Wrought Iron Brands

This section relates to wrought iron makers' brands and trademarks which were often stamped on wrought iron sections and plates.

The mark often comprised a symbol and words or initial letters. In the entries below, an attempt is made to describe the mark, for example 'crown X Y'.

Many makers used a crown symbol. This has no significance.

The words BEST, BEST BEST and BEST BEST BEST indicate the quality of the iron, and are not specific to any manufacturer.

Makers and their marks

John Abbot and Co, Gateshead: A & Co crown

George Adams and Son, Mars Ironworks, Priestfields, Wolverhampton: MARS

John Aiton and Co, Milnwood Iron Works, Scotland: A {anchor} R; cross within two diamonds, one above the other, with 16 to left and 30 to right.

Albion Sheet Iron Co, Albion Iron Works, West Bromwich:

Albion Sheet Iron Co, Batmans Hill Works, Bilston:

Allen and Holden, Wellington Iron Works, West Bromwich: A & H [crown]

T. P. Allen and Co, Excelsior Iron Works, West Bromwich: A & Co [crown]

John Bagnall and Sons: [crown] I B

Baldwins of Wolverhampton: see Baldwins entry for their numerous brand names.

W. Barrows and Sons of Bloomfield and Tipton: Brand B.B.H. reflected the earlier company name, Bradley, Barrows and Hall.

Birchills Hall Iron Co, Walsall: picture of a globe superimposed on a horizontal scroll; B.I.C. above SWAN above SPC above BILSTON

Bradley of Stourbridge: [crown] above letters S B.

Robert Crawshay, Cyfarthfa Ironworks: W.C.

Brown and Freer (late Hunt and Brown) of Leys Iron Works, near Stourbridge: [crown] above letters HB, and picture of a phoenix above 'BEST HB'.

Chillington Iron Co: CC [crown], LB [crown], CHILLINGTON; Crocodile and Tiger brand (with illustration of an axe-wielding tiger riding a crocodile!).

Colley and Co, Hope Works, West Bromwich: crown C.S.

Madeley Court Works: S.C. followed by lion.

Darlaston Steel and Iron Co: Picture of a cockerel; No. 1 'CHAMPION'; No.2 'L crown DARLASTON'; No.3 'SAMUEL MILLS'; No.4 G.F. crown G.F.; No.5 LLOYD'S DARLASTON; No.6 LLOYD'S CHARCOAL; No.7 L crown STEEL; No.8 (diamond with X inside) STEEL

Dowlais Ironworks: GL

Earl of Dudley's Round Oak Works: crown surrounded by the letters L W (alongside top of crown) and R O (below crown), with a horsehoe symbol for horsehoe iron, or with a wheel symbol for tyre iron; crown above D above BRAND

Samuel Groucutt and Sons, Bilston: crown above SG&S

Robert Heath and Sons, Biddulph Valley, Norton and Ravensdale: R. H. crown & BIDDULPH; R. D. crown & RAVENSDALE

Henry Hall, Old Level Works, Brierley Hill: crown LEVEL crown; HALL'S BB crown

N. Hingley and Sons, Netherton, near Dudley: Various brands including the word NETHERTON; NH and crown; NH&S and crown; NSBB and crown; conjoined letters NH in a circle of dots.

Isaac Jenks of Minerva Works and Beaver Works, Wolverhampton. MINERVA; BEAVER. Note: they also made steel branded JENKS.

Kinnersley and Co of Clough Hall Iron Works, Kidsgrove: TK to left of crown.

Lanesfield Iron Works, Wolverhampton (William G. Merriman): W.G.M. crown above Staffordshire knot, STAFFORDSHIRE

William Lee and Co, Gospel Oak Works: anchor with G to left and O to right.

Lee and Bolton, Hyde Ironworks, Stourbridge: crown L&B; crown and plough

Lloyds and Co, Middlesbrough: LINTHORPE

Joseph Foster Lloyd and Co, Bradley Bridge Charcoal, Malleable & Bessemer Pig Iron Co: Brands - picture of a goat and NE PLUS ULTRA, H.L.M., BRADLEY BRIDGE CHARCOAL, COLD BLAST; VULTURE

Llynvi Iron Co: LIC

Midland Iron Co, Rotherham: crown above MIC

William Millington and Co: WM Co surmounted by a dove, or SH crown.

Molineux and Co, Bull's Bridge Iron Works, Morley: picture of bull's head and BRAND W.M. & Co.

Moore and Manby, Dudley: crown above M.& M.; picture of a tiger; crown above SAXON

New British Iron Co: Letters NB and IC above a lion; NBIC CONGREAVES (c.1890)

Parkgate Iron Co, Rotherham: PARKGATE followed by two crowns.

Patent Shaft and Axletree Co: BRUNSWICK; L. F. & Co. with and without crown. Note: L. F. indicates Lloyds, Fosters and Co, whose business was taken over by the Patent Shaft and Axletree Co.

Pearson and Knowles Coal and Iron Co, Warrington: crown above B F for bars and plates, crown above W I W for sheets and hoops.

Rylands Brothers: Reversed R and B above W in an ellipse; WIW in a rectangle (rolled fencing wire)

Shelton Iron, Steel and Coal Co: SHELTON followed by a crown and GRANVILLE followed by a crown.

Snedshill Iron Co: HS crown BEST, above SNEDSHILL

W. and J. S. Sparrow and Sons, Bilston: SPARROW XXX

John Spencer, Coatbridge: PHOENIX

Stanier and Co, Silverdale, North Staffordshire: S & H crown

Swan, Coates and Co: CARGO FLEET

Tredegar Iron Co:T.I. CO

William Whitwell and Co, Thornaby Works, Stockton: Mallard lion W W & Co CLEVELAND; THORNABY

Wilden Ironworks, Stourport (see also Baldwins): Brand BALDWIN-WILDEN with various suffixes; UNICORN (Charcoal Tin); ARLEY (crown) Tin; STOUR (Coke tin).

Philip Williams and Sons, Oak Works, Wednesbury: Picture of bishop's mitre above letters WO.

See Also

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Sources of Information

• 'Rivington's Building Construction' by By Percy Major Smith, p.294ff.
• Griffith's Guide to the Iron Trade of Great Britain, 1873 (new edition 1967)
• 'Iron and Steel Manufacturers of Great Britain, and Brand Book of British Iron and Steel' by Herbert W. Griffiths, Iron Trade Exchange, 1883. Brand listing: p.566ff., against Works No. (listed p.32ff.)