This stitched leather fire bucket is painted with a ducal coronet above the initial 'D' and the date 1696. The date indicates that the bucket was originally made for the 1st Duke of Devonshire (1640–1707).
Fire was a constant threat to buildings at a time when candles were the only source of artificial lighting. It was commonplace to have large sets of fire-fighting equipment made to deal with such a disaster if it occurred.
