Catalogue description LONDON FIRE ENGINE ESTABLISHMENT

The records of the London Fire Establishment are divided. The minutes and duplicate fire reports are held in the Manuscripts Department of the Guildhall Library amongst the records of the London Salvage Corps. Original fire reports are held in the Greater London Record Office and are listed overleaf.

The daily reports record the address of the premises where the fire took place, the names of the owner and occupier, the supposed cause of the fire, number of engines and men attending, damage etc.

Introductory note:

LFE/1-30 are large, in some cases very large, volumes into which have been pasted:

a) Reports of fires on a printed proforma recording amongst other things, location of fire, occupier of premises, nature of business, name and residence of landlord, cause of fire, where insured, origin of call, time of call, name of water company, engines and men attending, extent of damage.

b) Brief notes mainly concerning disposition of men.

These are both produced by the District Fire Officers for the Superintendent.

MBO 240-249 are the Superintendent's reports to the Metropolitan Buildings Office and give the same information as the above excluding the time of calls. They are smaller in size than the above.

FOR REPORTS 1886-1888 see NEW 1550-1578

1889-1965 see LCC/FB/GEN/8 and 9

London Fire Engine Establishment, 1833-1865

THE REPORTS ARE IN VERY LARGE AND HEAVY VOLUMES AND REQUIRE APPOINTMENTS MADE IN ADVANCE IN ORDER TO CONSULT THEM

• Fire protection

Introductory note: In 1832 many of the London fire insurance companies amalgamated their separate fire brigades into one combined brigade. The London Fire Engine Establishment began on 1 January 1833 and continued until it was taken over by the Metropolitan Board of Works in 1865. The London County Council inherited the responsibility in 1889.

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