Essex Fire Museum
A volunteer-run museum of Essex fire service history, with historic engines, uniforms and wartime displays at the rear of Grays Fire Station.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Essex Fire Museum opened on 14 June 2007 in the former Auxiliary Fire Service garages behind Grays Fire Station. It was founded by Roger Pickett, a former Grays firefighter, and is run by volunteers on behalf of Essex County Fire and Rescue Service.
The collection has grown to more than 1,500 items. They cover the history of firefighting in Essex and the fire service more generally, with appliances ranging from hand-drawn pumps of the 19th century to more modern engines. Wartime displays show how the fire service worked in Britain during the Second World War.
Volunteers have also researched the service in depth and publish their findings as the "All Fired Up" articles on the fire service website. Because the museum stands on the site of a working fire station, every visit has to be booked in advance.
Highlights
- Historic fire engines, including a 1930s Merryweather
- Uniforms, equipment and photographs
- Recreated 1930s shop front and wartime living-history display
- The much-loved engine 123 BEV
- Family Fun Open Days with themed crafts
Permanent exhibitions
- Historic fire appliances – Fire engines and equipment from hand-drawn pumps to 20th-century appliances, including a 1930s Merryweather and a Second World War vehicle.
- 1930s shop front and wartime displays – A recreated shop front with uniformed mannequins, a living-history scene from the war years and photographs of former firefighters.
- Founded
- 2007
- Operated by
- Essex County Fire and Rescue Service
Admission & discounts
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum is on one level with access for wheelchair users. A toilet and baby-changing facilities are on site, and Visit Essex lists disabled toilets and wheelchairs available. Dogs are not accepted except guide dogs.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Baby changing facilities
Family Fun Open Days offer themed arts and crafts, activities and displays. Baby-changing facilities are available.
Getting there & parking
By car
Free parking
For open days or larger events, park on the grass in front of Grays Fire Station and keep the exit route for fire engines clear. Small groups may be able to use the yard in front of the museum.
The museum is at the rear of Grays Fire Station. Walk to it along the marked pedestrian path to the left of the station.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café: not available
- Museum shop
Food is not prepared on site, but tea, coffee, soft drinks, sweets and crisps are sold and a card reader is available. Visit Essex lists a gift shop.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | All visits must be booked in advance by email. The museum supports the fire service's education programme with hands-on sessions on fire service history for schools. |
