Fire engine
Category
Machinery and industrial devices
Date
1820
Materials
Iron, wood, copper, steel and rope
Measurements
1210 x 1140 x 770 mm
Order this imageCollection
Tredegar, Newport
NT 1553593
Summary
Fire engine. A manually operated fire enging pump, dated 1820, by Hadley and Simpkin. Hand-drawn rectangular wooden body with rectangular iron handles on each end, one with a length of rope attached, and 27cm diameter iron wheels at each corner. Iron and wooden paddle handles operate the pumps contained inside. Central copper sphere within. Painted along one side: 'Tredegar 1820'. Pumped 85 gallons a minute and directed a water jet to 110 feet. This is an excellent example of a smaller type of manually operated engine associated with protection against fire in country houses. its scale (four to eight man) made it very suitable for use in confined spaces such as building courtyards etc as here at Tredegar House. It was built by Hadley & Simpkin of Long Acre in London (predecessors to Merryweather) and is 18th century in date, between 1738-1791. it presumably had a previous owner before moving to Tredegar, hence its TREDEGAR 1820 inscription.
Provenance
On loan to the National Trust from Newport City Council.
Marks and inscriptions
Left hand, back end: By / The King's Patent / Hadley & Simpkin / Makers / Long Acre, London Front: TREDEGAR 1820