Wigan fire brigade turn out 1902

Before the introduction of a national fire service in 1938, Wigan, like hundreds of towns and cities across the land, had its own municipal fire service. 'Turn-outs' were staged events to demonstrate to the local populace the swiftness of their brigade. In the early 1900s the steam-powered appliances seen here were gradually being replaced by internal combustion engines.




http://player.bfi.org.uk/film/watch-turn-out-of-the-wigan-fire-brigade-1902-1902/

Imagine attending a fire today with only that to tackle it. :

Watched it more than once, still cant place where it was filmed.

"The earliest reference to fire protection in Wigan can be found in the Wigan Water Act of 1764, which provided for the use of water to supply “the water engines” should “any fire happen or break out.”  By 1837 the town had three engines, kept in a shed at the Wigan Gas Company on Darlington Street"

http://gmfsmuseum.org.uk/brigade-histories/wigan

Amazing film, Mrs A.

I can relate to the film, in that my father was born in 1902, in Scholes. So this is what the town looked like back then.

Nice one.