The rules for party walls between buildings were made
more stringent: 2 1/2 bricks thick in cellar, 2 bricks thick to
the garret floor, and 1 1/2 bricks above the roofs or gutters.
They had to be made of brick or stone. In 1772, rain water from
roofs had to be carried to the streets in lead or other pipes that
were affixed against the side of the building. In 1774, iron,
copper, or other pipe or funnel for conveying smoke or steam were
not to be near any inside timber, or in front of most any building
or next to any public street, square, or court.
In the 1720s firefighters had to fill a tank on a wagon by hand
with buckets. On top of the bucket was a hose that could spray
water high. London parishes were authorized to place upon the
water pipes underground stop-blocks of wood with a plug and
firecocks to go into such pipe at various distances so that there
would be no loss in time in digging down to the pipes to get water
to fight fires. Parishes were required to keep at known places,
ladders and a large engine and a hand engine to throw up water to
extinguish fires including one leather hose with socket fitting
the plug or firecock, so that buckets would not be needed. The Sun
Insurance Company was incorporated for fire insurance in 1711.
Insurance offices were authorized to employ watermen with poles,
hooks, and hatchets to be always ready at a call to extinguish
fires.
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