Group    From 1865 

London Fire Brigade

Categories: Emergency Services

The London Fire Engine Establishment, formed in 1833 under the leadership of James Braidwood, was a private organisation funded by insurance companies, mainly aimed at saving material goods from fires. In 1865, following the Tooley Street fire and others, the publicly-funded and managed Metropolitan Fire Brigade was created, under the control of the Metropolitan Board of Works, later the LCC. In 1904 it was renamed as the London Fire Brigade.

From 1833 the first headquarters were at 68 Watling Street (see Beyond the Flames for some details and a photo), in the City of London. In 1878 moved into an old workhouse on Southwark Bridge Road, extended in 1883. 1937 moved into its Lambeth HQ. In 2007 it moved from there to 169 Union Street, Southwark, practically adjacent to its previous Southwark home.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
London Fire Brigade

Commemorated ati

Dudgeon's Wharf explosion - red plaque

Unveiled on the 50th anniversary of the fire.

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Eyre Massey Shaw

Sir Eyre Massey Shaw, 1830 - 1908, first chief officer of the Metropolitan Fi...

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Fire Brigade HQ - Southwark

This stone relief was located above the main entrance to the former headquart...

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Great fire of Tooley Street

2021: This plaque has been replaced with a similar plaque, re-branded to prom...

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James Braidwood

What a great plaque. The inscription is inside a laurel wreath, in front of a...

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Show all 10

This section lists the memorials created by the subject on this page:
London Fire Brigade

Creations i

Dudgeon's Wharf explosion - oblong plaque

The unveiling of this plaque was reported in the East London Advertiser of 24...

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Sidney Street siege and fire

Our colleague Alan Patient decoded JEECS into ‘Jewish East End Celebration So...

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Stephen Maynard - steel plaque

Plaque erected on the 30th anniversary.

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Other Subjects

T/Sub. O.Michael W. Gamble

T/Sub. O.Michael W. Gamble

Fireman killed in the Dudgeon's Wharf explosion. Andrew Behan has researched Gamble: Temporary Sub Officer Michael William Gamble was born on 20 August 1940. On 17 July 1969 he was attached to Fir...

Person, Emergency Services, Tragedy

3 memorials
G. R. Russell

G. R. Russell

Either lost his life, or gave distinguished service to the London Fire Brigade, and was buried in the Highgate Cemetery plot between 1884 and 1955.

Person, Emergency Services

1 memorial
Mrs A. Calvin Lines

Mrs A. Calvin Lines

Lady District Superintendent in the St John Ambulance Brigade, Metropolitan Corps, 1893-1923. Dame Grace in the Order of St John.

Person, Emergency Services, Medicine, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
R. W. E. Poll

R. W. E. Poll

Either lost his life, or gave distinguished service to the London Fire Brigade, and was buried in the Highgate Cemetery plot between 1884 and 1955.

Person, Emergency Services

1 memorial
E. G. Ladd

E. G. Ladd

Either lost his life, or gave distinguished service to the London Fire Brigade, and was buried in the Highgate Cemetery plot between 1884 and 1955.

Person, Emergency Services

1 memorial

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John Wesley

John Wesley

Founder of the Methodist denomination of the Protestant religion. Born Epworth rectory, near Lincoln. Was a Church of England clergyman and at Whitsuntide, May 1738, 3 days after his brother, Charl...

Person, Religion, Seriously Famous

13 memorials
Sir Robert Peel, PM

Sir Robert Peel, PM

MP and Prime Minister in the 1830s and 40s. Reorganised the London police force and hence gave rise to the expressions "Peelers" and "Bobbies" for the police. He based the new structure on that of ...

Person, Politics & Administration

6 memorials
Queens Wood, Highgate

Queens Wood, Highgate

50 acres. Prompted by a campaign led by Henry Reader Williams Hornsey Council purchased Queen's Wood (then called Churchyard Bottom Wood) in 1898 for "the free use of the public forever". The cha...

Place, Gardens / Agriculture

1 memorial
Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens

Born, son of Elizabeth and John Dickens, at No.1 Mile End Terrace, Landport, Portsmouth (where there is a museum). For a map showing many of his London addresses see Londonist. His family were so p...

Person, Literature, Seriously Famous

49 memorials
London Palladium

London Palladium

Londonist has some interesting facts about this theatre.

Building, Theatre

4 memorials