Memories Red Lion Street Fire Station

The fire service in Redditch in the early days had been equipped with a single horse-drawn steam pump called The Baron', and it was a wonderful sight, especially at night, to see it thundering through the town, drawn by four Council horses, and belching smoke and sparks from its highly polished brass funnel. All this became history, however, when the new fire station was built in Red Lion Street. It had accommodation for six vehicles, and all offices necessary, including hose drying rooms, recreation and mess. The original equipment included a 1910 Dennis pump and escape, capacity 500 gallons per minute, and a 1930 Dennis pump and escape, capacity 400 gallons a minute. The Baron' became a showpiece at the back of the garage, but sadly fell a victim to the Second World War scrap metal drive.