Brigade Courtʼs proud history is still defining its place in the future. The buildings themselves were the first headquarters and training facility of the London Fire Brigade and played a crucial role in developing modern standards of firefighting.
Now this iconic building has been reimagined as the stunning location for a residential community that is setting new standards for the capital. Itʼs your chance to own a distinctive piece of Londonʼs history, and shape your own place in the capitalʼs future.
The first publicly funded authority in charge of saving lives and protecting buildings from fire was founded as the ‘Metropolitan Fire Brigade’. The first headquarters for the MFB were at Southwark Fire Station, the site of Brigade Court.
In the 1870s and 1880s the number of fire stations that opened across London significantly increased, with Southwark Fire Station’s architecture serving as the prototype for which new stations were based. Very few examples of this architecture remain today; meaning Brigade Court is a site of special interest for its rarity.
Innovations that were pioneered at Southwark Fire Station influenced fire brigades across the world. These included new uniforms, new ranking systems, brass helmets and advanced technology to improve the service.
The firefighters of Southwark Fire Station helped develop an engine which could be pulled by two horses and produce several jets of water at high pressure – a huge innovation in fighting fires in London.
The Fire Brigade’s headquarters moved from Southwark Fire Station, to a building on Albert Embankment in 1937.
Southwark Fire Station was then appointed as the training hub for firefighters in south London, while also operating as a fully working fire station. Its large size made it a perfect dispatch point to much of central London.
In the years before the Second World War the Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS)was formed in January, 1938.
A recruitment drive was launched, with over 28,000 firefighters needed to support the Fire Brigade’s 2,500 officers and firefighters, many of whom began working and operating at Southwark Fire Station.
However, as most young men had joined the army, the AFS welcomed those too old or too young to go to war. It also marked the first time women joined the Brigade.
After closing service as an operating fire station, the site became home to the London Fire Brigade Museum for a number of decades, due to the historical significance of the site and its importance in the role of fire fighting in London and protection of the community.
BRIGADE COURT,