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Fire Engine Photos
Photo of Preston Circus Fire Station, Brighton
Preston Circus Fire Station in the heart of Brighton,East Sussex was built in 1938 on the original site of
the previous fire station on the same site built back in 1901,but due to larger equipment and a growing
number of firefighters meant a new and larger fire station was much needed.
The original station was built from the remains of an old Brewery demolished back in 1901 when the
road was widened to make way for tram lines to be laid,but long before this Brighton had its fire brigade
this dating back to the formation of the Brighton Fire Establishment back in 1831.
The new station was built with Portland stone and brick and was designed by Graeme Highet and was
opened by Earl Winterton in the May of 1938.It is still a classic design from the period and today it still
retains some of the old terrazzo and parquet floors,internal intricate banisters and also brass fittings.
Although the front of the station now as new up and over doors,the rear doors at the back of the fire
station are still the original ones dating from 1938,and have to be slide open so appliances can enter.
After having now served the population of Brighton for 70 years from this fire station,and actually from
this very site for nearly 110 years from the original old station(1901),sadly its just been announced
that Preston Circus Fire Station will in due course be closed in the near future and a new station built.
Sadly,long gone are the days when you'd walk past and see maybe 3 pumps,rescue tender,turntable
ladder,breathing apparatus/salvage unit,landrover,etc,etc filling all the bays,'oh those were the days.'
Today,the station at Preston Circus in Brighton houses,2 pumps and an Aerial Ladder Platform.
Preston Circus Fire Station in the heart of Brighton,East Sussex was built in 1938 on the original site of
the previous fire station on the same site built back in 1901,but due to larger equipment and a growing
number of firefighters meant a new and larger fire station was much needed.
The original station was built from the remains of an old Brewery demolished back in 1901 when the
road was widened to make way for tram lines to be laid,but long before this Brighton had its fire brigade
this dating back to the formation of the Brighton Fire Establishment back in 1831.
The new station was built with Portland stone and brick and was designed by Graeme Highet and was
opened by Earl Winterton in the May of 1938.It is still a classic design from the period and today it still
retains some of the old terrazzo and parquet floors,internal intricate banisters and also brass fittings.
Although the front of the station now as new up and over doors,the rear doors at the back of the fire
station are still the original ones dating from 1938,and have to be slide open so appliances can enter.
After having now served the population of Brighton for 70 years from this fire station,and actually from
this very site for nearly 110 years from the original old station(1901),sadly its just been announced
that Preston Circus Fire Station will in due course be closed in the near future and a new station built.
Sadly,long gone are the days when you'd walk past and see maybe 3 pumps,rescue tender,turntable
ladder,breathing apparatus/salvage unit,landrover,etc,etc filling all the bays,'oh those were the days.'
Today,the station at Preston Circus in Brighton houses,2 pumps and an Aerial Ladder Platform.
It's a disgrace that many of our classic stations are being closed. Yes times change and needs must, but if it has served so well for so long, why change it now?
Added by Andy Daley on 21 January 2009.
Added by Andy Daley on 21 January 2009.
I know of a couple of the very old stations in Glasgow were renovated into flats. Still notable as being ex-fire stations though. perhaps the same could be done with this building?
Added by Stevie Murray on 21 January 2009.
Added by Stevie Murray on 21 January 2009.
Terrible shame, my first contact with the Fire Service was as a child being taken by my Mum to the stations open day.Always a massive occasion partly because of the Huge banner that is put up outside in the month before to advertise the fact.If a new station gets built in the middle of nowhere this must have a detrimental effect on the amount of families that turn up.Partciularly as CFS and Education is so important to a FFs Role.Attendance times will suffer and the public will suffer.Where is all the high risk in Brighton? Centre of town - B&B and HMO land, moving trucks an extra mile away with Brightons Traffic seems ludicrous.But on the Plus side I guess you may save a few pennies of your council tax bill.
Added by Bernard Mckernan on 22 January 2009.
Added by Bernard Mckernan on 22 January 2009.
This has to be one of the most impressive and quirky looking fire stations of it's time. I love the way the appliance bay continues around the corner. Such a shame it is to close. I know these older stations probably don't adhere to the current H&S standards, but for crying out loud, it's worked for last fifty years... God I hate all this damn red tape!
Added by Dave Lewis on 22 January 2009.
Added by Dave Lewis on 22 January 2009.
i bet it makes for quite an interesting turnout coming onto the crossroads.
Added by Nathan on 22 January 2009.
Added by Nathan on 22 January 2009.
Perhaps create flats on the top 2 floors and have parking on the lower where the bays are? Driving your car in and out of the big red doors would never cease to be fun!
Added by David Sapsford on 22 January 2009.
Added by David Sapsford on 22 January 2009.
Although not up for sale at this time, the Duke of York's picturehouse(cinema)
ajoining Preston Circus Fire Station to the left of station have already shown
an interest in the purchase of the station when it comes on the market.
A spokesman said:"We would want to keep the fire station's "architecturally
interesting"frontage as part of any future development".He said:"We wouldn't
want to knock it down, its an asset we'd love to use".
A spokesman for ESF&R said:"We have still to find land in Brighton and make
sure that we have got planning permission before we can even look to sell".
Added by Pete Matten on 26 January 2009.
ajoining Preston Circus Fire Station to the left of station have already shown
an interest in the purchase of the station when it comes on the market.
A spokesman said:"We would want to keep the fire station's "architecturally
interesting"frontage as part of any future development".He said:"We wouldn't
want to knock it down, its an asset we'd love to use".
A spokesman for ESF&R said:"We have still to find land in Brighton and make
sure that we have got planning permission before we can even look to sell".
Added by Pete Matten on 26 January 2009.
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