Stamford’s first fire brigade was a private one, owned and run by Gibson’s Foundry (at the east end of Broad St), from about 1852 to 1888. In 1887 the Borough Council decided to form a volunteer fire brigade and built a new engine house on East Street*.
The Town Council purchased the old Hayes carriage works showroom on Scotgate for use as a new fire station and the brigade moved there in May 1925. The brigade moved from there to their new fire station on Radcliffe Rd on 1 st April, 1965.
“The Fireman for December, publishes the following:-
Up to 1887 the fire brigade of Stamford was a very primitive one, and was under the superintendence of engineer T. C. Gibson, but most of the men as well as the engines (two manuals), had seen over 50 years’ service. In 1888 the brigade was reconstituted, and a steam fire engine, escape, and other appliances added to its plant, and put in charge of Mr. G. W. Johnson, who before taking office, went to the headquarters of the Metropolitan brigade for a month’s training in the drill class, and this, with six years’ previous of sea-faring life, enabled him to become an efficient fireman. Mr. G. W. Johnson is second surviving son of the late General Johnson, of Wytham on the Hill, Lincolnshire, was educated at Eton. and went into Green’s service where he served six years. By profession he is a land and estate agent; he is an hon. member of the Federation of French Firemen. In forming his fire brigade he was careful to select men of the same social standing, who are master men in their respective callings in life, and who all pull well together; he is a worker and no kid glove gentleman, and is usually first to a fire, and during the last five years all large fires have been stopped because the brigade has always been on the top of it before very serious damage has arisen. The fire station at Stamford is a very replete building, and is used by the brigade as a club and meeting-house. All uniform and plant is kept at the engine-house with the exception of the large escape, which is within 100 yards, and consists of one steam fire engine, two manuals, one hose track, two reels, and 2300 feet of hose. Two sons of the late T. C. Gibson now serve as engineer and sub-engineer in the present brigade.”
* the building still stands; it was the St John’s Ambulance Station, now refurbished offices. It was designed and built so that it could be converted to stables if the brigade didn’t take off!
The Stamford Mercury, 7th December, 1894.