any outbreak of fire within the parish. Each of the three Parish churches did provide the equipment , and although none of them set up a Fire Brigade as such, they all contracted with someone to look after the fire engines and attend all fires. The contractor provided the assistants to man the pumps who were recruited from passers-by or bystanders at the fire.
These assistants were paid a few pence an hour and were also provided with refreshments in the form of ale, for the thirsty work of manning the pumps.
The poster on the right was circulated following the fire at Fenwick's Brewery;
If you helped at the fire it is not too late to claim - proof needed!
On 24th March 1795, the army established a barracks in Sunderland and the War Office provided a manual fire engine for the protection of the barracks itself, but, if requested, the Army would often assist at large fires in the town with the barracks fire engine.
The opening of Wearmouth Bridge in 1796 afforded quicker communication between the North and South sides of the river and enabled the barrack's fire engine to be taken to Monkwearmouth and beyond.
The history of organised firefighting in Sunderland is relatively short, compared with the history of the town itself. The recorded history of the town dates dates back to AD674 but it wasn't until 1855 that attempts were made to properly organise firefighting.
Firefighting in the 18th century was the legal duty of the Church Authorities. In 1707, an Act of Parliament was passed and the churchwardens of each parish were obliged to provide equipment and manpower to deal with any outbreak of fire within the parish. Each of the three Parish churches did provide the equipment , and although none of them set up a Fire Brigade as such, they all contracted with someone to look after the fire engines and attend all fires. The contractor provided the assistants to man the pumps who were recruited from passers-by or bystanders at the fire.
These assistants were paid a few pence an hour and were also provided with refreshments in the form of ale, for the thirsty work of manning the pumps.
The poster on the right was circulated following the fire at Fenwick's Brewery;
If you helped at the fire it is not too late to claim - proof needed!
On 24th March 1795, the army established a barracks in Sunderland and the War Office provided a manual fire engine for the protection of the barracks itself, but, if requested, the Army would often assist at large fires in the town with the barracks fire engine.
The opening of Wearmouth Bridge in 1796 afforded quicker communication between the North and South sides of the river and enabled the barrack's fire engine to be taken to Monkwearmouth and beyond.
For nearly 60 years we would see many fires, including those with fatalities. Friday 13th January 1837 was a particularly unlucky day for the Patent Rope Manufactory or R Webster Esq at Deptford, on the banks of the Wear, when it was destroyed by fire. To prevent the flames reaching adjacent property, the walls of a warehouse had to be broken down and barrels of tar were removed and thrown into the river. Men from the shipyards assisted at the fire and the respective parish fire engines attended. The Army was summoned and the 56th Regiment under the guidance of Major FG Leighton rendered very efficient assistance to Police constables Hedley, Hall, Bailes, Browell and Annison.
Not until 1855 when the council decided that we should have a Fire Extinguishing Department and on 6th December of that year , the Sunderland Fire Brigade was formed. The department would be part of the police and be under the control of Superintendent Gifford, being divided three sections. The Fire Insurance Offices paid for the extinguishing of the fires, the men were only paid when they practiced, which was the only cost of the brigade.
Records leading up to the end of the century showed that the firefighting apparatus was not improved upon, personnel were not given adequate training, and , bearing in mind the increases in the size of the town, and in particular the size of the buildings, in retrospect, it was inevitable that some kind of disaster would happen.
In the late evening of 18th July 1898, the inevitable disaster happened. A fire which broke out in George Henry Robinson's Havelock House, found the local authorities ill prepared to deal with it. The fire resulted in the destruction and damage to 12 business premises in High Street West, 11 premises in Fawcett Street, 22 shops, offices and a Weslyan Chapel in John Street and 3 shops in Bridge Street.
A scene after the havelock House fire taken in John Street viewing Risdons store.
An early Fire Tender goes through Sunderland .
Acknowledgement
The information on this page is a mere "snapshot "of our local fire Service which was obtained from the book "Sunderland Fire Brigade " by J.T.Bryce. I had the pleasure to work with Jim when we both served in Tyne and Wear Metropolitan Fire Brigade and I recall the many hours that Jim put into the research that is behind his book. Copies of the book, which gives a much greater insight to our local Brigade are available for only £3 per copy including Postage and Packing to UK addresses by contacting Jim Bryce at
JBryce1437@aol.com
