Building Name

Central Fire Station, Albion Place, Crescent, Salford

Date
1900 - 1903
Street
Albion Place, Crescent
District/Town
Crescent, Salford
County/Country
GMCA, England
Architect
Client
The Watch Committee, Borough of Salford
Work
New Build
Contractor
A R Bullivant and Son Manchester

The Watch Committee on July 9th passed a resolution that the names of Mr Henry Kirkley and Mr Henry Lord, architects, be submitted to the General Committee to select therefrom the architect to prepare the plans etc for the new fire station in Albion Place, the Crescent, Salford. It was afterwards resolved that Mr Henry Kirkley, architect, 54, Deansgate, Manchester, be appointed the architect. [Salford City Reporter 4 August 1900]

THE SALFORD NEW FIRE STATION - The new building has been planned by Mr Henry Kirkley of Manchester and embodies the results of a wide investigation of the fire stations of the larger towns of England Ireland and Scotland carried out by Mr Alderman Shaw and members of his committee assisted by Mr Bentley, chief officer of the brigade. The building faces north and south, the front portion directly overlooking the Crescent. In the middle and facing the Crescent is the central block containing the main engine house, a duty room, call room and a large tower, 52 feet high, for drying the hose after use. Adjoining this block is a commodious dwelling for the use of the chief officer. To the right of the engine house block, but separated from it by the main entrance, are a large workshop, smithy, loose box stabling, and a spare machine house, whilst on the corresponding side and behind the chief officer’s quarters is the drying room as well as another machine house. Behind the front block and flanking a large exercising ground are two rows of cottages for married firemen, each of which contains three good-sized rooms, three bedrooms and a scullery and bath. Room has also been left for an additional block of four similar dwellings, should the increase in the brigade necessitate more housing accommodation. The main engine room is 69 feet long, 35 feet wide and 16 feet high and will accommodate five machines which will stand directly in front of the large doors, whilst the stalls in the stables are so arranged are so arranged as to be directly behind the engine, with a direct run from stable to engine. The electric call room and duty room, which are separated only by a glass partition, are on the right of the engine room and allow for complete supervision from the chief officer’s room. This last is an office, 14 feet by 13 feet and communicates directly with the engine room and also with the chief officer’s dwelling. On the first floor over the engine room is a large parade and instruction room as well as the single men’s quarters. Over the duty and call room is a capital recreation room where billiards and other games may be played, and there are, on the same floor, lavatories and bathrooms for the use of the men. To facilitate the work of the brigade when a call is received there are two sliding poles connecting the parade room on the first floor with the engine room below, two others connecting the recreation room with the duty room and one from the chief officer’s bedroom to his office below. The brigade at present consists of chief officer, sixteen married men and about six single men and the appliances include one steamer, a chemical engine, two horse tenders and a horse escape. Whilst the station contains little that is not found in one or other of modern fire stations, it is claimed that it goes far to embody all their merits. There is, however, one new feature in the form of a horse bath introduced by Mr Bentley himself. It is found that valuable horses are often lost after severe exertion because they catch a chill. This the bath, which can be heated to any degree, will it is hoped prevent. [British Architect 4 September 1903 Page 180-181]

SALFORD - The Fire Brigade is removing this week from the inadequate premises in Ford street to a new home in Albion place, opposite the Technical Schools. The new building has been planned by Mr. Henry Kirkley, of Manchester, and embodies the results of a wide investigation of the fire stations of the larger towns of England, Ireland, and Scotland, carried out by the Fire Brigade Committee, assisted by Mr. Bentley, the chief officer of the brigade. The building faces north and south, the front portion directly overlooking the Crescent. The central block contains the main engine house, a duty room, call room, and a tower, 52 feet high for drying the hose after use. Adjoining this block is a dwelling for the use of the chief officer. To the right of the engine house block, but separated from it by the main entrance, are a workshop, smithy, loose box, stabling, and a spare machine house, whilst on the left side, and behind the chief officer's quarters, is the drying room, as well as another machine house. Behind the front block and flanking the exercising grounds are two rows of cottages for married firemen, each of which contains three rooms, three bedrooms, and a scullery and bath. Room has also been left for an additional block of four similar dwellings. The main engine room is 69 feet long, 35 feet wide, and 10 feet high, and will accommodate five machines, whilst the stalls in the stables are directly behind the engine. The electric call room and duty room, which are separated only by a glass partition, are on the right of the engine room, and allow of supervision from the chief officer's room. This last is an office, 14 feet by 13 feet, and communicates directly with the engine room and also with the chief officer's dwelling. On the first floor over the engine room is a parade and instruction room, as well as the single men's quarters. Over the duty and call room are recreation room, lavatories, and bathroom. A novel feature in the station is a horse bath. It is found that valuable horses are often lost after severe exertion because they catch a chill. This the bath, which can be heated to any degree, will, it is hoped, prevent. [Building News 4 September 1903 page 308]

Reference    Salford City Reporter 7 April 1900 Page 7
Reference    Salford City Reporter 4 August 1900
Reference    Manchester Guardian Saturday 4 January 1902 Page 12 (Contracts)
Reference    Manchester Guardian Saturday 11 January 1902 Page 12 (Contracts)
Reference    British Architect 10 January 1902 Page viii (Contracts)
Reference    British Architect 28 February 1902 Page x - tenders (note full list given)
Reference    Salford Chronicle 20 September 1902 - Foundation stone
Reference    British Architect 4 September 1903 Page 180-181
Reference    Building News 4 September 1903 page 308]