5 August 2011

Fire insurance plaques

Back in the early 18th century there was no public fire brigade. Home owners would insure against fires by paying private companies who employed their own fire-fighting teams. Badges made from lead or copper displaying the relevant company logo and reference number were affixed to on the front of houses (usually at first floor level) to prove that fees had been paid. In the case of a fire, these companies would only put out the flames of those houses bearing the correct badge.
This caused all sorts of problems, especially if the fire had started in a non-insured property and spread into the insured house next door, so in January 1833 The London Fire Engine Establishment was formed. In 1865 the Metropolitan Fire Brigade Act was passed and by 1904 London had what we now call the London Fire Brigade.

Below are some of the various fire insurance plaques I have spotted in London.

Update 2022: There are hopes and plans to open an Insurance Museum in London – find out more at the organisers' Facebook page here

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11 comments:

  1. John Lewis Sale8 August 2011 at 11:38

    i don;t know whats up with the people first it was Norway and now in London. Hope we will see some peace in this world.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Finn Thomson26 April 2016 at 10:01

    Hi Jane,
    My name is Finn and i am currently studying at the Royal College of Art.
    I am doing some research of fire insurance plaques in London and wondered if you knew the locations of some? I live in Highbury if that helps.
    I tried to email you on the address on the right but it bounced back.

    Thanks for your time.
    All the best

    Finn Thomson

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous21 February 2017 at 11:05

      Maids of Honour Row, Richmond Green.
      Also on several houses in King Edwards Row, SE1, just off Lambeth Rd.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous21 February 2017 at 11:07

    Jane you are incorrect they were introduced in the 18C ( not 19C) in 1710 by Sun Fire Office.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jane1 November 2020 at 13:16

      This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
  4. Jane21 February 2017 at 20:34

    whoops, thanks for spotting that. Have changed it.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous8 February 2019 at 18:20

    Does anyone know what firm used the plaque at the end of the middle row?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous9 February 2019 at 09:59

    I have learned that the one in the middle far right is not a fire mark but a property mark of the Bridge House Estates

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous18 October 2022 at 09:17

    Hi I have a firemark with 3 lions and the numerals 5266. Can you tell me anything about it? Thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jane18 October 2022 at 12:27

      That's the same as the one in the photo. Do you mean you own it physically or do you just have a similar photo of it?
      I am not sure which company that represents. The guys who are trying to set up an Insurance Museum should be able to help. Here's their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/insurancemuseum/

      Delete

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Thanks, Jane

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