In the 1930s Weymouth set about reorganising its fire brigade after criticism following a major fire in the town.
In 1936 the first professional Chief Fire Officer, Frederick Wain from Exeter was appointed and he set about his task with considerable vigour. A new Leyland fire appliance was soon in service and his attention was then directed to the provision of a new fire station to replace the totally inadequate premises in St. Edmund Street, now the public toilets.
Tenders were invited and in April 1938 the lowest tender, that of Whitelock of Bournemouth for £16,700, was accepted. The building which included appliance room, control room, offices and flats for key personnel was opened the following year, just after the outbreak of the Second World War.
Fire services were nationalised in 1941 and in 1948 were returned to local authority control, in this case Dorset County Council. The building became the headquarters of Dorset Fire Brigade as well as Western Division Headquarters and remained so for the next 50 years, until removal to Dorchester.
A new fire station was built in Radipole Lane in 2012 and the old fire station was demolished in 2016. The site is occupied by Harbour Lights.
The photo shows the rear of the main block under construction.
