Fletchers Paper Mill fire cart restored to former glory

Over a year ago, The Bolton News reported efforts were underway to restore the Fletcher’s Paper Mill fire appliance in Stoneclough, which can trace its history back at least to at least 1928.

The fire cart had been kept in the Fourth Farnworth All Saint Scout building on Moses Gate for the last 40 years after being moved from the old paper mill in the early 1980s.

Chris Wise, who helped collect the fire cart back in 1982, said: “I'm pleased to report that the fire cart has been fully restored now by a local volunteer.

He added: “Volunteer John Trueman has worked long and hard at this restoration and the fire cart has now been collected by Rochdale Fire Museum.

Chris Wise and fellow Venture Scouts retrieving the cart in 1982 (Image: Public)

“Kearsley Conservative Cub has stood the bill for the restoration and ideally we wanted the cart to be sited close the old site of Fletchers Mill. 

“Sadly, due to the cart being made of wood it wouldn't be practical to house it outside.”

The cart has been taken for display at a museum in Rochdale (Image: Public)

Mr Wise was one of five Venture scouts who took the cart from Fletchers Mill in 9182 to the All Saints Scout building on Devon Street that was to be its home for the next four decades.

The bright red restored cart (Image: Public)

Fortunately, the cart will now have a permanent home at the Fireground, on Maclure Road, Rochdale which tells the story of Greater Manchester’s fire services through the ages.

ALSO READ: Plans to restore historic paper mill's fire appliance

ALSO READ: Bolton's rich industrial heritage to flourish again with help of historic business

ALSO READ: The hidden stories behind Bolton's strangest and most intriguing place names

Firefighting in the region can trace its history all the way back to 1826 when Manchester formed its first fire brigade.

The fire cart had been looking worn out before restoration work took place (Image: Public)

Mr Wise said that Mr Trueman had worked “painstakingly, over many months” to restore the cart and images of the bright red appliance certainly bare that out.

The fire cart is an integral relic from the story of Fletcher’s Paper Mill, a hugely significant company founded in the 19th century by industrialist and philanthropist James Fletcher.

The firm closed its doors for the last time in 2001 but historic exhibits like the fire cart show how its legacy lives on.