In
1913, the larger fire station was built in Wanstead Place but it was not until
1919 that the horses were replaced with a more modern engine.Wanstead Fire Station
Wanstead obtained its first fire engine in 1729, at which time it was the responsibility of the church warden.
It was a volunteer fire brigade with the men having to leave their jobs and assemble when necessary. Originally, the engine was housed in a small building in Church Path, near the school. The horses were stabled in the yard of Messrs. Powell, in Nightingale Lane. When not required to pull the engine, these horses would pull the cabs that carried people from Snaresbrook station. When a call was received the horses would be harnessed and led to Church Path where they would meet the firemen.
In
1913, the larger fire station was built in Wanstead Place but it was not until
1919 that the horses were replaced with a more modern engine.
Long serving fireman was Harry Wheatley, local builder who was a member of the brigade for 43 years, 27 as superintendent.
His daughter, Dorothy Wheatley still lived in Nightingale lane in the 1980's when I used to garden for her. She would often tell of his times with the fire service.
Although local opinion was that the volunteers were not as quick to respond as they might, this seems to have been proved untrue in 1908 when the men won the All England shield in Scarborough for " a four man manual drill completed in 48 seconds."
Quite when the station closed is also unknown at the moment, although in the 1969 edition of "Wanstead through the ages" its closure is noted.
Through
out the 1970's the building was used by the road cleansing department of the
council until it was taken over by the Red Cross as a training centre.
Play the Fire Station slider puzzle game