YOUNG ALHS
Fire insurance mark at 22 High Street
Next time you are outside Greggs look up to see the fire insurance mark to the right of the shop name. These plaques were put up on buildings where the owner had bought fire insurance and ensured that when the fire engine came the firemen tried to put out the fire. Without insurance, or if the building was insured with another company, the firemen might go away and not help. You could be left hoping that your neighbours would form a bucket chain to the nearest supply of water so you could put the fire out yourself.
The plaque outside Greggs is a replica of the original one from the Birmingham Fire Office Company (the original is in Abergavenny Museum but is not on display). The company used marks like this one between 1805 and 1867. From 1851 to 1879 this building was a china shop belonging to William Crump and his wife.
The Birmingham Fire Office Company provided a Merryweather manual fire engine, like the one in this photograph, that was used in Abergavenny right up until 1921. It was kept at one stage in Monk Street, probably in a shed or stable. But it would have been pulled to the fire by the firemen and any other strrong men who were near, not horses. When there was a fire someone would have to run round and tell all the firemen that they were needed.
Image: Science Museum Group Collection
