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Fire Engine Photos
Keymer Fire Station,West Sussex Fire & Rescue.
This photograph from 1994 shows Keymer Fire Station in the county of West Sussex which is one of 19 retained fire stations with the West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service.Keymer was never built for todays ultra modern machines though as can certainly be seen from this picture.
The appliance is from 1992(reg-J76GRV)and is a Dennis F88 Rapier TF202/JDC Water Tender Ladder and even back then,this appliance only just fit into this typical village fire station,only though after mirrors had been moved in before reversing,then pushed back out again after the appliance was moved out of the station.
The latest appliance from 2009 which we've seen and talked about that is due for Keymer(reg-HX58CNU),is a MAN/JDC Water Tender Ladder,and hopefully this new appliance should go into service at some time in the not to distant future.Hope they remember to put those mirrors in.
Please don't ask why Keymer cannot have a new station,all I know is that going way back when,all this area was privately owned and the owner kindly I think donated this particular spot for the village to have its own volunteer fire brigade,nothing else could/can be built on this ground.It would be interesting to see if someone can add a little more on this subject,and the history of the Keymer Fire Brigade.
This photograph from 1994 shows Keymer Fire Station in the county of West Sussex which is one of 19 retained fire stations with the West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service.Keymer was never built for todays ultra modern machines though as can certainly be seen from this picture.
The appliance is from 1992(reg-J76GRV)and is a Dennis F88 Rapier TF202/JDC Water Tender Ladder and even back then,this appliance only just fit into this typical village fire station,only though after mirrors had been moved in before reversing,then pushed back out again after the appliance was moved out of the station.
The latest appliance from 2009 which we've seen and talked about that is due for Keymer(reg-HX58CNU),is a MAN/JDC Water Tender Ladder,and hopefully this new appliance should go into service at some time in the not to distant future.Hope they remember to put those mirrors in.
Please don't ask why Keymer cannot have a new station,all I know is that going way back when,all this area was privately owned and the owner kindly I think donated this particular spot for the village to have its own volunteer fire brigade,nothing else could/can be built on this ground.It would be interesting to see if someone can add a little more on this subject,and the history of the Keymer Fire Brigade.
Hello Neil,there were four new Dennis Rapiers allocated to stations in 1992,these going to the wholetime stations at Worthing and Crawley,and retained stations at Burgess Hill and Keymer recieving the last 2 of the appliances for that year.
During the 1994/1996 period I visited most of the stations in the county to take pictures,and also gather information for a proposed book I was doing to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the West Sussex Fire Brigade.I attended many Open Days during the period and displayed my model collection so I could also get pictures,and also just made arrangements to attend a station(Keymer)for some information and of course a picture.I actually took several pictures during my visit to Keymer,but sent this particular one into the site because it not only showed your new appliance from the period,but mainly the station and how small it was.
The picture was from maybe 1993,but thats not really that important,what is though is that the picture cleary shows in context the station size,and also the appliance size.
Neil,I look forward to seeing a similar photo in the not to distant future of the 2009 MAN/JDC on the forecourt of Station27 Keymer,just like this photograph.OH Yea,and don't forget to move those mirrors in before you move it out of station for the photo shoot.We really don't want this new appliance being taken off the run,before it actually finally goes on the run.Cheers,Pete.
Added by Pete Matten on 11 November 2009.
During the 1994/1996 period I visited most of the stations in the county to take pictures,and also gather information for a proposed book I was doing to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the West Sussex Fire Brigade.I attended many Open Days during the period and displayed my model collection so I could also get pictures,and also just made arrangements to attend a station(Keymer)for some information and of course a picture.I actually took several pictures during my visit to Keymer,but sent this particular one into the site because it not only showed your new appliance from the period,but mainly the station and how small it was.
The picture was from maybe 1993,but thats not really that important,what is though is that the picture cleary shows in context the station size,and also the appliance size.
Neil,I look forward to seeing a similar photo in the not to distant future of the 2009 MAN/JDC on the forecourt of Station27 Keymer,just like this photograph.OH Yea,and don't forget to move those mirrors in before you move it out of station for the photo shoot.We really don't want this new appliance being taken off the run,before it actually finally goes on the run.Cheers,Pete.
Added by Pete Matten on 11 November 2009.
It's the classic small Village Volunteer Fire Brigade; originally, all done through the villagers' efforts.
Well done on the photo and story.
I bet that new-comers and visitors get quite a shock; when such a big rig emerges, with all the appropriate lights and sounds, from such a tiny building.
Looking forward to the history and previous apparatus housed there - will be some interesting rigs for sure.
Regards, from Canada,
Pat_R-B
Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 12 November 2009.
Well done on the photo and story.
I bet that new-comers and visitors get quite a shock; when such a big rig emerges, with all the appropriate lights and sounds, from such a tiny building.
Looking forward to the history and previous apparatus housed there - will be some interesting rigs for sure.
Regards, from Canada,
Pat_R-B
Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 12 November 2009.
Hi Pete. Do you think you could post some of those photos you mentioned onto this site please.
Added by Danny Chatfield on 12 November 2009.
Added by Danny Chatfield on 12 November 2009.
Danny,the only 2 pictures I think you might be talking about which I have mentioned lately are Crawley's new HrT,but sorry its the one for Chichester that I photographed at Amberley and not Crawley's,Crawley's new pump was there though. The other picture I know I've mentioned is the old Chubb/Reynolds Boughton crash tender that Crawley had back in the 1970/80s showing it actually whilst in service.There's a story why they got that?.I have scanned from the original negative the picture and its ready to send,but I need to add a little(begging)request with the picture.The picture should appear in the next few days,and all will be explained.
Mate,if you add comment/request to the picture that's been sent in,or comment has been made to,it will help to know exactly what you are requesting me to send in,so add it to the picture where I've made the comment then I will know what your asking.Pete.
Added by Pete Matten on 12 November 2009.
Mate,if you add comment/request to the picture that's been sent in,or comment has been made to,it will help to know exactly what you are requesting me to send in,so add it to the picture where I've made the comment then I will know what your asking.Pete.
Added by Pete Matten on 12 November 2009.
Sad to say that Keymer closes its tiny red doors for the very last time on the 31st March, 2011 and the station closes due to Government cut-backs and this in turn has especially hit the operational structure of the West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service.Other stations also due to close are the retained stations at Findon, and Bosham.
Keymer Fire Station dates back to 1936 and following the Second World War, in 1948 become part of the newly formed East Sussex Fire Brigade, then in the Government County Boundary changes back of 1974, Keymer Fire Brigade became part of the West Sussex Fire Brigade.
The village brigade that has given so much for its community and the counties of East and West Sussex for 75 years is now sadly a part of history, but I do hope will be remembered by this photo image from the better years.
Added by Pete Matten on 30 March 2011.
Keymer Fire Station dates back to 1936 and following the Second World War, in 1948 become part of the newly formed East Sussex Fire Brigade, then in the Government County Boundary changes back of 1974, Keymer Fire Brigade became part of the West Sussex Fire Brigade.
The village brigade that has given so much for its community and the counties of East and West Sussex for 75 years is now sadly a part of history, but I do hope will be remembered by this photo image from the better years.
Added by Pete Matten on 30 March 2011.
Goodbye Keymer. Thanks for all your service and to the dedication of all your crews to your community over the years. You will be missed.
Added by Andrew Middleton on 01 April 2011.
Added by Andrew Middleton on 01 April 2011.
'FOR SALE'.Only just twenty days since the closure of this lovely typical rural fire station in the village of Keymer back on the 31st March, its now gone on the market and up for sale for just £125, 000.
It will be intersting to see what becomes of this old fire station, the land was donated to the local community for the sole purpose that a fire station be built in the village on this land and only that.The estate agents are advertising it as a'Fire Station For Sale', and unless the community want to buy it and set up their very own village fire brigade(those were the days), any other buyer would need to obtain special planning permission for any alternative use for the land, etc.
This old photograph shows the station before alterations were made some years ago and extensions were added, but its certainly a real bargain at just £125.000.
I wished I had that sort of money to be able to buy it.I'd tranfer the complete building up to the Amberley Museum & Heritage Centre and use it for display purposes.Real sad if its bulldozed into the ground and flats are erected on the site-real sad.
Added by Pete Matten on 20 April 2011.
It will be intersting to see what becomes of this old fire station, the land was donated to the local community for the sole purpose that a fire station be built in the village on this land and only that.The estate agents are advertising it as a'Fire Station For Sale', and unless the community want to buy it and set up their very own village fire brigade(those were the days), any other buyer would need to obtain special planning permission for any alternative use for the land, etc.
This old photograph shows the station before alterations were made some years ago and extensions were added, but its certainly a real bargain at just £125.000.
I wished I had that sort of money to be able to buy it.I'd tranfer the complete building up to the Amberley Museum & Heritage Centre and use it for display purposes.Real sad if its bulldozed into the ground and flats are erected on the site-real sad.
Added by Pete Matten on 20 April 2011.
Does anyone know whats happened to this station has it been bulldozed?
Added by Adam White on 05 April 2013.
Added by Adam White on 05 April 2013.
Keymer Fire Station was converted to a bungalow and sold back in 2012, it looks quiet nice and really very modern.
Added by Pete Matten on 06 April 2013.
Added by Pete Matten on 06 April 2013.
i believe it was closed due to local authority not government cutbacks , I am sure this station cost very little money to run , I assume that difficulty to find retained crews and the ability to provide cover from nearby stations had more to do with it than just money
Added by George Turnbull , Sfrs on 07 April 2013.
Added by George Turnbull , Sfrs on 07 April 2013.
Dennis
Later the door was moved to the other side of the window, I joined Keymer on the 25/01/1995 and all this work had been completed by this time.
I will endever to gather more history about the station and up-load a new picture hopefully with the MAN on the forecourt.
Regards
Neil
Added by Neil Pocock on 10 November 2009.