A Fire History of Paisley
1307 The English, under Aymer de Valence, burned the Monastery and most of its surroundings
1451 King James II granted a Charter dated 15th January, 1451, conferring upon the abbots and monks of Paisley important powers and privileges, including the trials of the four points of law belonging to the Crown, viz., Rape, Rapine, Murder and Fire Raising.
1560 A manifesto, issued by the rulers of Argyle, James Stewart, and Ruthven, orders the destruction of places of Worship. Protestants burned the eight altars in the Abbey.
1670 The Bailies and Council had no apparatus or engine of any kind for extinguishing fires when they should take place. On 16th December, 1670, "they concludit that there sall be twenty four leathern buckets for stanching of fire made, and that John Park, younger, sall employ James Gairdner, cordoner, in Glasgow, to make ain, to be sein and considered, with of the price, and thereafter the same or remainder to be made conform".
1677 4th January: "They appointed six iron cleiks to be made for pulling down of houses in caise of fire, and to cause buy and make two ledders".
1686 The Bailies and Council give permission for "ane voluntar contribution to the ruyned and district town of Kilmarnock, both by sad quarterings and ane great accidental fire, that has consumed six score families or thereby".
1729 House's of 120 families destroyed by fire in Causeyside.
1733 2nd June. A great fire occurred. Starting at a Surgeon's Shop at the head of St. Mirin's Wynd, on the east side, it spread to both sides of the street, part of Causeyside, both sides of the High Street from the Cross to the Old Bridge, the east end part of the north side of the Cross. About 400 persons were rendered homeless out of a Population 3,400. A petition on behalf of the suffers by the fire resulted in various sums of money being collected in towns and parishes in neighbouring shires. Glasgow sent a generous contribution, as did Greenock, Port Glasgow, Renfrew, Kilmacolm, Lochwinnoch, Eastwood, Houston, and five other communities.
The Bailies and Council, in order to guard against the occurrence of fires, passed on 13th July regulations regarding the construction of houses to be built thereafter. Timber fronts were to be replaced with stone as they became ruinous, and all new houses of two stories were to be of stone, and roofs covered with slate, tile, lead or stone.
These regulations could not have been enforced, particularly as regards the covering of the roofs, as it is only in recent years that the last straw thatched roof in Paisley was removed.
1760 Although Paisley had two fire engines at this time, they were considered insufficient for extinguishing fire expeditiously, and a number of the principal inhabitants in the town contributed money to the Purchase of a larger one. The Council agreed that the fire engine should be bought in London, along with a leather pipe. The engine was to be of the kind marked No. 4 in the London proposals, and to be sent to Paisley by sea.
1799 On the 18th October the Seedhill Mills were entirely destroyed by fire. "Notwithstanding the exertions of a multitude of people, who tried to extinguish the blaze".
1800 Two fire engines, manual type, with their appurtenances, were housed in the Meal Market, in the Weight House Close, High Street. The following regulations were enacted by the Magistrates and Council On 24th December, 1800, for regulating the conduct of the firemen and encouraging them in their difficult duties :-
"That no fireman shall appear at any fire without the jacket, cap and badge which have been furnished him. That after every fire the engines shall be cleaned by the firemen, within 24 hours at least, that they may be in readiness in case of future accidents; and it is expressly required that the engines shall be dried as completely as possible before they are replaced in the house appropriated to them. In order to encourage vigilance and activity, a premium of five shillings shall be given to the fireman or firemen who shall bring the first engine to any fire that may happen in the town or suburbs, and two shillings and sixpence to those who shall arrive with the second engine. But if the alarm of fire given shall turn out to be false, or if it shall afterwards appear that the report of fire has been excited by a foul chimney only, the premium in either of these cases to the fireman who brings the first machine. In the event of fires taking place whereby damages are occasioned, the fireman shall be paid for the trouble, according to the determination of the Magistrates; but in this case, each fireman who shall have been present and acted at the fire shall not have less than half a crown, and the allowance shall be made as soon as the Keeper of the engines reports to the Magistrates that they have been properly returned to the engine house, and that the firemen did their duty".
l8l2 From "Paisley Directory"; "Engines for Extinguishing Fire - The Water Engines and other appurtenances for them are deposited at the Meal Market, High Street, (79). Keys for them to be found at the Police Office; Mr. McKechnie, Grain Dealer, foot of Churchill; Mrs. Dewar's, High Street; and at the Chamberlain's Office, The Cross".
1820 "Directory". contains a similar notice, with the addition of a list of eleven firemen.
1826 14th August. Southbar Mansion House burned down.
1833 Fowler's Paisley Directory gives Alexander Wallace, of l4 Bridge Street, as Captain of the Brigade, with a William Wallace as Deputy. The Brigade appears to have been in two Sections, with a red and green engine. Each Section had a Sergeant, a Corporal, and four Firemen and the engines were housed in Gilmour Street, opposite the Prison. Keys at Police Station and Captain Wallace's house.
On 12th November there was a great fire at the Cross. Starting in a four storey warehouse, No 6 the cross, it was soon burned to the ground. The fire spread to Nos. 8 and 9, which shared the same fate. One fireman was killed by the falling walls. These buildings had been erected on the site of the great fire of 1733.
1838
to Charles Wallace, of 7 Smithhills, was Captain.
184?
1853 Engines now housed at 32 High Street and 14 firemen are on the list.
1857 A Mr. Joseph Green, of 6 Dyers' Wynd, was appointed Captain.
1862 James Gillespie, Slater, 82 New Sneddon Street, appears as Captain, with 8 firemen.
1864 In addition to the Burgh Brigade, superintended by the Magistrates and Councillors and Captained by James Gillespie, another Brigade is listed in Winning's "Paisley Directory". This was the West of England's Insurance Company's Brigade. It was Captained by a John Smith, with 3 firemen.
1866 Disastrous fires occurred at Brown and Polson's Factory, the Canal Basin Stables and the Saucel Mills.
A person was tried and convicted of fire-raising, and was banished for 20 years.
1867 The following is from a local directory of the period;
"West of England Insurance Company. The Company's Fire Brigade and Engine are despatched to all fires without charge, special protection being given to maintaining a Fire Establishment in Scotland at their own expense. Station House at 20 Smithhills, Superintendent, John Smith, 101 High Street."
At this time the Burgh Brigade consisted of 9 firemen, with Mr. James Gillespie, a master slater, as Superintendent.
1869 A Mr. Noble Campbell appears as Superintendent of the West of England Insurance Company Brigade with 4 volunteer assistants. He was a shoe maker, with a shop in Cotton Street. The fire appliances, a hand barrow, leather hose and buckets, were kept in the Company's premises at Abbey Close (site of Town Hall). Noble Campbell was very well known to the Paisley folks and, when rushing through the streets, pushing or pulling his barrow to a fire, the children greated him wish a doggerel verse which ran:
"Noble Campbell, shoe'in shine,
Heard the cry of fire,
He off wi' his brat, and on wi' his hat
and off to the Renfrew Fire! "1875 Fire in E.U. Church.
1877 On June 28th Messrs. Clark E. Morgan's Mills, Gordon's Lane, were destroyed, involving serious loss, and many narrow escapes were made by the female workers.
In September of this year, Paisley Town Council appointed their first Professional Firemaster, in the person of Mr. Arthur McNaughton. He was a foreman engineer with Messrs. A. & F. Craig, and he gave invaluable service to the town for 45 years.
The Fire Station was in the rear of Moss Street, entering by a pend at No.5, now a Tobacconist's Shop. The engines were kept in what at one time formed the stables of the Saracen's Head Inn. The Staff was composed of twelve firemen who attended at fires and drills, and only the Firemaster was permanently employed. The equipment included one steam fire engine, a manual pump, two hand reels, 1,000 feet of leather hose, 100 feet of canvas hose, and about 100 fire cocks.
The steam fire engine was supplied in this year by Shand Mason & Co., of London, and its capacity was 450 gallons per minute. It was horse drawn, and a system of borrowing horses from the cab rank was in vogue. The first driver who arrived with his horse received a fee, no one can imagine the scene when the High Church bell gave the alarm by a triple beat, and the cab drivers frantically unharnessed their horses and raced them up the narrow street.
On 22nd October, a pamphlet was issued from the Police Chambers. One paragraph stated, regarding procedure on an alarm of fire, "A Police Constable will be immediately sent to the High Church bell, and for the space of five minutes shall strike vigorously thereon three strokes, with an interval of four seconds".
1879 4th February. Southbar Mansion burned down.
4th May. Thorn Mill burned.
15th December. The Linside Mill, Seedhill, destroyed, and a foreman Mr. McGinty, killed. Loss, £5,000.
1880 Lounsdale Bleach Works. Loss £15,000.
1882 31st July. Pollok Castle burned.
Fire at Currie's Starch Works, Murray Street.
1884 3rd July. Adelphi Starch Works burned down.
1885 12th January. Fire at Walkinshaw Oil Works.
26th January. Fire at Seedhill Dyeworks.
4th March. Fire at Messrs. Hanna, Donald & Wilson's Engineering Works, causes loss of £4,000
1886 15th June. Destructive fire in Muir and Anderson's Chemical and Button Factory in Christie Street. A stiff breeze was blowing and red hot buttons and sparks were carried across the river Cart to a number of thatched houses in Brick Lane, which were totally destroyed. The flames then spread to Highland Lane, where several tenements were destroyed. Nearly 50 families were rendered homeless. (This blaze came to be known locally as the Button Fire). About this time the Town Council purchased a 50 ft. wheeled fire escape.
1887 12th April. Destructive fire at Johnstone Flax Mills. Loss £50,000.
30th September. Serious fire at Messrs. A. & F. Craig, Murray Street
.
1888 13th January. Cross Arthurlie Spinning Mills burned down.
1889 21st January. Craigton Mansion burned down.
17th November. The Royalty Theatre, Old Sneddon Street, burned down
.
1890 Fire at St. Mirren's Starch Works.
1895 Fire at Adelphi Starch Works.
1899 13th April. New Fire Station at Johnston Street opened. The Brigade now comprised eight permanent firemen and nine auxiliary firemen, ten of whom were housed at the Fire Station.
The plant included one Shand Mason steam engine, two pipe carriages and hand reel, and at least four horses were stabled at the Station.
29th June. Fireman James Mair, Paisley Fire Brigade, killed by falling wall at fire in Ferguslie Fire Clay Works.
1901 Four serious fires in this year caused over £70,000 damage. On April 7th the Brigade was on Parade prior to attending the funeral of a Magistrate when a call was received to the Gleniffer Soap Works at the Saucel. A few minutes after returning from this fire a call was received to Messrs. McIntyre's Paper Mills, Blackhall Street, and the premises were found ablaze from end to end, and were totally destroyed.
22nd June. McKean's Starch Works; also Seedhill Tannery.
1908 First street fire alarms installed.
1909 August. Motor car works at Underwood.
1910 Serious Fire at Vulcan Engine Works, Renfrew Road.
1912 September. First motor fire engine purchased from Messrs. Halley. Pump capacity was 450 gallons per minute, with a road speed up to 40 miles per hour.
On 3rd July, Fireman Charles Houston of the Anchor Mills Fire Brigade lost his life while assisting the Burgh Brigade.
1916 29th February. The Hippodrome Variety Theatre, opened 15th October, 1906, was destroyed.
1923 21st March. Messrs. Highgate's Oil Works. Loss, £150,000.
9th May. Palace Picture House destroyed, opened March 1920. (Site of Woolworths Stores Ltd.)
1924 Dennis fire engine, 600 G.P.M. pump purchased.
1926? March. Morris Magirus turntable fire escape and water tower, 85' ladder, purchased.
1929 On 31st December occurred the worst disaster in the history of Paisley Smoke from a very slight fire caused panic at a matinee for children in the Glen Cinema at the cross, and seventy (70) children, aged 18 months to twelve years, were crushed to death in a rear exit way.
1931 23rd April. Messrs. Wilson, Ham Curers, Barrhead. Loss - £17,000.
1933 Halley Fire Engine replaced by a Leyland engine.
1934 29th September. Messrs. Handasyde's Oil Works, Macfarlane Street, Paisley. Loss - £4,600.
1936 Fire at Dykebar Mental Hospital, Administration Block. Loss - £7,000.
NOTES
Paisley's first professional Firemaster was Arthur McNaughton. Mr. McNaughton was a foreman engineer with Messrs. A. & F. Craig, Murray Street, and was appointed Firemaster in September, 1877.
Among his inventions were patent dividing breeching, revolving nozzle, smoke method of fire detection, torch-lamp double outlet fire plug, patent three-way stand-pipe, etc.
In 1913 he received the King's Police and Fire Brigade Medal for meritorious service.
He retired on pension in August, 1922, and died 19th October, 1934, in his 87th year.
He was succeeded by Mr. John Smith, Firemaster at Hamilton. Mr. Smith transferred to Bootle as Chief Officer in 1927, and then to the Fire Department in Belfast.
Alexander Girdwood became Firemaster of Paisley in 1927 when Mr. Smith transferred to Bootle.
In this office he served until his death in 1937 when he was succeeded by Mr. Robert Bowman, O.B.E., who came from the City of Edinburgh Fire Brigade, where he had served as a fireman. Prior to being in the Fire Brigade Mr. Bowman had served several years as a regular soldier in the Scots Greys.
At the outbreak of the 1939-45 war, Mr. Bowman had in the previous year gained a two-shift system method of duty and the professional staff at that time included the Firemaster, Deputy, Third Officer, Two Station Officer's Brigade Engineer and 28 Firemen, all whole-time and all tradesmen. In addition, a girl was employed as typist and telephonist.
In August, 1941, the Fire Brigades were nationalised and became the National Fire Service. In this re-organisation of the Brigades their Areas were rearranged and Mr. Bowman was appointed as Fire Force Commander of the Western No.2 Area, which covered seven Counties:- Renfrewshire, Ayrshire, Dumfrieshire, Kirkcudbrightshire, Wigtonshire, Buteshire and Argyllshire.
In 1948 the Fire Service was denationalised and handed back to the Local Authorities with certain provisos.
The Areas were again re-arranged and Mr. Bowman was appointed Firemaster of the Western Area Fire Brigade of Renfrewshire, Argyllshire and Bute.
When Firemaster Bowman retired in 1961, he was succeeded by his deputy Mr. Joseph Hartil, who is still in office as Firemaster. Mr. Hartil was awarded the Queens Fire Service Medal in 1964.
The headquarters of the Western Area Fire Brigade are now at 5 Thornhill, Johnstone, and serve the 7 full time, 21 retained and 30 volunteer stations within ?
This document of unknown origin has been retyped by
Graeme Kirkwood 121, Newton Street Greenock Home
01475724658
Work 01475888290
Please notify me of any omissions or corrections. 19/1/1997.