Fire Station Series - Bournemouth Central Traditional Cache
Fudgeman: As this one keeps getting wet due to its location and being replaced upside down I've decided to archive it. Thank you to all who visited the cache.
Fire Station Series - Bournemouth Central
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A series of caches placed near disused or operational Fire Stations. Anyone is welcome to extend this series, all I ask is 2 things. Firstly - In today's climate please don't place a cache on any operational fire station unless you have permission from the Fire Brigade. Secondly - Please include some history of the fire station, if you're placing them in or around the Bournemouth area please feel free to contact me as I have a lot of information to hand on local fire stations
The Fire Station
In 1902 Bournemouth got one of it's first purpose built fire stations. Until then they had been sited in council yards and workshops. It was opened by Mayor George Frost MD and equipped with a brand new horse drawn steam engine and a tender that could carry an escape ladder in the two appliance bays.
By 1927 motorised fire engines were coming in to use and a report from the Chief Officer of the time to the council states that Bournemouth Central was equipped with a Dennis motor pump with 1st aid and a 30' extending ladder as well as a Merryweather 85' turntable ladder. The report also states that Bournemouth Fire Brigade recieved a total of 114 calls in that year, not many when you consider that Springbourne fire station attends over 10 times that now.
In 1934 workshops and stores were built at the back of the station and then in 1937 the station was extended from two to four appliance bays and the drill tower raised in height. It was re-opened by Mayor Alderman T.V. Rebbeck JP.
The dome on top of the building was originally on top of the drill tower at the rear of the building. When the extension work was carried out it was moved to the front of the building and the weather vain on top is an old horse drawn steamer.
In side the appliance bay is a plaster freeze depicting fire fighting in the 1800's. Unfortunately you can't see it now as it has been boxed in to protect it but a copy exists in Springbourne fire station. Also within the station is the firemans pole. Bournemouth Central held the record for the longest, continuous drop brass pole in Europe (it goes from the top floor to the appliance bay) up until the station closed.
After WW2 control of the fire service was gradually returned to the local councils and in 1947 Bournemouth Central came under the control of Bournemouth Fire Brigade. In 1974 this was then merged into Dorset Fire Brigade.
After a fire cover review in the late 1980's and the usual cutbacks it was decided to close this fire station and a new one was built at Springbourne which was opened in 1991 by Princess Anne.
Thankfully, due to the efforts of some of the firefighters stationed there, Bournemouth Central was made a listed building before it closed so at least we can all enjoy looking at this piece of Bournemouth's fire fighting history.
The Cache
You are looking for a magnetic 35mm film pod. Please make sure the cache goes back with the lid at the top to prevent water getting in. Extreme stealth is required as it can be very busy at all times of the day and night. You will need to bring your own pen.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
oruvaq gur qbjacvcr nobir gur oenpxrg
Treasures
You'll collect a digital Treasure from one of these collections when you find and log this geocache:
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