Horse-drawn fire engine leaves Ledbury (From Ledbury Reporter)

Horse-drawn fire engine leaves Ledbury

3:10pm Friday 2nd November 2012 in News

A VINTAGE fire pump has left its Ledbury home for a new life in Northamptonshire.

The rare horse-drawn fire engine left for the Fire Services National Museum Trust in Weedon. It will be restored and put on show next year as part of the largest collection of firefighting vehicles and equipment in the UK.

The Ledbury fire pump – built by Hadley, Simpkin and Lott around 1835 and donated to the charity by Ledbury Town Council – is believed to be one of the few of its kind still in existence.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service station commander Martin Lown said: “The wooden manual pump has been in storage at the fire station for many years and its condition has been slowly deteriorating. It’s seen as both part of the fire service’s history and Ledbury’s heritage.”