Phoenix fire plaque, Pickering

Image: © Pauline E Taken: 23 Mar 2010

These metal plaques, or badges, erected by insurance companies, were used to show that a property was insured. There are two types - early plaques were mostly cast in lead and displayed either a painted or engraved number which corresponded to the number of the insurance policy. The second type, known as a fire-plate was pressed from either thin copper-plate, or tinned sheet-iron. The Phoenix: Near the end of the 18th century, the sugar bakers and refiners of London, unsurprisingly found difficulty in obtaining insurance cover at moderate premiums from existing offices. In 1782 they set up their own company which they called the New Fire Office. They adopted a Phoenix rising from the flames as their badge. This was depicted on their fire mark together with the word 'Protection'. The company quickly flourished and the Phoenix is one of the most common of all fire marks.

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