Fire Engine of 1788

All hands to the pump! This demonstration of a 125 year old fire engine shows she can still be useful when the need arises.

Like a scene from an Ealing comedy, Rothbury's fire engine springs to life with the aid of a volunteer fire brigade. Presented to the Northumberland town in 1788 by George Farquhar following a series of disastrous fires in the area, she was still in use during WWII, alongside more modern firefighting equipment. The veteran machine shows she still has some life left in her, a historic gift to the town which survives to this day.