Fire Service: Difference between revisions

From the 1700s insurance companies provided private fire brigades in major urban areas, funded by premiums paid by their policyholders. Fire-fighters would only tackle a fire when it affected their own insured customers. In the Victorian era thinking changed and Volunteer Fire Brigades were set up in urban areas, prompted by several notable incidents, including the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1861_Tooley_Street_fire Tooley Street fire] in London in 1861. Chester already had a volunteer fire brigade established in the mid-1800s and they were called on to deal with any major incidents in Hoole. The Local Board of Health governed all matters regarding risk to life and two major fires, one in 1868 at the [[Flookersbrook]] Tannery and the other in 1876 at William Philips, a cheese maker on [[Hoole Road]], both involving thatched roofs and a turnout from the Chester Volunteer Fire Brigade (CVFB), seem to have spurred the Board to consider fire-fighting provision in the area.

In September 1874 a letter from Captain Smith, Chief Constable of Cheshire gave the Board permission to erect a building in the Constabulary Yard on [[Hoole Road]], in which  to keep the Reel Cart and Hose, subject to certain terms. The following month plans were prepared to obtain a tender, and in November the quote from Charles Holland of [[Faulkner Street]] amounting to £34-10-9 for the work was accepted and the building work commenced.

[[File:RE_FS_2RE Pol 6.jpg|400px|thumb|right|The former Hoole Police Station on [[Hoole Road]], home to the Reel Cart and Hose 1874-1894. Now a "Massage Parlour" (of the posh "SPA" kind).]]

In February 1886 one of his successors, Detective Inspector Downes, by then "''caretaker of the hydrants and appliances in connection with the firehose reel''", resigned and his successor, Inspector Brittain, was appointed.  In debate it was asserted that "no-one apart from the Surveyor was conversant with the working of the fire extinguishing apparatus, the necessity to work in conjunction with CVFB was emphasised, and to make an effort to raise a few volunteers"

The Hoole Voluntary Fire Brigade (HVFB) was formally established by a vote taken at the Hoole Local Board on 2nd April 1894. The Board also gave authority that the new fire brigade would be allowed the use of the Board’s equipment; namely the fire hose and other appliances – previously under the control of the [[Police]]. In addition, Chester Waterworks Company granted permission for the brigade to use their mains supply, should there be an outbreak of fire, on the condition that there should not be “no“''no extravagant use of water”water''”.

In May the first HVFB meeting was held. Only three men were present but this did not deter them from forming the service, and their efforts paid off as in November of the same year "''the whole of Hoole Fire Brigade''" joined The Station Company of Chester Volunteers, as it marched from the General Railway Station, over Hoole Bridge to [[All Saints Church]] for divine service. The Brigade was commanded by Captain R Cecil Davies and two Lieutenants, Charles Atkin and Dr Francis Butt.

[[File:RE_FS_4.jpg|400px|thumb|rightleft|HVFB march with the Station Volunteers November 1894.]]

Also in May 1894 details of a subscription fund "''to defray the expenses of equipment etc''" were published in the Cheshire Observer showing that £25-14-6 had been raised. Established local names appeared on the list of contributors including the Davies family.

A prize draw was also established by E.H Dawson, another HVFB member, which he ran from his newsagents in [[Faulkner Street]], to provide additional funds for the brigade.

R Cecil Davies was to be actively associated in practical fire brigade work for a period of 30 years. Initially he served with the Chester Volunteer Fire Brigade (“CVFB”) in the nominal role of fireman. In the records of the CVFB in 1886 entry No 154 details the admission of Richard Cecil Davies, aged 25, Seller Street, Chester, on the 4th February. This first period of service was to last only two years, as in the CVFB records he left the Brigade on the 21st February 1888 with “resigned”“''resigned''” given as the reason. Some 18 months later he was elected to the Hoole Local Board and in 1893 he took up the question of whether Hoole, where he had been a resident for several years, should have its own Fire Brigade and organised a series of informal gatherings to discuss it.

With two other colleagues from Hoole Urban District Council, [[Dr. Francis John Butt (1863 – 1933)]] and Charles Atkin, together with Joseph Owen, an experienced member of CVFB, they succeeded in forming the HVFB. Davies became the Chief Officer from its formation through to his retirement from the position in May 1914, when he was succeeded by Charles Atkin as Captain of the Brigade. Davies became the Honorary Treasurer to the Brigade and held this position until his death in 1917. He was highly regarded by members of the Brigade who on the marriage of Edith, his daughter, gave a wedding present of a marble clock.

The newly formed brigade was able to take advantage of the new accommodation in Peploe Street (see: [[Westminster Road]]}, with the hose reel cart moving there from the police[[Police]] station on [[Hoole Road]]. The Council provided a house next door, linked to Williams Terrace, initially for its surveyor Charles Atkin, which meant that he was on the spot should a turnout be required. Alfred Catherall, the foreman of the Council, also a volunteer fireman who became Superintendent of HVFB, succeeded him in living there.

At the 1895 first anniversary dinner the by then Surgeon Lieutenant Butt was presented with a silver cigarette case for "''pulling through the examination 20 out of 22 scholars (of the Brigade) in the St Johns Ambulance Class''". Richard Grandridge, Chairman of the UDC, offered to meet 25% of the cost of a much-needed engine, but the consent of the Local Government Board was needed for the remainder to be borrowed. The proposal to name the engine "Richard Grandridge" did not however occur because he died in 1897, before the Local Government Board enquiry in January 1898 to borrow the £300 required took place. This figure included a shed in which to house it and reports of the hearing contain much interesting information and opposition to the proposal. The loan was finally agreed and a report of a fire in Guilden Sutton in September 1899 refers to the new manual engine under the command of Sgt Joseph Owen working in a thoroughly satisfactory manner.

[[File:RE_FS_Table_1.jpg|400px800px|thumb|rightcenter|.]]

Speeches given at HVFB Annual Dinners at the time sometimes provide additional insight into the Brigade’s workings including fires attended, several outside the District, some involving work with the Chester VFB. In 1908 at the Bromfield Arms in Hoole, new uniforms, purchased with public contributions, were worn for the first time. In 1914 it was stated that the Council had provided a recreation room and a billiard table, also "''The Brigade had done well in competitions''".

April* 1897: Chester Town Hall - worked with CVFB and Duke of Westminster's Brigade from Eaton Hall.

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In [https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3805261/3805264/22/hoole%20AND%20fire September 1899] the Brigade's First Annual Sports Day was held in the grounds of Hoole House, when the Chief Constable of Cheshire, living at neighbouring Hoole Lodge, successfully [https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3805252/3805258/64/hoole%20AND%20fire opposed a drinks licence].

[[File:RE_FS_9.jpg|400px200px|thumb|rightleft|Advertisement for Sports Day 1899.]]

[[File:RE_FS_10.jpg|400px200px|thumb|right|Advertisement for Sports Day 1899.]]

HVFB played a large part in local civic events, processions ,fetes and carnivals, etc. At the 1911 Coronation Celebrations "''members of Hoole Fire Brigade (under Lt E.H. Dawson and Sgts Bennion and Catherall) mounted on the fire engine were in the procession behind the band of the Welsh Royal Field Artillery''".

[[File:RE_FS_13RE_FS_11.jpg|400px|thumb|rightleft|AftermathReport of thegames Openingin of the Fire Bell1900.]]

Hoole UDC provided significant support to the HVFB in terms of funding equipment and in 1911 approved and paid for the addition of a new store and recreation room over the existing engine house in [[Westminster Road.]].