Fire mark

Fire marks were placed on the outside of buildings to indicate that the property was insured by a specific company. This identification was particularly important in London before the introduction of street numbering in the 1760s. Householders with fire insurance could expect the company to send its 'fire brigade' to put out the fire. Insurance companies often had reciprocal arrangements with each other so that if a fire brigade put out a fire at a house insured by a different company then the brigade's company would be reimbursed. In 1826 an agreement was reached between the Sun Fire office, the Royal Exchange Assurance and the Phoenix Fire Office to combine their brigades under the leadership of one superintendent. This provided the basis for the creation of the London Fire Engine Establishment in 1833.

This fire mark was probably produced for promotional purposes by the Phoenix Assurance Company. The company was founded by a group of London sugar bakers in 1782. The first fire mark was issued that year with policy number nine to a Mr Helmkin insuring his furniture and clothing at 32 Old Fish Street. The company established its own fire brigade the following year and expanded across Britain and overseas in the 1780s. By the turn of the century the company was operating in the United States.