Banstead Fire Station

Staff at the old Banstead Fire Station.

We would like to know more about this photograph

When was it taken? Can you name anyone in the photo?

Are you or a member of your family in it?

Fire Station group numbers

Do you know any stories about the Banstead Fire Station and any significant incidents they attended?

Just mail the Webmaster and see your information posted on this website as part of Banstead's history.

Number 19 identified as Francis 'Jack ' Burrows .

Michael Bissett-Powell an avid fire brigade enthusiast mailed us with more details:

"Banstead was given the station reference "B2" ~ Reigate was the Divisional headquarters and was "B1". The fire engines in your photograph of the AFS crews are almost hidden but having studied the 'seams' over the doors for some time, I think I can identify them, and have enclosed photographs of the relevant machines".


Fordson heavy pump: a 2nd World war government issue designed mainly as an escape carrier. Note the front fitted 'Barton' pump.	This model is a variation of the Fordson Heavy pump For wartime purposes, both machines would have been painted in grey and fitted with headlight covers.

Michael continues - I was an avid fire brigade enthusiast and spent many hours outside Sutton Fire Station (which was then in Throwley Road). Calls to summer heath fires on Belmont and Banstead Downs were often attended by a pump from Sutton and a water tender from Banstead, so I became familiar with the machines and men (men only in those days!) who fought the flames.

I have also attached reference to the fire engines which served Banstead after the second World War. Being a largely rural area and with no high buildings Banstead was reduced to one appliance only by the Surrey Fire Brigade when it took over responsibility after the War. Any serious fire in Banstead always required an additional attendance from Sutton, Epsom or Reigate.

Michael Bissett-Powell


Commer water tender similar to the one supplied to Banstead Fire Station when it was reduced to only one appliance in about 1949. It was later superceded by a Dennis F-series water tender.	This photograph shows the old Fire Station building. There were originally five appliance bays - little more than garages. Each bay was very basic and had two hinged doors. Accommodation for firemen, plus staff offices and the watchroom, were housed in a separate building to the immediate south of this block.

The GREAT fire of Banstead 12 Dec 2008

On this day, the Waitrose supermarket was destroyed by a huge blaze and explosion. Over 100 firefighters attended and ten fire engines and two ladder platforms were used to get the fire under control. Four firefighters suffered minor injuries. No customers or staff were hurt.

For more pictures and a progress update see our
special feature.

Fire Brigarde at Waitrose - Photograph by Lewis Wood

History of the Banstead Fire Service

Until 1938 Banstead's fire services were provided by brigades in Epsom, Coulsdon and Reigate.

The increasing rise of bombing raids to quell civilian populations as at Gernica during the Spanish Civil War (1936-9) or Mussolini's invasion of Abyssinia (1935-6) prompted the British government to introduce the 1937 Air Raid Precautions Act where local authorities were formally required to submit their plans compliant to the Act for government approval.

In response to this, Banstead set up its own Fire Brigade in July 1938. The new brigade consisted of a full-time Chief Officer and Sub-Officer with five professional firemen assisted by eight 'retained' men. The site selected for the station was White Lodge, in the Service Road, adjoining the Brighton Road close to the corner with The Drive. The service needed new personnel and this advert appeared in the January 1939 edition of the Banstead Quarterly

Fire station volunteers

It was proposed to acquire a fire motor pump of 350/450 gallons per minute capacity, a motor fire tender, motor ambulance and all other necessary equipment such as ladders, hose, standpipes etc. The delivery of such equipment was not quick, as a report of an exercise on 10 June describes the Auxiliary Fighting Service taking part "with motor cars representing Fire Engines which unfortunately still do not exist in Banstead".
With the advent of war, by early 1940 this extended to road wardens, (neighbours taking it in turns to fire watch and deal with incendiaries) and the exhortation to every home-owner to leave "An Ever Open Door" in their houses so that quick and easy access could be gained in the event of damage by fire 'or worse'.

Open Door advert from Oct 1940

Banstead's Fire Station remained until July 1960 when it was closed after Surrey County Council's 1959 decision that the site was unsuitable.

The arrangements reverted to those of pre-war, with Banstead relying on stations in Epsom, Sutton and Reigate for its fire service.

The worst fears of local objectors to its closure were realised some years later when a fire at the children's home, Beechholme, in Fir Tree Road, gutted their church with its recently installed stained glass windows. The new arrangements meant that fire crews were summoned from outside the Banstead. Mr Banner, the superindendant, lamented the closure of Banstead Fire Station. "I am not saying anything against the firemen, they did a magnificent job,but if the fire station were nearer, they would have got here sooner ".

Fireman Edward 'Ted' Dickens

Margaret Dickens responded to our request. Margaret's father was Edward 'Ted' Dickens. Margaret says

Banstead fireman early 1940s - Edward 'Ted' Dickens

I have a photo of my father in uniform ready for fire fighting, with safety helmet, boots and waterproof trousers. Held by his belt was his axe.

He joined the Banstead Brigade as an Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS) and later had to change all his buttons to the National Fire Service (NFS). They linked with London Fire Brigades during the war and he regularly fought fires in London.

One night he was part of a patrol on the London docks, walked to the end of his section and turned as a bomb exploded from the area he had just walked over.

From our bedroom window in a house off Wilmot Way we could see the blaze over London; it was possible to see the dome of St Paul's cathedral on a clear day. We often wondered if he would come home safely.

Fireman Eric James Wilman

Reference the photograph of BANSTEAD FIRE STATION and your requests for any relative information. My name is Richard Wilman, and I lived with my parents and brother at 33 Winkworth Road, Banstead.

My Father joined the National Fire Service, Local Authority Fire Brigade, as a part time fireman in 1938 based at the new Banstead Fire Station. In 1941 he was "transferred" into the Auxiliary Fire Service as a part time fireman.

During the day he worked at Barclays Bank, in Sutton.

With regard to the group photo, my wife and I, my Brother and his wife, and our daughter are 99.9% certain that No. 8 in the photo is my Father, Eric James Wilman. My father never recounted any of his fire fighting experiences directly to me during the War, but I believe he saw action in London.

Like Margaret Dickens, I remember vividly the London Blitz with the night sky and horizon highly illuminated in red and oranges. From my bedroom window we looked out right across to London and could also see Saint Paul's cathedral on a clear day.

                                                             I also remember seeing sometimes waves of German bombers overhead en route
  to London.
Fireman Eric James Wilman certificate

I am attaching for your information the following: -

- photograph of my father Eric James Wilman in his uniform taken in 1940 (above),

- a copy of his Certificate of Service (right)

- letter from Banstead Urban district Council regarding his duties as a part time Auxiliary Fireman

- NFS letter regarding his demobilisation.

Richard P Wilman

(copies of the last two items
     are available at the
Banstead History Centre)

FIREMAN FRANCIS 'JACK' BURROWS

My brother, Paul, and I are almost certain the No. 19 on your photo of Banstead firemen is our father Francis Burrows (1906--1980), always known as Jack. Dad joined the auxiliary fire service after he was rejected by the army because of his poor eyesight and flat feet. He served from early in the war until about 1946.

He seldom talked about his fire service experiences. I do recall him mentioning going to the London docks, and I am pretty sure he made one trip to Coventry. He also told a story about leaving his bunk at the fire station at some point and returning to find a big lump of shrapnel where his head had been. I also recall that the firemen made toys during slow periods, and that they held a Christmas party where these were distributed. I got a doll's table, but really coveted a bed.

In her memoirs our mother (Marion Burrows 1909 - 2003) recalls that dad was only home about twice a week during the war years. dad grew up in Epsom, attended Sutton County School for Boys, and spent most of his adult life in Banstead, working at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for Children after the war. He also made an unsuccessful attempt to run for the local Council as a Liberal candidate in the late 1950s.

Margaret Weitkamp (nee Burrows)