Hertfordshire Fire Brigade Museum
Volunteer-run fire museum at Watford Fire Station with historic fire engines and equipment, open on an annual open day and by arrangement.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Hertfordshire Fire Brigade Museum is housed in a purpose-built building at Watford Fire Station on Lower High Street, behind the Tesco store and almost opposite the former Watford Museum. It is looked after by two former fire officers, Roger Middleton and Mike West, and is associated with Watford Museum.
The collection shows how firefighting developed through machines from the 1850s onwards, including manual hand pumps from the 1850s and 1863, an 1896 Shand-Mason horse-drawn steam fire pump, a 1937 Leyland pump escape, a 1942 Dennis trailer pump, a Second World War Scammell wheelbarrow pump and a 1960s Merryweather 50-foot escape. A hose cart from the 1900s is on loan from Watford Museum.
The museum also holds fire service equipment, uniforms, documents and a photographic display of appliances, incidents and local fire history. It welcomes donations of fire brigade memorabilia.
Highlights
- 1896 Shand-Mason horse-drawn steam fire pump
- 1937 Leyland pump escape
- 1960s Merryweather 50-foot escape
- Uniforms, equipment and local fire photographs
Permanent exhibition
- Historic fire engines and equipment – Hand pumps, a horse-drawn steam pump, pump escapes and trailer pumps from the 1850s to the 1960s, plus uniforms, documents and photographs.
- Founded
- 2009
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Free entry on the open day; donations of fire brigade memorabilia are welcome.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum publishes no access details for its building; an accessibility statement is linked from the Watford Museum site.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
There is no parking at the fire station; use nearby public car parks, for example at Tesco.
The museum is in the grounds of Watford Fire Station on Lower High Street.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | Contact the museum by email or visit on open days. |
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