It is easy to miss — fixed high on a building façade along Princelet Street, just above eye level, a cast iron plaque shows two hands clasped beneath a crown, with a number stamped below.
To the casual passer-by, it might look like a decorative flourish. In fact, it is something far more intriguing: a surviving fire insurance plaque, issued nearly three centuries ago by the Hand in Hand Fire & Life Insurance Society. These plaques are relics of a time when protecting one’s home from fire meant more than simply dialling 999. It required foresight, money, and — importantly — membership of a private insurance society.
Let us explore what this plaque tells us, how it came to be here, and what it reveals about life, risk, and enterprise in 18th-century London.
What Is a Fire Insurance Plaque?
In the decades after the Great Fire of London (1666), fire remained one of the most feared hazards in the city. Buildings were mostly made of timber, thatch, and pitch — a recipe for disaster in densely populated areas. The catastrophic fire made one thing clear: London needed a better system for protecting property. 🔗 Read More: Great Fire of London
Enter the fire insurance companies.
These private firms sold fire policies to homeowners, and to identify which properties they were responsible for, they affixed metal plaques — also known as fire marks — to the insured buildings. The design varied depending on the company, but the purpose was the same: to inform the company’s private fire brigade that the building was covered, and therefore worth saving.
The plaque you see on Princelet Street belongs to one of the most historic of these firms — the Hand in Hand Fire & Life Insurance Society — and the number beneath the emblem (for example, 80585) corresponds to a specific policy issued to that very address.
How Did You Get One?
To acquire a fire insurance plaque in the 18th century, you would:
- Purchase a policy from a fire insurance company like Hand in Hand.
- Pay an annual premium, calculated on the value of your property.
- Receive a policy document — and have the plaque affixed to your house as visible proof of insurance.
Each plaque carried a unique number that matched a detailed register held at the company’s offices. These registers recorded not only the address and policyholder’s name, but often the construction materials of the house and even floor plans.
For many homeowners, this was not simply a financial safety net — it was a sign of respectability and sound management. Owning a plaque marked you as a responsible citizen, concerned with protecting your property and, by extension, your community.
The Hand in Hand Fire & Life Insurance Society
Founded in 1696, the Hand in Hand Society began life at Tom’s Coffee House in St Martin’s Lane. Its original name was a mouthful: The Contributors for Insuring Houses, Chambers, or Rooms from Loss by Fire, by Amicable Contribution. But the principle was straightforward: members pooled resources to cover one another’s fire losses.
It operated as a mutual society — meaning policyholders were also stakeholders. Decisions were made collectively, and profits were reinvested rather than paid out to shareholders.
Key milestones:
- 1700s: Expanded rapidly, insuring thousands of properties in London and beyond.
- 1836: Started offering life insurance alongside fire cover.
- 1905: Merged with Commercial Union, one of the major insurers of the time. The legacy now forms part of Aviva plc.
Hand in Hand maintained its own fire brigade, complete with uniforms, hand-pulled fire engines, and training drills. These brigades would race to reported fires — but only assist if their company’s fire mark was displayed on the building.
What Does It Mean for Princelet Street?
The presence of a Hand in Hand plaque on Princelet Street speaks volumes about the residents and the area in the early 18th century.
- These were high-value properties, often owned or leased by Huguenot silk weavers, traders, and artisans.
- The ability to pay for insurance — and display the mark — indicates a certain level of wealth, stability, and civic participation.
- Fire insurance was especially vital for people who kept flammable stock or looms within the home — common in Spitalfields.
The plaque you see today is not a decoration. It is a marker of both urban development and self-protection, and it symbolises a very practical arrangement in a world where fire was an everyday threat.
Other Fire Insurance Companies and Their Marks
Hand in Hand was just one of several firms operating in 18th-century London. Each had its own emblem, many of which you can still see scattered across the capital today.
- Sun Fire Office (founded 1710) – recognisable by the face of the sun.
- Royal Exchange Assurance (founded 1720) – often used a royal coat of arms.
- Phoenix Fire Office (founded 1782) – used the mythological phoenix rising from flames.
- London Assurance (founded 1720) – also operated a fire brigade and displayed its crest prominently.
These plaques formed part of London’s early risk management system — long before the advent of public fire services.
Where to See Them Today
Apart from Princelet Street, fire insurance plaques can be spotted in:
- Fournier Street (also in Spitalfields)
- Fleet Street
- Hampstead
- Kensington
They are a visual reminder of London’s efforts to protect its built environment through enterprise, collaboration, and mutual trust.
