Essex Fire Museum

18/05/2026

We have got two open days coming up at the Essex Fire Museum on: Tuesday 26th May (half term) and Sunday 31st May. If you would like to come along, please make a booking via Eventbrite (free):

26th May 2026:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/essex-fire-museum-family-open-day-tickets-1988310250483?aff=erelexpmlt

31st May 2026:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/essex-fire-museum-family-open-day-tickets-1988313394888?aff=erelexpmlt

Hope to see you there.😀👍👍😀

09/05/2026

We were very pleased to see the members of the international Red Knights motorcycle group today at the museum. The Red Knights are made up firefighters and fire service staff from around the world. The Essex wing of the Red Knights are hosting a special event today at the Living Memorial site in Rettendon. This will mark the second anniversary of their firefighter memorial and national red plaque development. The Red Knights have a whole host of events and guest speakers lined up for today and we hope this all goes brilliantly for them. 😀👍😀👍

08/05/2026

Fire Engine Friday: Pre World War 2 Essex Fire Appliances. Part 1.

Before 1941, all municipal fire brigades in the Essex County Council area were run by the local Borough and Rural District Councils. This created widely varying standards both in the training of the brigade personnel and also their equipment. Cost counted highly for some councils, resulting in some very basic vehicles for the less affluent Boroughs and districts, whilst other councils had top quality appliances from the best manufacturers.
The Fire Services Act of 1938 caused many Rural District Councils to quickly create fire brigades, where previously they had relied on nearby towns to provide cover. The result was mainly part- time retained or volunteer firemen crewing some rapidly converted vehicles and the heavy reliance on trailer pumps for fire fighting.
Fire brigades closer to London in the Metropolitan part of Essex, were more affluent than their more rural neighbours and as such had more modern and higher quality vehicles. In particular Ilford had a Leyland Cub enclosed appliance, which provided a safer and drier ride for its crew. Other brigades in the area, such as Barking and Thurrock also had enclosed appliances, which was a glimpse into the future, considering that post 1948, enclosed appliances became the standard for all fire brigades in the country. Notwithstanding this, there were many pre-war open appliances still in service into the 1950s and 1960s.
Chelmsford is the County Town of Essex. The Borough of Chelmsford purchased a Dodge Hose-reel Tender in 1939. It had a small pump and water tank to supply its hose-reel, but had to tow a trailer pump for fighting anything other than small fires. The crews sat within the body, but there was no roof. The vehicle was designed to cover the more rural parts within the borough. Note the title of the fire brigade on the vehicle. ‘Fire Dept’ might have been used to suggest that it was a ‘modern’ brigade, or perhaps the signwriter couldn’t fit the word ‘Brigade’ into the space!

All images sourced from EFM archives.

01/05/2026

We had a nice visit this week from a group of public service students based at Chelmsford college. Public service courses are designed for young people looking to work in organisations such as the police, ambulance service, fire service and the military. Our volunteers gave the students a tour of the museum and a history talk about the development of the UK fire service from Roman times onwards. The students also spent time in our fire safety room and then finished the day with a talk about career opportunities within Essex County Fire and Rescue Service. They were a lovely group of young people and asked lots of great questions.
We understand there are more groups of public service students that would like to visit us so we look forward to making those arrangements with the college. 😀👍😀👍

29/04/2026

Our museum volunteer Murray Beale very kindly offered to help with the restoration of a helmet for Elaine Syrett, daughter of former ECFRS firefighter Dave Thompson. Elaine sadly lost her father in January 2025. Dave joined the Essex Fire brigade in 1960 serving at Basildon, Chelmsford, the Training School, Colchester and finally Clacton, where he retired in 1990 as Station Commander. After he passed, Elaine discovered his helmet in the garage and was determined to see it brought back to life for her youngest son Josh, now a firefighter/paramedic with Lawrence City Fire Department near Indianapolis, USA. Although the original helmet was sadly beyond repair, Murray was able to source a helmet externally and restore this to create a very good replica of the original. Elaine and her husband recently collected the helmet from the Museum, where it was presented in front of the museum’s turntable ladder fire engine, that had attended Dave’s funeral last year.
It was great to meet Elaine and her husband. Elaine herself had also worked for ECFRS control for many years and enjoyed looking through old photographs and reminiscing with the museum team. A big thanks to Murray and everyone involved.

22/04/2026

Museum Monthly Focus:

Our monthly focus turns its attention to a large blue cloth bag which arrived unexpectedly at the Essex Fire Museum recently, the contents of which had been found at Service HQ, Kelvedon. The bag contained two large trophies both of which were badly tarnished after years in the back of a cupboard. The larger of the two looked particularly interesting and it was decided to give it a good polish including the plinth which had numerous shields pinned to it. A good deal of elbow grease revealed the trophy to be solid Birmingham silver named: The Industrial Fire Protection Association (IFPA) of Great Britain National Finals Competition – The London Trophy. Names of winners were engraved both on the trophy and shields around the plinth; the first being the General Electric Company (Wembley) 1948, the last Glaxo Wellcome (Montrose) 2000. Of particular interest were the Essex industrial fire brigade winners: May & Baker Ltd (Dagenham) 1956; Hoffmann Co Ltd (Chelmsford) 1963; Davey Paxman & Co Ltd, Standard Works, (Colchester) 1965; Ransome Hoffmann Pollard Co (Chelmsford) 1972; CEGB Thurrock Power Station 1976; Bexford Ltd (Manningtree) 1978; West Thurrock Power Station 1983 and Paxman (presumably still Colchester) 1998. During this period there were numerous industrial fire brigades involved with the IFPA, with hundreds taking part in this drill competition, first in district and regional competitions and if successful 30, or so, elite fire brigades progressed to the IFPA National Finals, usually held at the London Fire Brigade HQ, Lambeth, in September. The winner of which received The London Trophy – the “FA Cup” of industrial firefighting. We are very fortunate now to have it in our collection; this in turn has increased our understanding of British industrial fire brigades.

20/04/2026

On Sunday we held a dementia friendly open day at the Essex Fire Museum. Several residential care homes from around the county attended. It was great to see everyone, have some good chats and look at all the artefacts and equipment in the museum. We really enjoyed meeting everybody (and having some fun). 😀😀.
A big thanks to our volunteers Rob Dawkins, Lee Parker and Deborah Young from the Alzheimer's society for supporting the day. Red Watch at Grays station were also fantastic and spent lots of time chatting with our visitors and showing them around our modern appliances. Well done to everyone involved👍👍.

01/04/2026

A big thanks to everyone who came along to our recent family open days. We hope you had a nice time.😀
Thanks also to our museum volunteers and staff on green watch and blue watch (Grays fire station) for supporting the events.👍
We have got another family open day on Sunday April 26th. If you would like to attend, please book a place via Eventbrite (free entry):

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/essex-fire-museum-open-day-tickets-1974852291365?aff=erelexpmlt

Hope you to see you there. 😀👍😀

27/03/2026

25/03/2026

We had a visit from the Basildon and Billericay U3A this week. Our volunteers Mick Ford and Mike Smith gave the group a talk about firefighting in World War 1 and then a tour of the museum. We had a great time with the guys and really enjoyed their visit.
The U3A (university of the third age) is a national organisation with many locally run groups that provide a wide range of opportunities to come together to learn for fun.

23/03/2026

We are holding a special open day for people living with dementia and their carers, companions or family members on Sunday 19th April 2026 (11.00am to 3.30pm).
Come and see our museum and walk down memory lane with displays of firefighting from the past.
Refreshments provided.
Please book your place via: [email protected]
Address:
Essex Fire Museum
Hogg Lane,
Grays
RM17 5QS
This is a partnership event with Thurrock's Dementia Friendly Community Group and the Alzheimer's Society.