A LATE 19th CENTURY HELMET & EPAULETS FROM THE CHOLMONDELEY ESTATE VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE, of wh

A LATE 19th CENTURY HELMET & EPAULETS FROM THE CHOLMONDELEY ESTATE VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE, of white metal alloy construction, the skull with applied plate of crossed fire axes and flaming torch, applied comb with fire breathing dragons pressed in relief, folded edge to peak and nape, leather and ringed chin -strap (some deterioration), the shoulder epaulets of nickel plated overlapping scales mounted on leather. Provenance : Cholmondeley Castle had, for many years, its own fire brigade made up of volunteers who worked on the estate. We are informed by the vendor that the helmet and epaulets were issued to his grandfather who worked on the estate as Forest Manager as well as serving in the brigade. Two generations of his family served as volunteer firemen until the brigade was disbanded. The horse-drawn tender is still held by the Cholmondeley family.