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The Fire King: Superintendent Henry Baker, fighting fires at Leeds in the final third of the nineteenth century

The Fire King: Superintendent Henry Baker, fighting fires at Leeds in the final third of the nineteenth century

Greater urbanisation and industrialisation in the nineteenth century led to an increased fire risk. Chris Hindle looks at the huge increase in fire numbers during the final third of the century, and trace the development of the town’s professional fire service under the leadership of its charismatic superintendent, Henry Baker, who was appointed in 1871 and remained in office until 1899. Henry Baker’s scrap books have been preserved in the Leeds Local and Family History Library and present a fascinating picture of the period.

Lecture on the 17th April, 2025