Photos of Witham

Fire brigade with horse drawn fire engine

Taken: 1900 approx, Source: Herbert Keeble, Ref: M65

Witham fire brigade with its horse-drawn fire engine, c.1900. From left to right, back row: George Ottley (driver, ran cabs from near station), William Kentfield (wife was nurse), ???, ???, Charles Rice. Front row: Walter Perkins (Urban District council surveyor, captain), ? Corley, ? Duncombe, ???.

This hand-pumped machine was outshone by the steam pump from Maldon in February 1910 during the fire at the old Constitutional Club. A subscription was raised and Witham purchased its own steam engine to celebrate the 1911 coronation. It was still pulled by horses, which had to be caught, and it had to ‘get steam up’ before working.

There a number of photos about different aspects of the 1911 Coronation:- M65, M145, M146, M147, M148, M149, M150, M1018, M1088, M1220, M1445, M1518, M1862, M1885.

RefM65
Date taken1900 approx
SourceHerbert Keeble
Posted on Full size 5858 × 3316

Unless otherwise specified, photos are the copyright of the original photographer.

Every effort has been made to contact the owners of the photos or their relatives, to obtain their permission to use their pictures. But I have not always managed to find them, for which I apologise.

The photos appear in the order they were catalogued. Use Search to look for photos showing particular people, places etc.