BAFSA FOCUS NOVEMBER 2021
Celebrating the history of firefighting IAN GOUGH TELLS OF A VISIT TO THE FIREGROUND MUSEUM AND HOW IT REFLECTS THE DEVELOPMENT OF FIREFIGHTING AND FIRE BRIGADES IN THE UK AND HOW THE MUSEUM WILL TELL THE STORY OF SPRINKLERS.
i recently had the pleasure of visiting the very impressive ‘Fireground’ Museum in Rochdale where I met Curator, Bob Bonner and some of his colleagues. I was there to discuss ways in which BAFSA could assist Bob and his team with the ‘story of fire sprinklers’ – particularly as it relates to Manchester and neighbouring areas. The Museum commemorates the history of firefighting within the Greater Manchester area, where the region has played a significant role in the development of fire brigades and fire engineering. Manchester formed England’s first municipal fire service in 1826 and in 1901 the country’s earliest motorised fire engine was delivered to Eccles. Moreover, many BAFSA members will be more than well aware of the significant contributions made by Manchester based companies such as Mather and Platt and many others, to fire engineering both nationally and internationally over the past century and more. Based in Rochdale’s former fire station, the new Museum was officially opened in August this year. G R E AT E R M A N C H E S T E R FIRE SERVICE MUSEUM TRUST
The Museum was originally established in 1983 as the in-house “Brigade Museum” of the Greater Manchester Fire Service. This was as the result of over three years of dedicated hard work, by off-duty members of the fire service, to convert a former workshop building at what was then Rochdale’s central fire station. This initiative by enthusiastic volunteers, quickly began to attract more and more interest; and as the historical collection grew, so too did visitor numbers, with regular open-day events proving particularly popular. It became apparent to those involved therefore that, looking to the future, the Museum needed to adopt a more professional approach – particularly if much needed funding was to be secured. In 2008 the Greater Manchester Fire Service Museum Trust was formed with the intention of taking the Museum forward on a more sustainable footing. Then, in 2010, an agreement was reached between the Trust and the Museum’s then owners – Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service – that the whole Museum operation and collection would be devolved to a new Trust. A new partnership agreement, the first of its kind in any British fire museum, was therefore struck and the two organisations began to function as “partners” for the good of the Museum. Under the terms of this partnership agreement the Museum became truly “independent” but continued to receive funding and 16 | ba f sa .o r g .u k
