Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1927-1965 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
7.05 linear metres
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The County Council became responsible for the fire brigade service in Middlesex on 1 April 1948. At this date there were thirty-eight fire stations sited for local pre-war needs in three districts, with public calls routed to stations. Abolition of street alarms allowed communications to be gradually centralised into one control at Wembley. A reorganisation scheme was embarked upon based on twenty-eight stations strategically sited and involving sixteen new stations, the last of which was ready in 1965. Fire prevention work, handled in 1948 by two uniformed staff and one civilian officer, by 1964 required twenty-eight uniformed and ten civilian staff. The entire fleet of appliances taken over from the wartime National Fire Service was replaced by modern appliances, and a scheme was undertaken to improve and standardise hydrants.
From 1948 to 1964 the Brigade responded to over 170,000 calls to incidents of all kinds. Notable incidents included fires at a timber yard in Hayes (1952), at a Brentford soap works (1959), at a Wealdstone furniture repository (1961), at a furniture factory at Ponders End (1964) and the Harrow and Wealdstone railway crash of 1952. Three British Empire Medals and two Queen's Commendations for gallantry were awarded to fire fighters and the Royal Humane Society made awards to ten members of the Brigade.
The Council became responsible for the Ambulance Service on 5 July 1948. The ambulance service used the accommodation, communications and control organisation of the fire service. In 1959 the sick removal branch of the ambulance service (that is, taking people to hospital for routine appointments) became part of the health service administration and the fire and ambulance services were separated in 1962.
Repository
Archival history
MCC/CL/FB 1927-1965 Collection 7.05 linear metres MCC , Middlesex County Council x Middlesex County Council
The County Council became responsible for the fire brigade service in Middlesex on 1 April 1948. At this date there were thirty-eight fire stations sited for local pre-war needs in three districts, with public calls routed to stations. Abolition of street alarms allowed communications to be gradually centralised into one control at Wembley. A reorganisation scheme was embarked upon based on twenty-eight stations strategically sited and involving sixteen new stations, the last of which was ready in 1965. Fire prevention work, handled in 1948 by two uniformed staff and one civilian officer, by 1964 required twenty-eight uniformed and ten civilian staff. The entire fleet of appliances taken over from the wartime National Fire Service was replaced by modern appliances, and a scheme was undertaken to improve and standardise hydrants.
From 1948 to 1964 the Brigade responded to over 170,000 calls to incidents of all kinds. Notable incidents included fires at a timber yard in Hayes (1952), at a Brentford soap works (1959), at a Wealdstone furniture repository (1961), at a furniture factory at Ponders End (1964) and the Harrow and Wealdstone railway crash of 1952. Three British Empire Medals and two Queen's Commendations for gallantry were awarded to fire fighters and the Royal Humane Society made awards to ten members of the Brigade.
The Council became responsible for the Ambulance Service on 5 July 1948. The ambulance service used the accommodation, communications and control organisation of the fire service. In 1959 the sick removal branch of the ambulance service (that is, taking people to hospital for routine appointments) became part of the health service administration and the fire and ambulance services were separated in 1962.
Acquired with the records of its parent authority, the Middlesex County Council, and with successor authorities.
Records of the Middlesex County Council Clerk's Department relating to the Fire Brigade, 1927-1965, including papers relating to the general administration of the service; copies of relevant legislation; Fire Service training school and training courses; papers on fires of special interest, fire prevention and investigation, fire fighting at airports, authority to enter buildings, communications, supply of water for fire fighting, trade union representation and membership of professional bodies; personnel matters including recruitment, retirement, discipline, regulations, working conditions and compensation; Fire Service building programme and management of fire stations, including papers on individual fire stations.
Papers relating to the Ambulance Service including ambulance service development plan, establishment and initial formation of the service, administration, complaints and appreciation from the public, conferences, trade union representation, vehicle purchase and upkeep, staff conditions of service, establishment of ambulance repair depots and agreements for transport of patients.
MCC/CL/FB/01: Establishment; MCC/CL/FB/02: General administration; MCC/CL/FB/03: Property; MCC/CL/FB/04: Staff.
These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998.
Copyright to these records rests with the Corporation of London.
English
Fit
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
For papers of the Fire Brigade Department see MCC/FB. See also papers of the London Fire Engine Establishment (reference LFE).
For further information on the history of the Middlesex County Council please see Middlesex by Sir Clifford Radcliffe (2 editions, 1939 and 1953), LMA Library reference 97.09 MID; and The County Council of the Administrative County of Middlesex: 76 years of local government, 1 April 1889 to 31 March 1965, by Middlesex County Council (1965), LMA library reference S97.09 MID.
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. April to June 2009 Fire Service , Middlesex County Council Clerk's Department , Middlesex County Council MCC , Middlesex County Council x Middlesex County Council Fire stations Water resources management Accidents Water supply Disasters Fires Safety devices Warning devices Fire services Fire safety Fire engines Transport Vehicles Emergency vehicles Architecture Ambulances Buildings Ambulance stations Public buildings People Personnel People by occupation Emergency services personnel Fire fighters Government Public administration Health services administration Organization and administration Personnel management Conditions of employment Working conditions Safety Safety measures Fire prevention Emergency services Ambulance services Ambulance Service , Middlesex County Council London England UK Western Europe Europe Middlesex
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Acquired with the records of its parent authority, the Middlesex County Council, and with successor authorities.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Records of the Middlesex County Council Clerk's Department relating to the Fire Brigade, 1927-1965, including papers relating to the general administration of the service; copies of relevant legislation; Fire Service training school and training courses; papers on fires of special interest, fire prevention and investigation, fire fighting at airports, authority to enter buildings, communications, supply of water for fire fighting, trade union representation and membership of professional bodies; personnel matters including recruitment, retirement, discipline, regulations, working conditions and compensation; Fire Service building programme and management of fire stations, including papers on individual fire stations.
Papers relating to the Ambulance Service including ambulance service development plan, establishment and initial formation of the service, administration, complaints and appreciation from the public, conferences, trade union representation, vehicle purchase and upkeep, staff conditions of service, establishment of ambulance repair depots and agreements for transport of patients.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
MCC/CL/FB/01: Establishment; MCC/CL/FB/02: General administration; MCC/CL/FB/03: Property; MCC/CL/FB/04: Staff.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright to these records rests with the Corporation of London.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
For papers of the Fire Brigade Department see MCC/FB. See also papers of the London Fire Engine Establishment (reference LFE).
Finding aids
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English