St. Giles Steam Fire Engine

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St. Giles Steam Fire Engine

Brief  history of the St. Giles Steam Fire Engine. Picture of the St. Giles Steam Fire Engine was taken on location at the London Harness Horse Parade show held at the Battersea Public Park on Easter Monday 25^th March 2005. The St. Giles Steam Fire Engine was built in 1908 and is one of the oldest horse drawn fire engines that was on exhibition at the show. Horsedrawn vehicles was the main form of transport from the early 1900's. Following a serious fire which completely destroyed the Parish Church at Wimbourne St.Giles, in 1908. Lord Shaftesbury put in an order for a fire engine built the well respected Shand Mason fire engine engineers. Lord Shaftesbury wanted a steam fire that could be steamed in 9 minutes from cold with a pump that could pump 150 gallons of water a minute from a jet hose 150ft long and fire engine would be named the St. Giles Steam Fire Engine. The St. Giles Fire engine would be stationed,  maintained and work from the Wimbourne St. Giles House. The St Giles Steam Fire was stationed at Wimbourne St. Giles House until 1946 during which the St. Fire Engine was called out to put out a fire only once. Between 1946 and 1957 the St. Giles Fire Engine changed hands a few times. One owner especially, repeatedly purchase the fire engine for the sum of £410 each time. In 1987 the St. Giles Fire engine was purchased by its present owner. It has made several public appearances including a spot on the TV show, Blue Peter.