A History of Kidderminster Fire Station  

In 1862 a Norwich Insurance Company fire engine arrived in Kidderminster and was kept at the corner of Callows Lane and Church Street.

There is a record of an early provision of fire cover in Kidderminster where fire appliances were supplied by the Fire Assurance Offices. In 1862 a Norwich Insurance Company fire engine arrived in Kidderminster and was kept at the corner of Callows Lane and Church Street. In 1876 the Kidderminster volunteer fire brigade was formed with 12 members led by the Borough Engineer. The fire engine was moved from Callows Lane and kept at the rear of the Town Hall. When the alarm sounded the volunteer firefighters would rush from their homes and places of work to crew the fire engine. In 1882 Brinton's Carpet Factory installed in their works a whistle which would be used in the event of a fire. The local Council sanctioned the use of the whistle and the code of fire calls was: one blast for the town area, two blasts for the country area and three blasts for a fire at Brinton's.

The mournful sound became very familiar and was known as the 'Brinton's Bull'. This method continued for many years, the fire engine being pulled by horses supplied by A. Bennett, the Funeral Directors, whose stables were in Leswell Lane