Leather fire pails to extinguish town fires

In late mediaeval times, houses in Maastricht were constructed in timberframing with thatched roofs. These buildings were such a fire risk that, when fire broke out, in no time at all an entire block would be consumed by flames. During the 1612 blaze a total of 42 houses were destroyed.

 

In the 17th and 18th centuries timberframing disappeared from the towns and houses were then built from limestone blocks combined with blue 'Naamse steen' (Namur rock). During fires leather fire pails were used in fire-fighting operations. A decree of the council issued in 1469 noted that all inhabitants of the town were to contribute a leather pail, of half a Rhenish guilder's worth.
In the 17th century whitener's shire the admission fee was 12 guilders and a leather fire pail.

A pail illustrating the town arms and featuring the date 1786 constitutes the proof of skill of a cobbler in order to obtain the title of master. An engraving from 1759 depicts 600 fire pails hanging from the ceiling in a wing of the former Minderbroederskoolster at the Pieterstraat, ready for use should a fire break out (see above).
In such cases, water could be drawn from an arm of the Jeker nearby. The limited amount of water that could be transported in this way to the seat of the fire illustrates well that fire fighting in those days was more or less fighting a losing battle.

 

During sewer repair works in the Catharinastraat in 1979 (a street off the Boschstraat) a menure heap with more than 130 pieces of leather was studied. Most of the leather finds comprised fragments of shoes. Out of a total of 36 complete soles 50% ladies', 40% men's and 10% children's shoes could be identified. O. Goubitz was able to restore a button boot, so called because of its characteristic button-like shoelace ends.
The same dump yielded a well-adorned leather sheath, with a diagonal arrangement of French lilies carved on. The finds date from the 14th century.