The world’s first recognizable sprinkler system

The world’s first recognizable sprinkler system was installed in the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in the United Kingdom in 1812 by its architect Benjamen Wyatt FSA. The system which was designed by Col William Congreve (qv) was covered by a patent No 3606 dated the same year. The apparatus consisted of a cylindrical airtight reservoir of 400 hogsheads (~95,000 litres) fed by a 10in (250 mm) water main which branched to all parts of the theatre. A series of smaller pipes feed from the distribution pipe were pierced with a series of 1/2″ (15 mm) holes which pour water in the event of a fire.

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• The world’s first recognizable sprinkler system was installed in the Theatre Royal Drury Lane
• The world’s first recognizable sprinkler system was installed in the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in the United Kingdom in 1812 by its architect Benjamen Wyatt FSA The system which was designed by Col William Congreve (qv) was covered by a patent No 3606 date