Without googling, when was the first automatic sprinkler system installed in a commercial building in the UK?
Learned this today when I was sourcing equipment over the net 🙂
Sipu was closest with a neat bit of reasoning.
It was 1723. Ambrose Godfrey’s patented exploding flasks were installed in warehouses along the South Bank – large jars filled with a mix of alcohol and water. If a fire occurred, the alcohol boiled, shattering the glass and dumping water on the blazing bales below. Interestingly, the alcohol/water mix is still used in some stand-alone sprinklers.
Boadicea's Chariot 
Hackney Baths?
Nope – the quiz is ‘when?’ If someone also knows ‘where,’ I will be profoundly impressed 🙂
I have no idea, but I guess about 1780 when I think fire insurance came into being. ish.
Well, that’s when insurance scams became fashionable 🙂
Any more guesses?
Given the sort of materials that might be involved, I should think the later decades of the 19th century are most likely. No idea where, though.
When some big dog bumped into Val? Sorry Val 😀 I’m going now… you’ll be delighted to know.
I have no idea, but I’ll guess the USA, in the early part of the twentieth century.
Alternatively, Egypt.
Just ignore me, Bravo.
I’ve just read your post again.
Right, um Leeds or Bradford, and 1800’s. Just a guess.
1844
PS, Araminta was right about modern systems. Don’t have a reference to hand but the guy who patented them in the States burned two factories, one with his system and one without, to demonstrate their efficacy 🙂
Not many of those about in 1723 🙂