Lakes Guides, topics
 |
 |
|
|
Firemarks and
Fireplates
| ||
Insured Properties
Firemarks were placed on houses by insurance companies to indicate that the property was insured, by them. It was an indication of which fire brigade, if there was one, was responsible for fighting the fire, and was an advertisment for the insurance office. The mark was particuclarly important before systems of house numbering were in place. The firemark was also an indicator of the creditworthiness of the business using the property. Early firemarks carry the insurance policy number, from which details about the property can sometimes be had from old registers in the company office's today. Firemarks were first issued about 1680-83 by the Fire Office established 1680, and later known as the Phoenix Fire Office. Their use ended late in the 19th century. | ||
|
| ||
|
photos
| ||
| Desi Spice, restaurant, Appleby-in-Westmorland, NY68352030 -- Firemark, Westminster Fire Office, policy number:- '27543' (photo 17.6.2011) (BUS74.jpg) | |
| Gort Hall, building/s, Murton, NY72752171 -- (photo 2.6.2010) Firemark:- 'ALLIANCE' issued by the Alliance, British and Foreign Fire and Life Insurance Co. OR a reproduction? (BSV06.jpg) | |
| Soulby Hall, building/s, Soulby, NY74801110 -- Firemark, Phoenix Assurance Co, copper, issued 1780s-90s:- '[PROTECTION]' 'R I 1682' (photo 11.5.2010) (BSS94.jpg) | |
|
photos
| ||
| ..., building/s, Lakes, NY37650457 -- Sun Fire Office fireplate, perhaps 1850-65 period. (photo 29.1.2010) (BSA54.jpg) | |
| Hawkshead, building/s, market town, Hawkshead, SD351980 -- Fireplate, Sun Insurance, on Bend or Bump, Main Street. SD35219816 (at) (photo 15.2.2008) (BOR51.jpg) | |
|
| ||
|
| ||
Lakes Guides menu.
email:- JandMN@norgate.freeserve.co.uk
Other projects
Geography Department, Portsmouth University