Collection GB 0074 CLC/014 - SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF LIFE FROM FIRE

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0074 CLC/014

Title

SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF LIFE FROM FIRE

Date(s)

  • 1844-1998 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

21 production units.

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

The Society was formed in 1836, after a previous version, formed in 1828, had apparently been abandoned. Its original aims were: to provide a body of men and equipment (mostly forms of mobile fire escape) to be on hand to assist in rescues from fires; the examination of new inventions in, and the diffusion of information on, fire rescue and safety; and the bestowal of awards (medals, certificates or monetary gifts) for individual acts of bravery in rescuing victims from fire in London.

From 1837, under the patronage of Queen Victoria, the Society was known as the Royal Society for the Protection of Life from Fire, but on her death in 1901 royal patronage was withdrawn. Until 1881 annual or biannual general meetings were usually presided over by the Lord Mayor or other dignitary (in 1856 the Duke of Wellington).

In 1867 the responsibility for the fire escapes in London was transferred to the Metropolitan Board of Works, and the Society moved to provide equipment (but not manpower) to provincial towns and cities. In 1881 the Charity Commissioners were placed in charge of the appointment of trustees to run the Society, whose responsibilities were reduced merely to the granting of awards countrywide (although primarily in London).

The Society's committees originally met at a variety of locations in the City, before having a succession of bases on Ludgate Hill in the 1850s and 1860s. From 1868-73 they were based at Clifford's Inn Passage, Fleet Street; 1873-82 at 66 Ludgate Hill; 1882-1961 at 20 and then 26 New Bridge Street; and from 1961 until at least 1976 at Chichester House, High Holborn.

Archival history

GB 0074 CLC/014 1844-1998 Collection 21 production units. Society for the Protection of Life from Fire

The Society was formed in 1836, after a previous version, formed in 1828, had apparently been abandoned. Its original aims were: to provide a body of men and equipment (mostly forms of mobile fire escape) to be on hand to assist in rescues from fires; the examination of new inventions in, and the diffusion of information on, fire rescue and safety; and the bestowal of awards (medals, certificates or monetary gifts) for individual acts of bravery in rescuing victims from fire in London.

From 1837, under the patronage of Queen Victoria, the Society was known as the Royal Society for the Protection of Life from Fire, but on her death in 1901 royal patronage was withdrawn. Until 1881 annual or biannual general meetings were usually presided over by the Lord Mayor or other dignitary (in 1856 the Duke of Wellington).

In 1867 the responsibility for the fire escapes in London was transferred to the Metropolitan Board of Works, and the Society moved to provide equipment (but not manpower) to provincial towns and cities. In 1881 the Charity Commissioners were placed in charge of the appointment of trustees to run the Society, whose responsibilities were reduced merely to the granting of awards countrywide (although primarily in London).

The Society's committees originally met at a variety of locations in the City, before having a succession of bases on Ludgate Hill in the 1850s and 1860s. From 1868-73 they were based at Clifford's Inn Passage, Fleet Street; 1873-82 at 66 Ludgate Hill; 1882-1961 at 20 and then 26 New Bridge Street; and from 1961 until at least 1976 at Chichester House, High Holborn.

The records were presented by the Society to the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library in 2003. The Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section merged with the London Metropolitan Archives in 2009.

Records of the Society for the Protection of Life from Fire comprising minutes, annual reports, summaries of cases, correspondence and related papers. The minutes contain brief details of the applications for, and grants of, awards for individual acts of bravery. The surviving annual reports give further information on the incidents where awards were granted. These are arranged as numbered cases.

The records have been arranged in order reflecting the record function, e.g. administration, financial and so on.

These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to access restrictions.

Copyright to these records rests with the depositor.

English

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

There is a typescript history of the Society, 1836-1936 in the Printed Books Section of Guildhall Library (Large pam 503).

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.

June to August 2010. Disasters Accidents Fires People People by occupation Personnel Emergency services personnel Fire fighters Emergency services Fire services Safety measures Fire prevention Safety Fire safety Fire protection Awards Social norms Social behaviour Rescue work Society for the Protection of Life from Fire x Metropolitan Fire Brigade London England UK Western Europe Europe

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

The records were presented by the Society to the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library in 2003. The Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section merged with the London Metropolitan Archives in 2009.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Records of the Society for the Protection of Life from Fire comprising minutes, annual reports, summaries of cases, correspondence and related papers. The minutes contain brief details of the applications for, and grants of, awards for individual acts of bravery. The surviving annual reports give further information on the incidents where awards were granted. These are arranged as numbered cases.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

The records have been arranged in order reflecting the record function, e.g. administration, financial and so on.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to access restrictions.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copyright to these records rests with the depositor.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

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

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

London Metropolitan Archives

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

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area