Object Category: Social and Cultural History

 

Object Type: Fire Mark

 

Object Name: Royal Exchange Fire Mark

 

Service Category: Fire and Rescue

 

Accession: SHENE.2024.21

 

Visual Description: Oval shaped lead plaque featuring image of a building topped by a crown. The base forms a rectangle engraved with the number 207609.

 

 

Abstract: A Fire Mark of the Royal Exchange Assurance Company (which existed from 1720-1968) featuring the emblem of the company and an insurance policy number. The building emblem likely shows the second Royal Exchange, built following the Great Fire of London. Fire Marks were issued by insurance company fire brigades to those paying for insurance cover. The plaques bearing the company logo, were attached to insured buildings to identify them to company fire brigades. Fire Marks were made from a variety of materials including lead, brass, iron, copper, tin plate, porcelain, and stone. They usually displayed the company’s name or an insurance policy number, and symbols.

 

 

Service Context: Insurance Brigade Era

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Following the Great Fire of London (1666) voluntary community firefighting began to be complemented or replaced by professional brigades maintained by private insurance companies. These operated from c.1680. They were gradually replaced from the 1820s onwards by local authority-run municipal fire brigades.

 

Object Date: Late 18th Century

 

Museum Collection: Core Collection

 

Object Collection: SFPM Collection

 

Source Category: Donation

 

Location: In store