Fire Fire!

I was looking for a blip opportunity in Hungerford today, having successfully found the wall post boxes last week. I had heard about Fire Insurance Wall Plaques many years ago, but had never seen one before.

These plaques were erected by insurance companies to signify that the property was insured. Each respective insuring company was identified by its own particular emblem embossed upon the plaque.

This company was established in 1807 by an "association of noblemen end gentlemen" for the particular benefit of residents in country districts. The promoters adopted two provisions which were to have a great effect in advancing the popularity of the new office. The first, to encourage local growth, was the inauguration of county committees, on which members of the local gentry and other dignitaries were invited to sit. The second was that every person who continued his insurance for seven years under one policy could share in the profits of the office, without incurring liability for any of its losses. This was something new in a company other than a mutual society and "ensured the almost instantaneous success of the project"

The fire-plate depicts Britannia with a shield of the Royal Arms as they were in 1807.