London Fire Brigade Museum Explained

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Winchester House – former London Fire Brigade Museum
Website:	www.london-fire.gov.uk

The London Fire Brigade Museum (temporarily housed at The Workshop, Lambeth High Street) covers the history of firefighting since 1666 (the date of the Great Fire of London). The museum houses old fire appliances and other equipment.

Overview

The museum was located in Winchester House, the former home of Captain Sir Eyre Massey Shaw, who was Superintendent of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade.^[1] It was the London Fire Brigade headquarters until 1937 when King George VI opened a new building on the Albert Embankment on the south bank of the River Thames.^{[2] [3] [4]}

The building at Winchester House closed its doors to the public in September 2015 and the collection was audited and put into storage pending the opening of a dedicated new museum.^{[5] [6]}

In July 2015, members of London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority agreed to make the provision of a new museum, as well as a fire station, a condition of the sale and redevelopment of the Brigade's old headquarters on Albert Embankment in Lambeth.^[6]

Current status

It is estimated it could be 2023 until the new museum opens but in the meantime there are still opportunities for the public to view the historic collection.^{[7] [8]} These include temporary exhibitions across London, outreach visits and educational talks and lectures and events to commemorate the 150th anniversary celebrations.^[9]

Former address

The former address of the museum was:

London Fire Brigade Museum

Winchester House

94A Southwark Bridge Road

London

External links

• Museum website
• Information from the 24 Hour Museum
• Fire Brigade Museum to get a new home
• Museum could move to Albert Embankment
• London SE1 website information

Notes and References

1. Web site: Shaw, Sir Eyre Massey (1830–1908) . . 2012 . 30 September 2012.
2. Web site: News. www.london-fire.gov.uk. 30 April 2020.
3. Web site: LAMBETH FIRE STATION, Lambeth - 1392337 | Historic England. historicengland.org.uk. 30 April 2020.
4. Web site: London Fire Brigade Headquarters, Albert Embankment, Lambeth . landmark.lambeth.gov.uk . 17 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161220092723/http://landmark.lambeth.gov.uk/display_page.asp?section=landmark&id=3579 . 20 December 2016 . dead.
5. Web site: London Fire Brigade Museum collection put into storage. London SE1 website. team. London SE1. 30 April 2020.
6. Web site: London Fire Brigade – Last chance to visit the museum before big move . London-fire.gov.uk . 2015-09-14 . 2016-11-24.
7. Web site: Our museum is on the move . www.london-fire.gov.uk.
8. Web site: What's on at the London Fire Brigade Museum? . www.london-fire.gov.uk.
9. Web site: London Fire Brigade – Museum . London-fire.gov.uk . 2016-11-24.