Pumps Collection

GLC-LFB Dennis diesel Compact Pump
Introduced into London in the mid-1970s, this narrow wheel base pump was not a dual purpose fire engine. It could only carry an extension ladder and not the 50 foot wheeled escape

Bedford Heavy Unit in the NFS (London Region)
About 1000 of the pumps were built on a Bedford chassis and most were capable of pumping water at 700 gallons per minute. Here a heavy unit and crew are undertaking hose drills at Lambeth

LCC-MFB Red Cross Street fire station and engine, London LFB150
Red Cross Street fire station, City of London, built by the London County Council (LCC) and opened in 1900. It was one of four fire stations (plus a river station at Blackfriars)

LFB horse drawn steamer at modern LFB review
Lambeth, headquarters of the London Fire Brigade, hosted annual displays and regular reviews of the Brigade. A popular feature was the inclusion of the working Victorian Shand Mason horse drawn steam

LCC-LFB Dual purpose pump escape at Lambeth HQ
A Dennis F7 pump escape at Lambeth HQ, a classic postwar fire engine newly in service in London. It was powered by a 150 bhp 5.7 litre Rolls-Royce engine and served initially at Lambeth Fire Station

GLC-LFB Fire boat - Fire Hawk
Entering service in February 1976, the Fire Hawk was built by Watercraft of Shoreham at a cost of £ 60, 000. Measuring 45 feet in length, 13.5 inch beam and with a 3.5 foot draft

Croydon Fire Brigade at Brigade HQ, Croydon Town
The horse drawn steam pump form Croydon fire station. This was one of three stations in the Croydon Fire Brigade, the other two being Thornton Heath and South Norwood

LCC-LFB Dennis motorised Hatfield fire engine
LCC-London Fire Brigade, Dennis motorised Hatfield fire engine with crew

Advert, Gaskell & Chambers Ltd, Bar Fitters
Advert for Gaskell & Chambers Ltd (incorporated with Yates & Greenways), Bar Fitters, Manufacturers of Beer Engines and Hotel Bar Requisites, Counters, Back Fittings, Seating

Richard Humphreys the Boxer, c. 1788 (oil on canvas)
5667210 Richard Humphreys the Boxer, c.1788 (oil on canvas) by Hoppner, John (1758-1810); 141.6 x 112.4 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Acton Volunteer Fire Brigade with appliances
District Council of Acton Volunteer Fire Brigade with appliances typical of those used at the time: a horse drawn steamer, horse drawn manual pump, horse drawn escape, hand wheeled escape

LCC-LFB enclosed pump at Lambeth fire station
Pictured at Brigade Headquarters, Lambeth SE1, an example of an 1930 enclosed London pump with carried breathing apparatus

Volunteer Fire Brigade with appliances typical of those used at the time: a horse drawn steamer, horse drawn manual pump, horse drawn escape, hand wheeled escape, and a hose cart

LFB and London Salvage Corps at a serious fire
With 25 pumps attending a serious fire at Eversholt House, 163 Eversholt Street, NW1, the London Salvage Corps bring in reinforcements to deal with the effects of firefighting operations

Ealing Fire Brigade with horse-drawn appliance
Firefighters of the Ealing Fire Brigade, West London, with a horse-drawn appliance, and a policeman standing alongside

LCC-LFB Merryweather self-propelled Hatfield pump
Merryweather Hatfield pump, with crew. This was one of the first motorised fire engines used by the London Fire Brigade, capable of 30 mph

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

Sub-station with taxis and crews, WW2
A typical London Fire Brigade sub-station watch and their equipment. Taxis were used as makeshift fire engines which towed trailer pumps

LFB at 25 pump fire, warehouse in Fulham
LFB firefighters in action at a fire in Fulham, where 100 tons of paraffin wax ignited in a riverside warehouse. The major blaze required 25 pumps

LFB wartime emergency appliance and trailer pump, WW2
A Fordson Unit and trailer pump at the London Fire Brigade headquarters, Lambeth. These were just some of the 2000 adapted vehicles utilised as AFS fire appliances

Silhouette of barmaid and customer in a pub
The best drink is the last drink -- scene at 10pm in The Crown, Harrogate, with a barmaid, a customer and his dog

Beer is Best
A satisfied looking man wearing a trilby and smoking a pipe holds a glass of beer while propping up a pub bar. Beer pumps just visible

Men Evening Dress 1893
Three variations of evening dress for 1893-4: dress tail coats with roll collar or step collar & a dress jacket. One man wears a black waistcoat & pumps the others wear white

Female high jumper in orange costume
A female high jumper in an orange costume leaping over a pole

18th century fire engines
Various early fire engines and firefighting equipment from the 18th century Date: 18th century

Silhouette of a waitress or pub barmaid, about to pour beer into a glass. An advertisement for Worthington beer

Interior of the Sun Pub, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Wellington Pub Staff
The barmen of The Wellington, Wood Green, London

Costume / Boy on Tricycle
Picturesque foppish French boy in a pleated skirt in spotted fabric, floppy striped necktie & falling collar, checked socks, pumps with large ribbon bows & long flowing hair

GLC-LFB ERF diesel pump-escape fire engine
The ERF pump escape attached to Millwall fire station, the latest addition to the Brigades appliance fleet. It was a dual-purpose appliance that could carry either the 50 foot wheeled escape ladder

Maddies Mood
Jota de jai

LCC-MFB firefighters at Dulwich fire station
Opened in 1892, Dulwich fire station was located at 250 Lordship Lane. The firefighters pose on the horse drawn steamer whilst a child looks out the first floor window

West Ham Fire Brigade
A manual horse drawn fire pump belonging to West Ham Fire Brigade with a Victorian fire crew

London Life - Fashion pages by Jean Shrimpton, 1965
Spread from the short-lived but impossibly cool magazine, London Life, with a column by sixties supermodel Jean Shrimpton who regularly wrote about the clothes she liked

LCC-LFB Major fire at Prudential Insurance Building
Massive crowds gather to watch the London Fire Brigade fight the fire in the Prudential Assurance Company building located in High Holborn WC1, 16 June 1932

GLC-LFB Centenary Royal Review at Lambeth HQ
To celebrate the 100 years of the London Fire Brigade, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip reviewed the London Fire Brigade at Lambeth headquarters

Fireboat tackling fire at Colonial Wharf, East London
A fireboat tackles a fire at Colonial Wharf, Wapping High Street, East London, 27 September 1935. This was a typical big Thamesside fire of the sort which the London Fire Brigade has tackled for over

NFS (London Region) narrow boat fitted with fire pumps
There were 18 river fire stations along the length of the River Thames during WW2. They were used to accommodate the crews on a 24 hour standby to operate the fireboats

Advertisement for various types of steam engine
Advertisement for Robey & Co of Lincoln (Globe Works), London, Liverpool, Edinburgh and Paris, manufacturers of various types of steam engine. circa 1883

Nankeen Trousers 1818
Pink striped waistcoat, blue tight fitting double-breasted coat with hip pocket, velvet collar, narrow tails & padded shoulders & top hat, nankeen trousers & black pumps

NFS-London Region 100ft turntable with pump, WW2
A Merryweather turntable ladder fitted with an integral fire pump that feeds the monitor at the head of the ladder and therefore does not require a separate pumping appliance to feed it

Woman & Dog on Beach
A young woman in a red swimsuit, with her white bulldog on the beach. A man with a black poodle looks at them admiringly

Double cylinder steam fire engine made by Thomas Coates
A double cylinder steam fire engine, made by Thomas Coates, awarded the Champion Gold Medal at Crystal Palace, London, in 1890. Date: late 19th century

London Fire Brigades organisation and equipment
A selection of small drawings of the events that take place in 1937, when a call by a pedestrian seeing flames and smoke to the very end when the fire has been put out

LFB Dennis dual-purpose pump, Lambeth HQ
Lambeths (D61) pump at its base station, on display in Brigade headquarters drill yard. Side mounted pump outlets together with hose-reel tubing and two hook ladders can be seen

Oil fuelled Merryweather pump

LFB Dennis dual-purpose pump, Lambeth HQ
Lambeths (D61) pump at its base station, on display in Brigade headquarters drill yard. Side mounted pump outlets together with hose-reel tubing and two hook ladders can be seen

Merryweather horsed steam pump and firewomen
A Merryweather horsed steam pump and firewomen

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"Pumps: A Nostalgic Journey Through London's Firefighting History" Step back in time and explore the fascinating world used by the Bedford Heavy Unit in the NFS (London Region) and GLC-LFB Dennis diesel Compact Pump. These powerful machines were essential in combating fires and saving lives. In between fire emergencies, firefighters would gather at their favorite watering hole, proudly displaying their love for both beer and firefighting with the iconic sign that read "Beer is Best" from Gaskell & Chambers Ltd, Bar Fitters. The LCC-LFB Dennis motorized Hatfield fire engine was a true marvel of its time. Its sleek design and efficient performance made it a reliable asset to battle flames across London. Meanwhile, the LCC-MFB Red Cross Street fire station showcased an impressive engine that stood as a symbol of strength during London LFB150 celebrations. Long before modern technology took over, horses played a crucial role in firefighting operations. The sight of an LFB horse-drawn steamer at a contemporary LFB review evokes nostalgia for these magnificent animals who worked side by side with brave firefighters. Lambeth HQ boasted another innovative creation - the dual-purpose pump escape designed by LCC-LFB. This versatile apparatus provided both pumping capabilities and served as an escape route when needed most. Venturing beyond land-based equipment, we find ourselves admiring the GLC-LFB Fire boat - Fire Hawk. This floating hero patrolled London's waterways, ready to extinguish any blaze threatening riverside communities. Not far away, Croydon Fire Brigade showcased their expertise at Brigade HQ in Croydon Town. Their dedication to protecting local residents was evident through their well-maintained appliances ready for action at any given moment. Taking us even further back into history is Richard Humphreys' masterpiece painting titled "The Boxer.