Historic Fire Engine Returns to Sussex After Over a Century

An 1895 Merryweather fire engine has been brought back to Bexhill following an absence exceeding 100 years and subsequently transferred to the town’s museum. The Bexhill Museum is currently collaborating with the East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service (ESFRS) to secure funding for the vehicle’s restoration prior to its permanent exhibition. Dawn Whittaker, who serves as ESFRS’s chief fire officer, stated that the engine had been “off the run for around 100 years.” She further expressed, “I am so grateful to Bexhill Town Council, and also to the museum for all the hard work they’ve done to help us bring this into fruition and to make this a reality.” This horse-drawn, steam-powered vehicle was pledged to the museum in 1920, following years of service within the town. Nevertheless, the Merryweather was subsequently lent to the Fire Service National Museum Trust in 1984. Following the closure of the trust, the Merryweather was sent back to Bexhill, where its restoration is now planned. The fundraising initiative aims to enable the engine’s participation in community events, with its eventual display at the museum. As a component of the fundraising effort, crews from Bexhill Fire Station are arranging events to garner support and collect funds for the restoration project.