Victorian fire fighters 1884

Three firemen wearing pointed metal helmets and uniforms with large, buckled belts sit on a fire engine drawn by two horses. Three others stand on the engine and one fireman stands at the back. The engine is situated outside a large brick fire station with a large glass paned arched door. Behind the fire engine a long ladder leans against the wall. On the extreme left of the photograph, two men stand in front of another ladder. One man has a large white beard and holds a cane and looks straight at the camera.
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Photograph of fire engine manned by seven firemen with a pair of horses.

Copyright owner: Charles Spurgeon, 32 Devonshire Road, Greenwich, Kent. Author of work: R. L. Sirus, 26 King Street, Greenwich, Kent. 12 September 1884. Catalogue ref: COPY 1/369 f253. 

  • What does this photograph reveal about methods used to fight fire in 1884? 
  • How do these methods differ from any recorded in the seventeenth century documents? 

 

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