In its time, it was one of the busiest fire stations in London. Fires frequently broke out in the nearby wharves, and during the Blitz, the station attended many fires following bomb attacks. It has now been converted into flats.
From Wikimedia: "Pageants Wharf Fire Station. Rotherhithe Street, London, SE16 Opened 05-03-1903 at a cost of £3280 and closed in 1969 with the demise of Surrey Commercial Docks. The unusual feature about the units based at the station was that they were not allowed to cross over the swing bridges either end of Rotherhithe Street and Redriff Road. This was to ensure that if a fire broke out between the bridges at least some assistance would be guaranteed. After it closed the building was taken over by the Brooks brothers as a car body repair shop. These did so well they later became a main Ford agent with new premises in Bermondsey."
From Media Store: "Built by the London County Council and opened in 1903, Pageants Wharf fire station still stands .... With the decline of the Surrey Docks system and removal of the swing bridges at either end of Rotherhithe Street (replaced by permanent access) the station was closed in 1968."
The plaque seems to think this station was known as Old Rotherhithe Fire Station but that's confusing. London Picture Archive has a photo of "Rotherhithe Fire Station". This was built in 1887 at the junction Gomm Road/Lower Road. It closed in 1928 and was subsequently demolished.
From London's Burning (TV series) "Rotherhithe Fire Station is a fictional fire station in the London Fire Brigade's South East Area and a neighbour of Blackwall. The Rotherhithe station seen in London's Burning is the real life Peckham Fire Station."
If you are interested in old fire stations do check out the source of this image: Fire Stations - they are recording every British fire station.
Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk
