WINDSOR CASTLE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23332, 26 October 1937, Page 18

WINDSOR CASTLE

GUARDING ITS TREASURES DAY AND NIGHT PATROL After guarding for 30 years the world’s most valuable treasures, Mr A. Chadwick, chief of the Windsor Castle Fire Brigade, retired the other day, says a London paper. Because of the immense value of the treasures in the Castle State rooms, none of the tapestries, jewels, and works of art is insured. No insurance company would accept the risk. All through Mr Chadwick’s service thex-e has not been an outbreak of fire in the Castle. There have, however, been several “ narrow squeaks.” When the Brunswick Tower was destroyed by fire 80 years ago the Castle’s fire service was put on such an elaborate footing that every night and day throughout the year experienced men patrol the corridors and rooms watching for the slightest sign of fire. A smell of gas or a forgotten electric iron is quickly discovered. There has been only one big blaze at the Castle during the last 25 years, when a paint shop in the grounds—it was well away from the Castle —caught alight. AN ALARM Another alarm, five years ago, was when some Elizabethan timbers in the roof of one of the canons’ houses caught alight. The Castle brigade, with all the latest appliances, was on the scene in a few minutes, and the whole of the old cloisters was saved. The Castle brigade is not permitted to attend outside fires unless the outbreak threatens the Castle, but on two occasions Mr Chadwick fought fires in the town from the walls of the Castle. One of the occasions was when a block of shops in Thames street was desti’oyed and the other when Windsor Theatre Royal was burnt down. Both fires occurred more than 25 years ago. Mr Chadwick told a pressman; When I came to Windsor, my first task was to reorganise the water supply. There were no accurate plans of the mains, and when a breakdown occurred in any section the memory of the foreman plumber was relief upon. “We scrapped the old water wheel, which had been in use since the reign of Charles 11, and we introduced the latest turbine pumps and a water softening system. HIP BATHS “In the reign of Queen Victoria hip baths were used by all the royal guests and many parts of the Castle were still lit by oil lamps. The Queen would have no changes. “King Edward VII immediately began the task of bringing the Castle up to date, but it took time, and when I arrived the number of hot water baths in the royal apartments could be counted on one hand. Today there are 75 bathrooms. “The installation of the electric light was gradual, but to-day miles of wiring and thousands of bulbs are in use. Even the individual boxes of the horses in the mews have separate lights.” . , It was part of Mr Chadwicks work to supervise the lowering of the coffins after a royal funeral in St. George’s Chapel to the tomb house below, and during his 30 years’ service he has seen many famous men and women lowered to their last resting-place on this unique kind of lift. They include the bodies of King Edward VII. Queen Alexandra and King George V. THE KING’S TRIBUTE When the King and Queen were last at Windsor they sent for Mr Chadwick, and the King decorated him with the M.V.0., fifth class, congratulated him on reaching the age for retirement, and thanked him for the splendid service he had given during his tenure of office at the Castle. Mr Wyles, from the Office of Works staff, London, has been appointed engineer at the Castle, and it has been decided to make a separate appointment for the position of chief officer of the Castle Fire Brigade, and Mr Ballinghall, of the L.C.C. Fire Service, has been given the post. Mr Ballinghall will be responsible for the air raid precautions at the Castle.