We want to get to know you more to help improve our service. Please take 2 minutes to fill out our survey here. Thank you! test2

Discover content and watch films on our latest and improved iOS app. Download it here!

This film is part of Free

Procession of Firemen, Nelson (c.1902)

Mounted police lead smartly uniformed firefighters past William Widdup's furniture store in Edwardian Nelson.

Non-Fiction 1902 1 mins Silent

Overview

This street parade gives a strong sense of the hierarchical nature of the early fire service. The style and presentation of the firemen's uniforms vary in each passing carriage; a man in a top hat rides in the final liveried carriage. The previously unknown location has now been identified as Nelson, Lancashire - the partially obscured sign is the storefront of William Widdup, furnisher.

Special thanks to Michael Burdett for astutely working out the location based on evidence in the film.