Street Fire Alarms

**raymman** · 10-08-2008

Hi all,
As a newbie to the site I have to say that I am very, very impressed with the knowledge on here. A veritable Wikipedia of Liverpool and the area.

Having read through a lot of the threads, I haven't noticed anyone mentioning the Street fire alarms that used to be dotted about the City. They had a break glass and a pull bar. I think there may have been ones that had a break glass and a key to unlock and call via a phone.
If my memory serves, they were painted red and yellow, and usually sited at the end of streets, and operated by the then G.P.O. The one I definitely remember was on the corner of Mather Ave and Springfield Road L19.
Any one any other photos?
I have found this one, but it is from a catalogue.
Any in the streets would be great especially the one I mention.
Thanks
Ray

**Kev** · 10-08-2008

Thanks for the example. I have never seen these.

Welcome to the site and thanks for the kind comments

**billo** · 10-08-2008

The ones I remember from the early 60's were plainer than that photo. There was one at the end of Goodison Road where it meets Spellow Lane. On New Years Eve people would break the glass and wait for the firemen and all the ladies would kiss and hug them.
There is one (or was) in the museum down in the transport section, in fact I had not noticed that they had gone from the streets until I saw it there

**Waterways** · 10-08-2008

There was on on Park Rd/Upper Warwick St. As a kid I saw a big fire in Morris & Jones' yard - all the trucks. I tried to smash the glass but couldn't. I used my shoe.

There was one on Hill St/Grafton St at the Southern hospital. Every night the scallie kids from Caryl Gardens would break it and every night the constant sirens of the fire engines to a false alarm. They eventually put a camera on it. They were in operation until the late 1970s.

**potter** · 10-08-2008

My parents told me that there was one on the junction of Breck Road and Mackenzie Street and that every year on New Years Eve at 12 o'clock it would be broken and the bar pulled, thus bringing the fire engines out. They must have thought it good fun to do that, flippin' stupid if you ask me. What if the fire engines had an accident and knocked someone over and killed them? I think parents have a lot to answer for.

**irishseashipping.com** · 10-10-2008

I recall two of these alarms as a youngster. One at the corner of Queen's Drive - junction of North Mossley Hill Road (Liverpool College side) and Smithdown Road opposite the junction with Greenbank Road.

I am sure they went out of use sometime between 1968 and 1969. Why I come to that conclusion is that I was at the prep deparment of the Liverpool College between Sept 66 and July 69 located in Park Avenue.

We used to be walked down for lunch in the main school dining room which was across Queen's Drive.

The yellow call box disappearing sometimes towards the end of my time at David House - if I recall correctly. The red pedestel remained sometime afterwards.

The one on Smithdown Road, was visible from where I lived. I never saw anyone use them, but I recall seeing them with the glass smashed over the handle. The one on Smithdown Road, after some vandals put a firework in a van - parked in the Brook House pub car park and the Queens Drive one after a road smash at the junction.

Would be interesting to hear what the exact date of abandonment of the alarm system was.

Obviously they were a very tempting vandal / pranksters target.

Didn't the old Liverpool Museum have on on display in the transport gallery?

John

**lindylou** · 10-11-2008

Here's one I found in the Chambre Hardman collection:

Corner of Belmont rd/Rocky lane, 1929.

**Kev** · 10-11-2008

Cheers Lindy,

For someone so young as me, I never belived these thinhgs actually existed

**anonymouse** · 10-11-2008

Funny how you never realise they've gone 'til they're not there!!

Ahhrr begorrahh, it's the Oirish in me!

**Waterways** · 10-11-2008

Originally Posted by anonymouse

Funny how you never realise they've gone 'til they're not there!!

You always notice things are gone when they are not there

I think you meant you never noticed until someone told you they were not there

**anonymouse** · 10-11-2008

Ahh bejeez, is that what I meant? 'Tis amazing what an education can do fer yer, sir. My apologies for being born so thick, yer honour! I'll try and think what I say in future, if you get me drift.

**anonymouse** · 10-11-2008

While we're on the subject of street furniture, does anyone remember the street drinking 'fountains'? Well, not so much a fountain as a watering device to sate the thirst of any passing traveller, be it four legged or two. Usually located at the kerbside for the convenience of your trusty steed, no doubt - they were about three feet high, made of cast iron, sometimes with an iron cup attached by a chain- if the urchins had not purloined them. As I remember every park in Liverpool also had them. Where did they all go? I can't even find a pic on the 'net!!

**brian daley** · 10-11-2008

Looking back, we ragged trousered kids were well catered for in the drinks and toilet departments. Every park had its drinking fountains , lovely great cast iron things with a metal cup on a chain,they were round topped and at the height a 5 year old could stand tiptoe at and fill a cup with clear refreshing water. There used to be some fountains set into walls,these had lion heads and the spout was set in their mouths ,no cup on these you had to bend and put your mouth beneath the spout whilst pushing the tap,you always ended up getting soaked ,but that was all part of the fun. Sefton Park and Princess Park had some pretty fancy water fountains if memory serves me right. They had plaques on them in praise of the great and good people who had paid for them. How different from today,you could die of thirst if you did'nt have the money to buy a drink ,and you could pee yourself because of the lack of public toilets too. Progress...............................?