Firemen Relief - Albert Embankment, London, UK
Posted by: Groundspeak Regular Member Master Mariner
N 51° 29.565 W 000° 07.289
30U E 699818 N 5708552
This relief, carved in Portland stone, shows four firemen in action. It is located above the northern pedestrian entrance door to the former London Fire Brigade HQ on the east side of Albert Embankment in London.
Waymark Code: WMNBJW
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 02/07/2015
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member Dorcadion Team
Views: 3

The sculpture, that is roughly five feet wide by four feet high, shows four firemen in action wearing the protective clothing of the 1930s. The three firemen to the left are each holding hoses fitted with jet nozzles with water coming from them. The fourth firemen, to the right of the scene, is rolling up a hose.

An extract from the English Heritage website has a reference to the work and tells us:

Ground floor has 7 central appliance bays with deep stepped-back splayed reveals and an upper transom with horizontal fluting (these details are repeated in the lower pedestrian entrances to either side). Appliance bays have folding wooden doors (some replicated) of coffered panels with metal grilles to the upper parts; transom lights also have decorative metal grilles. To each side of the appliance bays are 4 small square windows with metal grilles, arranged 2 to either side of a pedestrian entrance. Entrances have panelled double doors with metal grilles; above each of them is a stone relief of firemen in action by Nicholas Babb. Stone balcony to first floor, continuing around side elevations, bears name of building. Above first floor of central 5 bays is stone cornice with horizontal fluting, curved at the ends and in the centre around two elaborate metal lamp standards. From the first to the third floors are central stone reliefs by Gilbert Bayes with gold mosaic backgrounds. Flanking the first floor are two galleys, above the first floor are two mermen with water hoses, above the second floor Phoebus in his chariot with sun's rays behind, and on the third floor a griffin. Horizontal rustication to eighth-floor centrepiece, which has inset panel of wheat ears, and to ninth floor. Central set-back tower has side pavilions and elaborate stone cornice with square and dot pattern, iron railings and flagstaff above, and large carved LCC coat of arms crest in stone by FP Morton. Return elevations of 6 bays with narrower end windows. Here the top 3 storeys are set back apart from the 2 end bays to SE rear, which form a corner tower. The rear elevation has balconies on all floors, the three lowest floors are deeper with cast iron balustrading. The ends project and there is a built-in canted bay observation post to the second floor. The lower balconies were designed to be used as display platforms for up to 800 people to watch weekly public drill displays. The building diminishes in depth above 3rd storey level.

Your impression of the sculpture?:

Date Sculpture was opened for vewing?: 01/01/1937

Website for sculpture?: [Web Link]

Where is this sculpture?:
Albert Embankment
Lambeth
London, United Kingdom


Sculptors Name: Bicholas Babb

Visit Instructions:
1. Provide a tasteful picture of the sculpture, with another point of view from the original(no pictures of GPSr or yourself).

2. Provide your thoughts on the sculpture and your impression of it.

Search for...
Geocaching.com Google Map
Google Maps
MapQuest
Bing Maps
Nearest Waymarks
Nearest Relief Art Sculptures
Nearest Geocaches
Create a scavenger hunt using this waymark as the center point
Recent Visits/Logs:
There are no logs for this waymark yet.