Boys' Refuge Fire Brigade and the Campaign for Voluntary Sector Archives

This is another striking picture within the archive which we know very little about. It was taken around 1890 and shows the Boys’ Refuge Fire Brigade outside what looks to be the Central Refuge of Francis Street.

Boys Refuge Fire Brigade

This photograph is the only reference found so far that the Charity had its own fire brigade. Therefore some assumptions will have to be made as to how the service worked. We must assume by the title that boys from the Refuge were selected to be part of the brigade, just like other refuge boys joined the messenger or shoeblack brigades. It is also assumed that the gentlemen in the picture were members of other fire brigades who came and taught the boys a skill.

Where the boys practised their trade is unknown. Would they have been part of the Manchester Fire Brigade and tackled small incidents? Or, more likely, did they cover the numerous homes of the Charity and attended if a small fire or problem occurred? The shiny (presumably horse-drawn) fire engine is also a mystery. This must have been donated from a business or individual but at present we have no knowledge of who contributed this or for how long the brigade was in existence.

It is another mystery yet to be unravelled and one we would know nothing about if it wasn’t for the charity’s well-kept archives. The Together Trust is proud of its collection and the contributions it makes to understanding Manchester’s social history. We are however well aware that there are many other charities that are not able to preserve their archival collections in the same way, meaning many are being destroyed, lost or inaccessible. This is why the Together Trust is supporting the Campaign for Voluntary Sector Archives which is raising awareness of the importance of voluntary sector archives. Please go to their website to find out more; http://www.voluntarysectorarchives.org.uk/