Belsize Fire Station
Individual sleeping spaces for fire fighters below ground
After London’s Great Fire 1666, insurance emerged. Families and businesses paid a fee to an insurance company to insure their property. The first company, Fire Office, was profitably established in 1667, then other insurance companies bought fire fighting equipment.
Fire Marks were placed on insured homes and buildings, to identify and advertise different insurance companies. But note that individual fire insurance companies would ONLY extinguish fires in buildings insured with them, leaving others to burn!
In 1833, 10 private fire insurance companies united into the more effective London Fire Engine Establishment. Edinburgh’s James Braidwood became the first superintendent of the Establishment, introducing important fire fighting principles: protective uniforms, training and scientific fire-fighting methods.
The many warehouses along Cotton's Wharf were filled with tons of trade products that burned in June 1861. The Establishment quickly got to the scene and 14 fire engines were fighting the blaze, but they couldn’t get an immediate supply of water since the Thames tide was out. By evening the fire stretched from London Bridge to Custom House, taking a fortnight to extinguish and costing millions.
In 1862, the insurance companies told the Home Secretary stating they could no longer be responsible for London’s fire safety. Growing London needed a larger, public authority. In Jan 1866 the Metropolitan Fire Brigade commenced as a public service. That year Tooley St became one of London’s oldest fire stations, built as a result.
British fire fighters had always lived in their own homes, but it was difficult to reach them in time when uncontrolled fires raged. Thus many fire stations provided rental accommodation for the firemen and their families above/near the station. The families saved rental costs and also loved seeing their husbands/fathers each day.
With redbrick facades and arched doorways, London's fire stations were easily identifiable. Some even still had their original red doors, or fire-carvings over the doorways. Many were repurposed due to Council cuts or demolished.
Belsize Fire Station was designed and built in the Arts & Crafts style in 1914 by architect Charles Winmill for London County Council. The station was used by fire fighters and engines until 2014 when it was closed due to council cuts. London architects upgraded the Grade II-listed building and turned it into 20 homes. Below street level, the fire fighters' sleeping spaces were converted into 1-bedroom flats.
The many warehouses along Cotton's Wharf were filled with tons of trade products that burned in June 1861. The Establishment quickly got to the scene and 14 fire engines were fighting the blaze, but they couldn’t get an immediate supply of water since the Thames tide was out. By evening the fire stretched from London Bridge to Custom House, taking a fortnight to extinguish and costing millions.
In 1862, the insurance companies told the Home Secretary stating they could no longer be responsible for London’s fire safety. Growing London needed a larger, public authority. In Jan 1866 the Metropolitan Fire Brigade commenced as a public service. That year Tooley St became one of London’s oldest fire stations, built as a result.
British fire fighters had always lived in their own homes, but it was difficult to reach them in time when uncontrolled fires raged. Thus many fire stations provided rental accommodation for the firemen and their families above/near the station. The families saved rental costs and also loved seeing their husbands/fathers each day.
With redbrick facades and arched doorways, London's fire stations were easily identifiable. Some even still had their original red doors, or fire-carvings over the doorways. Many were repurposed due to Council cuts or demolished.
Belsize Fire Station was designed and built in the Arts & Crafts style in 1914 by architect Charles Winmill for London County Council. The station was used by fire fighters and engines until 2014 when it was closed due to council cuts. London architects upgraded the Grade II-listed building and turned it into 20 homes. Below street level, the fire fighters' sleeping spaces were converted into 1-bedroom flats.
Thank you to Londonist for the histories and photos.
Former Bethnal Green Fire Station in London Rd was built in 1889 then used until 1968 when it became London’s Buddhist Centre. The New Bethnal Green Firestation is still functioning in Roman Rd in a plainer building.
Bishopsgate Fire Station opposite Liverpool St station was used as a fire station between 1885-1964, closing when a replacement station was opened in nearby Barbican. The upper floors are now offices.
Brompton Fire Station functioned as intended from 1893-1964, in South Parade off Fulham Rd. The NHS took over the Grade-II listed Brompton Fire Station, using it as a sleep disorder clinic.
Brunswick Rd Fire Station was built in 1911, one of 43 new stations built when the London Fire Brigade expanded following a terrible 1897 fire. Grade-II listed Brunswick Rd Fire Station has been converted into flats.
Former Bethnal Green Fire Station in London Rd was built in 1889 then used until 1968 when it became London’s Buddhist Centre. The New Bethnal Green Firestation is still functioning in Roman Rd in a plainer building.
Bishopsgate Fire Station opposite Liverpool St station was used as a fire station between 1885-1964, closing when a replacement station was opened in nearby Barbican. The upper floors are now offices.
Brompton Fire Station functioned as intended from 1893-1964, in South Parade off Fulham Rd. The NHS took over the Grade-II listed Brompton Fire Station, using it as a sleep disorder clinic.
Brunswick Rd Fire Station was built in 1911, one of 43 new stations built when the London Fire Brigade expanded following a terrible 1897 fire. Grade-II listed Brunswick Rd Fire Station has been converted into flats.
Lewisham Station
and accommodation for firemen and families.
Old Lewisham Station in Lewisham High St was built in 1898 and used until 1956, when it was replaced by New Lewisham Fire Station. It provided housing for the on-call firefighters and stabling for their horses. The Grade-II listed ground floor are now offices; the upper floors became housing.
Old Lewisham Station in Lewisham High St was built in 1898 and used until 1956, when it was replaced by New Lewisham Fire Station. It provided housing for the on-call firefighters and stabling for their horses. The Grade-II listed ground floor are now offices; the upper floors became housing.
The former Marylebone Fire Station aka Manchester Square Fire Station, was built in 1889 as one of London's first purpose-built fire stations. It was decommissioned in 2005, then restored and converted to the Grade-II listed Chiltern Firehouse Hotel.
Former Millwall Fire Station opened in 1905, replacing a nearby fire station which was built in 1877, but quickly became too small. The 1905 building was closed in 2006 when the newer Millwall Fire Station opened nearby. The upper storeys were turned into flats, while the Old Fire Station Bistro opened on the ground floor.
Perry Vale Station in Forest Hill opened as a residential fire station in 1901, housing firefighters and their families, and closed 70 years later. It was used as a council office until 2008, then became housing. The large garage-like doors still stand out clearly.
Perry Vale station and
accommodation for firemen and families
Former Shoreditch Fire Station was housed in the original building between 1896-1964. When the New Shoreditch Fire Station opened around the corner in Old St, the first station was closed down and has not been used since 2017.
Waterloo was built as a fire station in 1910 to replace a fire and ambulance station that previously stood on the same spot. It still has original features, including the tiled lettering over the door, and fire buckets hanging from the ceiling inside. It's Grade-II listed.
Before Westminster was built in Greycoat Place, there had been another station in nearby Francis St. The listed 1906 building functioned as a fire station for a century, before being one of 10 stations that closed in Jan 2014. In Dec 2016, planning permission was granted for a restaurant in the ground floor and basement, and 16 flats upstairs.
Whitefriars Fire Station opened on Carmelite St in the City in 1887 and closed in 1964. Today its used as an unlisted office block.
![]()
Former Shoreditch Fire Station was housed in the original building between 1896-1964. When the New Shoreditch Fire Station opened around the corner in Old St, the first station was closed down and has not been used since 2017.
Waterloo was built as a fire station in 1910 to replace a fire and ambulance station that previously stood on the same spot. It still has original features, including the tiled lettering over the door, and fire buckets hanging from the ceiling inside. It's Grade-II listed.
Before Westminster was built in Greycoat Place, there had been another station in nearby Francis St. The listed 1906 building functioned as a fire station for a century, before being one of 10 stations that closed in Jan 2014. In Dec 2016, planning permission was granted for a restaurant in the ground floor and basement, and 16 flats upstairs.
Whitefriars Fire Station opened on Carmelite St in the City in 1887 and closed in 1964. Today its used as an unlisted office block.
Former Millwall Fire Station, opened 1905
Now the double red doors open to the Old Fire Station Bistro