Helmet, work uniform helmet

This is a rare example of a leather fireman's helmet from the late 1600s. There would have been a large flap at the back to protect the wearer's neck but this is now missing and the rest of the brim is damaged. The crown is made from four sections of leather stitched together. The helmet may have been part of the fire-fighting equipment kept at parish churches for local people to use in emergencies.

After the Great Fire of London extra fire-fighting equipment was ordered. New fire regulations split the City into four areas. Each was to have 800 buckets, 50 ladders, 24 pickaxes and 40 shovels and as many brass fire squirts so that every parish would have two each.