Fire Brigade Medal

This medal was awarded to Henry C Newman of Eastbourne Fire Brigade in 1884. Henry was born in 1832 and lived in Old Town. He worked as a carpenter and volunteered with the Fire Brigade. The Fire Station he would have used was here in Grove Road.

View of 3D Fire Brigade Medal

The first record of firefighting equipment in Eastbourne was a manual pump purchased by the Vestry in 1824. They arranged for volunteers to operate the machine and fight fires.  By 1857 there was a definite need for a purpose built fire station and the Parish Engine House was built in Grove Road opposite Ivy Terrace. When the Local Board formed a Volunteer Fire Brigade in 1859, they continued using this station. When Eastbourne became a Borough in 1884, the Eastbourne County Borough Fire Brigade was formed.

Images: Eastbourne's first purpose built Fire Station in Grove Road; Eastbourne Fire Brigade outside the Fire Station 1898