The old ‘dousing house’
![](https://www.biggleswadetoday.co.uk/webimg/legacy_oak_11472936.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65&enable=upscale)
![](/img/placeholder.png)
The first mention of the Blunham parish fire engine is in 1848 when “the churchwardens were requested to see that the fire-engine and buckets are in good repair”. At this time the engine would have been a hand cart or horse drawn cart festooned with buckets.
An engine house was built in 1862 on the site of the old parish lock-up or cage, which was moved and today stands behind 54 Park Lane. The engine house stood where the bungalows numbered Park Lane are today.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdIn 1864 parish ratepayers were asked to find 1½ pennies in the pound to maintain the engine. Any person refusing to pay would not be entitled to have the engine’s help in case of a fire.
It was also proposed that the engine be taken out for exercise at least four times a year and it had its own caretaker, Mr Sharpe.