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Pudsey Fire Station


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1920 - 1925

Pudsey Fire engines around 1920 Pudsey Fire engines and men 1925

Pudsey Fire Engines


The fire engine on the right of the 1920 photograph (on the left hand side of the page) was bought by Pudsey Corporation in 1917 for £1,200. It was called the 'John Keighley' after the chairman of the fire Brigade Commitee. As it proved too large to negotiate all the town's steep hills the mayor, Sir William Forrest, gave a smaller engine, seen on the left of the photograph from 1920. To accommodate the two new engines, the old municipal offices, on Waver Green were altered to provide a spacious Fire Station. The photograph on the right taken only five years later shows what appear to be the same engines. Recently the building has again been altered and is now Pudsey House. Pudsey had had a voluntary fire brigade since the early 19th century which in 1886 was taken over by Pudsey's Local Board of Health. At this time the engine was steam-powered, the fire being lighted and the steam pressure raised as the engine was horse-drawn to the fire. But for many years the hand machine continued to be used if the horses were slow in coming. There was always plenty of willing hands to pull the engine to the scene of the fire and then to man the pumps. Pudsey Fire Station is said to have have a Ghost who walked through the walls of the dormitory. The firemen were said to be so afraid of the Ghost that they moved their matresses out of the dormitory and arranged them under and around the snooker table in the games room.

Firemen Celebrate 1899

Pudsey Firemen 1899
 The picture on the left shows Pudsey's fire brigade in 1899. They were part of a mile long procession celebrating the Charter of Incorparation. The Charter allowed Pudsey to have it's own Mayor and Council.


Firemen From The 1920's


Pudsey Firemen around 1920
Do you recognise anyone?



Firemen From Farsley

Farsley Firemen
 Pudsey and Farsley Firemen were almost in competition to attend a fires on the border between Pudsey and Farsley. The early Pudsey pumps were drawn by funeral horses owned by Cabby Woods. They were kept in a field on Cemetery Road, around half a mile from the Station. They had to be caught before they could pull the pump. The pump was powered by steam and engineer Sykes Crowther had to light the fire and wait for the other firemen to return with the horses.

See Pudsey Fire Brigade in action fighting Leigh Mills fire by clicking HERE.
Visit the Pudsey Fire Station site by clicking HERE.




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