Sunday 24 March 2013

Don't Burn Our Fire Stations!


Recently, I popped into the wonderful Clerkenwell Tales, an independent bookshop on Exmouth Market, to buy a couple of birthday presents. Whilst in there, I noticed they had a petition on the counter to stop the closure of Clerkenwell Fire Station. I was shocked - I hadn't known it was under threat! - and didn't hesitate to sign.


I have rather an attachment to Clerkenwell Fire Station, located on the corner of Rosebery Avenue and Farringdon Road. I always feel pleased when I happen to see the firemen doing drills on the tower behind the station (it was because of seeing them engaged in such activity that I realised what the towers were for...) or when I see them heading out or coming back in their fire engine, having been out on a mission and hopefully having saved the day. There's such appeal to me in a building which has such a distinct and important function, still operating in the same capacity for which it was designed a century ago.

The 1950s/1960s drill tower alongside the Edwardian station

To think that it might be closed down is an awful prospect. Naturally, not just for the building but for the public good! It's not because the fire station is redundant or in excess of need, but rather due to a plan to cut the London Fire Brigade's funding by £45 million. To deal with this blow, it is proposed to close down 12 fire stations, including dear Clerkenwell... If I may, I'll tell you a little bit about this special building.


The current fire station was not the first erected on this site. Its predecessor was built in 1871-73, facing onto Farringdon Road. By 1890, this had became the superintendent's station for the central district which, according to the Survey of London, made it one of the most important stations operated by the London fire brigade.

The original fire station (Image source: Survey of London, British History Online)

However, the 1870s station didn't provide enough space for all the firemen as the complement grew and so some had to be accommodated in nearby housing. This wasn't an ideal situation so, in 1895-97, an extension was erected, facing onto Rosebery Avenue. In addition to more accommodation, this incorporated a new 'appliance room' (i.e. where the fire engines are housed). From the new appliance room, the fire engines could exit more safely onto the less busy Rosebery Avenue, rather than Farringdon Road.

The 1890s extension (Image source: Survey of London, British History Online)

However, even with the extension, it became apparent that an even larger fire station was necessary. Hence, between 1912 and 1917, in two phases, the fire station was extended again and the 1890s section rebuilt, with the old and new parts given a unified facade. The design for the 1912-17 works was by H. F. T Cooper, a young London County Council architect. The building is consistent with many early twentieth-century London fire stations in its loose Arts and Crafts style, particularly evident in the impressive gabled roof with its tall chimney stacks.



The building was listed Grade II in 1988. It is considered to be one of the best examples of an LCC fire station of the Edwardian period, a sort of golden era of civic architecture in London due to the general quality of design, workmanship and materials. The exterior survives virtually intact and is noted as being a well-designed response to the corner site. Sadly, the interiors have been much altered, although apparently the top floor has a communal washroom with obsolete washing and drying equipment. I'd like to see that! (Firemen of Clerkenwell Fire Station, if you are reading this and would be willing to show me around, please drop me an email!)


So, this corner site in Islington has a long history of accommodating an important London fire station and I personally don't want to see it turned into fancy flats or some such. It's for the firemen and it should stay that way! They've definitely earned their place in it, as far as I'm concerned.


If this post has made you fall in love with Clerkenwell Fire Station, even just a little bit, you can read more from the BBC here and here, and find out about the related public consultation here.


8 comments:

  1. Oh no!!! I found your history of the site very moving - especially your conclusion about the firemen having earnt their place in it. Definitely! They kept adding to it and now they want to close it?! I can see how easily it would convert into flats - which puts it in more danger. But it's been listed. I love so much of it! It is beautiful! What a delight is the semi-circular balcony railing. And those red doors! And, yes, the roof and the chimneys. So interesting about the practice tower. You know, I think that they would be very happy to show you around. Apart from being a pretty young one, you could ask in your architectural historian capacity. Especially if they want to keep the station open. You may be able to help!

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    1. It would definitely become commercial flats easily... which would then be filled with the privileged people that can afford to buy flats in EC1... If I knew how to contact them to ask if I could look around, I would - they might be willing and no harm in just asking! But how do you contact firemen other than dialing 999?!

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  2. Oh dear...that is terrible! Our new office that we will be moving to in the summer is very nearby....and one of my friends is a fire fighter whom I am very proud of...so I must say the service does not get enough credit for the great work they do! Plus it is so sad to see a lovely building go into disuse!
    Thank you for your comment on my blog...got to find out more about paper dresses! Hope you will have a lovely Easter break!
    May x
    www.walkinginmay.com

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    1. Reading up on the London Fire Brigade because of this building has definitely given me an even greater appreciation of what they do - I always admired them but even more so now. I do hope they stay in the neighbourhood!

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  3. There should be a separate number for each Fire Station. Sometimes, though, it is a general number for, say the Post Office. But sometimes you can find the number for a particular branch. I was thinking more that you could pop your head in the door or call over the fence. Even if you can't go in then, you could find out when is convenient. I've just recalled that friends took their very young son into the Fire Station in Kings Cross, Sydney, on a whim.

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    1. I've thought about doing that, but I'm just too damn shy! Maybe one day I'll work up the courage...

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  4. Real shame, there were firefighters in tears when they left the station for the last time. They should turn it into a museum so we can all have access to the world's oldest fire station, but no, it will be converted to exclusive apartments!

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    1. I went to the closure of the station and I had to fight back tears myself! And I too fear for what will become of the building. Isn't Clerkenwell going to have enough pricey apartments with the Mount Pleasant development? And it will now left without a fire station to attend to emergencies there...

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