Old Blackburn fire station (byrom street)

[Accyexplorer]

Did this a while ago now,While visiting a friend in Blackburn I drove past the old Fire station an noticed it was derelict.
I couldn't help myself,I had to take a closer look (Shame i only had my iPhone) .

HISTORY:
BLACKBURN FIRE STATION opened on December 8th 1921 , the 0.81 acre site includes workshops, offices, car park and a 60ft-high fire station tower.
Earliest traceable records show a Fire Brigade in Blackburn as long ago as 1794. Fires reported in local papers of 1812 and 1826 stated that the town's provision, which was based in Lord Street, was in a very unfit condition and of little effect. In 1836 it is recorded that the Brigade cost the town of Blackburn £106 1s.7d for it's upkeep. In 1851 Blackburn received its Charter of Incororation and one of the first duties of the Town Council was to improve the facilities for coping with outbreaks of fire and in 1856 they purchased a fire engine at a cost of £150. This horse drawn engine was housed in Engine Street, which is the site of the present Town Hall. By 1856 the Town Council was forced to take action to improve the facilities again and a site in Clayton Street was acquired, and a station built and opened in 1867.

The Station comprised an engine house, 42' high hose tower, store room, engineer's workshop and recreation room. There was also a small smithy, office, Superintendent's house and stabling for the horses. Seventeen cottages adjoined the station for the men, the remainder lived at distances of up to 300 yards from the station. The engine house remained substantially the same until it's closure in 1921.

Later two motorised Fire Engines were purchased and installed in a new Fire Station on Byrom Street. This station also included residences for the first and second officers and 33 cottages for the men. The station remained on the site until 2012.

The new Blackburn Community Fire Station was opened on 26th April 2012 by the Fire Minister, Bob Neill MP and the Worshipful the Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Coucil,Councillor Mrs Karimeh Foster. The new station is situated directly opposite the previous station on Byrom Street

ENJOY

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[Turtle]

Just looking at pic #5: I'm impressed by the amount of architectural detail put on a utilitarian building in those days.

[Accyexplorer]

Looks like this wonderful buildings made recent news,I foresee it going down the demolition road to be honest

Blackburn fire station fears as vandals strike (From Lancashire Telegraph)

[Accyexplorer]

Originally Posted by Turtle

Just looking at pic #5: I'm impressed by the amount of architectural detail put on a utilitarian building in those days.

Very True,The craftsmen of today would struggle to match such architectural masterpieces

[GEaston]

And it's not the only disused fire station lying empty and derelict. The one on Manchester Road is of similar period construction. it is Grade 2 listed, and so will be near impossible to sell. Has been on the market for years, but there's not so much of a need for bomb shelters these days

http://www.pettycommercial.co.uk/pro...p?property=155

[Accyexplorer]

[Turtle]

The videos are interesting - we feel like we're exploring along with you. Do you ever get creeped out in any of the buildings?

[Retlaw]

Originally Posted by GEaston

And it's not the only disused fire station lying empty and derelict. The one on Manchester Road is of similar period construction. it is Grade 2 listed, and so will be near impossible to sell. Has been on the market for years, but there's not so much of a need for bomb shelters these days

http://www.pettycommercial.co.uk/pro...p?property=155

It wouln't take much explosives to bring down Accys old fire station, there are cracks all over the place, and subsidence in some places, some of the houses in Grange lane had to be underpinned, the only things that will survive are those concrete supports for the old glass canopies over the rear engine bays, they are reinforced. Some of the Yorkshire stone facings are also being pushed out of place, some of them were rebbeded when I was there during the 1960's.

[Accyexplorer]

Originally Posted by Turtle

The videos are interesting - we feel like we're exploring along with you. Do you ever get creeped out in any of the buildings?

Thanks,I uploaded them to try give folk a better insight into some of the places I've been.

The short answer is yes ,however there is a (strange) relaxation in the stillness of dereliction on some sites.
Once inside (my mind takes over) I find it amazing to imagine what these places would have been like in the day.
I suppose its kinda like tunnel vision I find myself conjuring up images and questions about what went on,how these places were used.
To be honest I find modern life can get a bit boring, how people are so unaware of our past and can walk right past somewhere without a second glance (I suppose that's the mentality of some of folk nowadays,destroy rather than preserve ).

[Turtle]

Thanks for sharing. The odd time I've been able to explore a derelict building I had similar thoughts and feelings.