JohnLeeds Civic Trust is delighted to announce that The Old Fire Station in Gipton has been awarded the city’s 204th Blue
Plaque, recognising its remarkable architectural, social, and community legacy.
The unveiling will form part of this year’s Heritage Open Days programme, celebrating the stories, places, and traditions of our local heritage.
The wording for the blue plaque is as follows:
“Gipton Fire Station
This fine example of municipal architecture opened in 1937 to serve the growing population of East Leeds.
Gipton Firefighters attended countless life-saving calls during its 78 years of operation.
Following its closure in 2015 it was repurposed as a community hub, funded
by the late Leeds philanthropist Jimi Heselden OBE and enabled by Leeds Community Foundation.”
Leeds Civic Trust Director Martin Hamilton said: “When Gipton Fire Station was built, the fire service was run and managed by the local authority. This fire station is a rare pre-WW2 survivor. It was built to serve the new Gipton Estate and East Leeds.
“The plaque enables us to recognise the life-saving work carried out by firefighters and its transformation into a community building.”
The Old Fire Station Development Manager Fran Etherington said: “The community at The Old Fire Station are thrilled to have our amazing building recognised with a Blue Plaque.
“The heritage of the firefighters and the transformation to a community hub has been a journey we are all so proud of. The success of the building supporting local people and providing a safe and welcoming space for all, has been a joy to be part of.”
The blue plaque will be unveiled on 20 September, from 18:30 followed by a Performance of Trailblazing: Women Have Always Been Firefighters and a Q&A with the performers
Originally opened in 1937, Gipton Fire Station was built to serve the growing estates of Gipton, Harehills, Seacroft and beyond. For nearly 80 years, its crews answered thousands of emergency calls, at one point the highest number in the country, supporting people across Leeds, particularly in times of crisis.
Firefighters based here lived on site, trained together, and built a sense of camaraderie that still resonates today. Throughout its history, the station’s crews responded to the challenges of the Blitz, two major fire service strikes, and countless emergencies, playing a vital role in the safety and resilience of the city.
After its closure in 2015, the building was given a new lease of life as The Old Fire Station, a thriving community hub. Its transformation was made possible thanks to funding from the late East Leeds philanthropist Jimi Heselden OBE, with support from Leeds Community Foundation.
