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.

A good source of information on British wrought iron brands available in 1883 is 'Iron and Steel Manufacturers of Great Britain, and Brand Book of British Iron and Steel' by Herbert W. Griffiths, Iron Trade Exchange, 1883. Brands are listed in alphapetical order from p.56 onwards, referenced to a Works No. (listed from p.32 onwards)

Makers and their marks

Currently arranged in alphabetical order of maker. This is very much a work in progress, and may be later revised to use the first letter of the brand.

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 and E. P. and W. Baldwin entries 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.

Bescot Forge Co, Wednesbury: BESCOT (COCK)

Bilston Iron Co, Factory Works, Bilston: CB above {crown} above BILSTON

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

Bowesfield Iron Co, Stockton: BOWESFIELD

Bradley of Stourbridge: {crown} above letters S B.

Bridge, Gill and Bridge, Providence Iron Works, West Bromwich: B G B {crown}

Bright and Langham of West Bromwich: B & L {crown}

Britannia Iron Co, West Bromwich: BRITANNIA IRON CO {crown}

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'.

John Brown and Co, Swinton Works, Sheffield: ATLAS

Joseph Bull and Son, Cliff Vale Iron Works, Stoke-on-Trent: Illustration of an anchor in a circle; J. B. {crown}; CLIFF VALE {crown}; J. BULL; BULLS

Butterley Co, Silverdale Works, Newcastle, Staffordshire: B C {crown} S

Carr House Iron Co, West Hartlepool: CARR HOUSE {crown}

Robert Crawshay, Cyfarthfa Ironworks: W.C.

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

Coghlan and Dury, Hunslet Forge, Leeds: A I W {crown}

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

District Iron and Steel Co, District Works, Smethwick: B K H above DISTRICT

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

Enoch Gittings, Bradley Iron Works, Bilston: B G & T {crown}

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}

Hatton, Sons and Co, Bradley Iron and Tin Plate Works, Bilston: BRADLEY THH {crown}

J. C. Hill and Co of Oakfields Iron Wire and Galvanising Works, Cwmbran: ACORN; Circle containing an image of an acorn and letters J.C.H.

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.

Hope Iron and Tin Plate Co, Tipton: H. {crown} Co. (sometimes with WALKER below); ANCHOR

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. {crow}n 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, [Molineaux?] 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

Nettlefolds of Castle Iron Works, Wellington, Shropshire: {castle tower; B {castle tower} B}; letter B with N in each of the loops.

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. (BNF) beneath {crown}, B being reversed and the three letters conjoined.

John Raybould, Bromley Works, Pennsnett, Dudley: BROMLEY {crown}

David Rose and Sons of Albert and Victoria Iron Works, Wednesbury: ALBERT {crown}

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

Shelton Iron, Steel and Coal Co: SHELTON {crown} and GRANVILLE {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

Thomas Walmsley and Sons, Bolton: AF; A {crown} F

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.56ff., against Works No. (listed p.32ff.)