In History, Year Two have been learning all about the Great Fire of Gateshead. They visited St Mary’s Heritage Centre to find out where and how the fire started. Did you know that St Mary’s is one of the few buildings to have survived the fire?
To begin, the children sequenced the key events of the tragedy. They discovered that the fire began in a worsted wool factory and then spread to a nearby warehouse. This caused a huge explosion, and the fire spread across the river. Fire tenders were sent from across the North East to put the fire out; however, as they were pulled by horses and the water had to be pumped by hand, they were largely ineffective.
Next, the children compared Victorian fire tenders with modern-day fire engines to understand why the fire was so difficult to extinguish. They realised that today’s fire engines are far better equipped to deal with fires quickly and effectively. The children were able to identify many useful features, including sirens, a hose, and an engine.
Finally, the children compared fire safety in 1854 with that of the present day. They explained that the invention of electricity had a positive impact on fire safety, leading to the introduction of fire alarms and the telephone. Today, people can be alerted to a fire almost immediately, and the fire brigade can be contacted promptly.
