London Hand-Turned Fire Pump

Type Object Region England Time 1667–1670

After the Great Fire of London in 1666, hand-operated piston fire pumps were quickly introduced, marking London's shift from bucket chains to mechani…

Timeline

1666London · LondonThe Great Fire of London raged for days in September 1666; firefighting by hand-passed buckets and demolition to create firebreaks could not control the blaze, and post-disaster reconstruction prompted the city to seek more effective water-delivery firefighting devices.
1667–1668London · LondonAfter the fire London introduced Dutch-style hand-turned fire pumps, wooden or iron double-cylinder piston pumps mounted on wheeled frames, operated by several men cranking levers to force river or well water through leather hoses to the fire.
1669–1670London · LondonBy around 1670 several London fire insurance companies provided policyholders with fire pumps and dedicated firefighting crews; the hand-turned fire pump became standard equipment for public safety during the city's rebuilding.

Sources

London Fire Brigade: History of firefighting in London https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/museum/history/