A phoenix from the ashes

An illustrated lecture on the event that changed London's fire service forever.

Discover the fascinating history of insurance fire brigades, the inspirational James Braidwood and why the Tooley Street fire of June 1861, an inferno of devastating proportions, sparked a chain of events leading to the formation of a public fire service in London.

The lecture will be delivered by a museum expert in the grand setting of Winchester House, residence of the first chief officer of the London Fire Brigade (LFB), Captain Shaw, now home to the LFB Museum.

The talk will be followed by refreshments and an opportunity to visit the museum.

This lecture is part of the museum's Hot Topic series celebrating key events and important figures from LFB's history.