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 known significance.
The words BEST, BEST BEST and BEST BEST BEST indicate the quality of the iron, and are not specific to any manufacturer.
The main 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 alphabetical order from p.56 onwards, referenced to a Works No. (listed from p.32 onwards) [1]
Some information on US rolled iron and steel brands may be found here.
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.
Griffiths (1883) provides images which are categorised according to the first letter that appears in the brand (which is typically the first letter of the company name or of the ironworks, or the first letter of the image, e.g. D for a dolphin image.
Most of the information shown below relates to firms active in the 1870s and 1880s.
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: {trident}
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
Edward Bayley, Crown Iron Works, Tipton: E B {crown}
Baldwins of Wolverhampton: see Baldwins and E. P. and W. Baldwin entries for their numerous brand names.
Elijah Banner, Star Works, Wolverhampton: E B
Barningham and Co, Pendleton Works, Manchester: P I W
W. Barrows and Sons of Bloomfield and Tipton: Brand B.B.H. reflected the earlier company name, Bradley, Barrows and Hall.
I. and W. Beardmore, Glasgow: PARKHEAD
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.
Bolckow, Vaughan and Co, Middlesbrough: CLEVELAND {crown}
T. W. Booker and Co, Meingriffith Works, Cardiff: PEN
Bowesfield Iron Co, Stockton: BOWESFIELD
John Bradley and Co, Stourbridge: {crown} above S B; I BRADLEY & CO; {circle containing L} I BRADLEY & CO
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
Broughton Hall Iron Co, Wrexham: UNION {crown} BRAND sheet iron.
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; CV
B. Bunch and Sons, Walsall: {crown} above inverted triangle containing B B & J (& is inside a triangle).
Butterley Co, Silverdale Works, Newcastle, Staffordshire: B C {crown} S
Cambria Tin Plate Co, Pontardulais: IFOR; BEDIL; DYFED; IOLO; VICTOR; CARNO
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!).
Cleveland Iron Co, Cleveland Works, Wolverhampton: J {Staffordshire knot containing letters I C C}
Clydesdale Iron Co, Mossend, near Glasgow: CLYDESDALE
Coalbrookdale Co: CBD {crown}; C B Dale {crown}
Coats Iron and Steel Co, Coatbridge: COATS
Coghlan and Dury, Hunslet Forge, Leeds: HUNSLET {crown}; A I W {crown}
Colley and Co, Hope Works, West Bromwich: {crown} C.S.
D. Colville and Sons, Dalzell Works, Motherwell: DALZELL
Consett Iron Co, Consett, Co. Durham: CONSETT
R. Cook Jenkins and Co, Glanafon Tinplate Decorating Works, Aberavon: RCJ in {diamond} CHARCOAL; GLANAFON (COKE)
S. T. Cooper and Co, Leeds Iron Works, Leeds: COOPER LEEDS
Cramond Iron Co, near Edinburgh: CRAMOND ENGINEER: CRAMOND HL: CRAMOND XL XL: CRAMOND {stag's head}
F. Creswell, Dixon's Green Works, Dudley: DG
Crowther Bros and Co, Stour Vale Works, Kidderminster: CB STEEL'; L & C; M
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
Darlington Iron and Steel Co: DARLINGTON
Thomas Davis and Co, Goldshill Iron Works, West Bromwich: DGH {crown}
John Dawes and Sons, Bromford Iron Works, West Bromwich: DAWES BROMFORD {crown}
George Dawes, Milton and Elsecar Iron Works, Barnsley: MILTON
Dinsdale Wire and Steel Co, Fighting Cocks, near Darlington: FIGHTING COCKS
District Iron and Steel Co, District Works, Smethwick: B K H above DISTRICT, with or without crowns.
Dorman, Long and Co, Middlesbrough: D. L. & Co
T. Douglas, Durham City Works, Durham: DURHAM CITY ARMS
Eagle Iron Works Co, Hollinswood, Shropshire: EAGLE {eagle}; {elephant and castle}
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
J. E. East and Co, Bradley Hall Iron Works, Bilston: J E E & CO above B H I W
Eastwood, Swingler and Co, Derby: E S & Co
Ebbw Vale Steel, Iron and Coal Co: E V {crown}
Eglington Iron Co, Muirkirk, Glasgow: M KIRK
Thomas Ellis, North British Iron Works, Coatbridge: GOVAN *; NB {crown}
Enoch Gittings, Bradley Iron Works, Bilston: B G & T {crown}; G & T {crown}
Farnley Iron Co, Leeds: FARNLEY
W. Finnemore, Gothersley Works, Stourbridge: HATTON. Note: not the same as HATTON'S, made by Hatton, Sons and Co.
Fox, Head and Co, Newport Rolling Mills, Middlesbrough: F H & CO
Fry, I'Anson and Co, Rise Carr Rolling Mills, Darlington: F I {crown} & CO
Glasgow Iron Co, Glasgow: GLASGOW; GLASGOW (COCK)
Gospel Oak Iron and Wire Co, Tipton: G {anchor} O
Great Bridge Iron and Steel Co, Tipton: G B I & S C
Griffiths and Browett, Birmingham: G B above B centered on a stylised '&' and crossed lines.
Samuel Groucutt and Sons, Bilston: {crown} above SG&S
Henry Hall, Old Level Works, Brierley Hill: {crown} LEVEL {crown}; HALL'S BB {crown}; {circle containing L}
Harris and Jevons, Britannia Works, Bradley, Bilston: H & J {crown}
Hatton, Sons and Co, Bradley Iron and Tin Plate Works, Bilston: BRADLEY THH {crown}; HATTON'S Note: not the same as HATTON, made by W. Finnemore.
Hawks, Crawshay and Sons, Gateshead: HAWKS; HAWKS RIDSDALE; H C {crown}
Haybridge Iron Co, Wellington, Shropshire: {staff and banner and EXCELSIOR}; {horse's head} HORSE'S HEAD
Robert Heath and Sons, Biddulph Valley, Norton and Ravensdale: R. H. {crown} & BIDDULPH; R. D. {crown} & RAVENSDALE; RAVENSDALE
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.
Hill and Smith, Delph Iron Works, Brierley Hill: H S {crown}; H {crown} S above DELPH
Hingley and Smith, Hart's Hill Works, Brierley Hill: H & S {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.
Hird, Dawson and Hardy, Low Moor Iron Works, near Leeds: LOWMOOR
James and Charles Holcroft, Portfield Works, Tipton: HOLCROFT {crown}; HOLCROFT {crown} {anchor}; S. STAFF {crown}; {pennant} above HOLCROFT'S STANDARD; PORTFIELD {crown}
Hope Iron and Tin Plate Co, Tipton: H. {crown} Co. (sometimes with WALKER below); H {anchor} Co; ANCHOR; No. 1; No.1 TRENT; WALKER'S CHARCOAL
Horbury Junction Iron Co, Wakefield: H J CO
Ince Hall Rolling Mills Co, Ince, Wigan: I R M {crown}
Isaac Jenks of Minerva Works and Beaver Work
J. T. and W. E. Johnson, West Bromwich: JOHNSON (RIFLE)
Richard Johnson and Nephew, Bradford Iron Works, Bradford, Manchester: JOHNSONS MANCHESTER
Jones Bros and Co, Ayrton Rolling Mills, Middlesbrough: J B & CO {crown}
Kinnersley and Co of Clough Hall Iron Works, Kidsgrove: TK {crown}; CLOUGH HALL
Kirk Bros and Co, Marron, Marshside & Derwent Mills, Workington: K B W {crown}; MARRON
Kirkstall Forge Co, Kirkstall, Yorkshire: K B M KIRKSTALL; {circle containing interwoven KF, with K reversed}; {elliptical frame containing 1779 and KIRKSTALL YORKSHIRE}; KM KIRKSTALL
John Knight and Co, Cookley Iron Works, Kidderminster: CCS CHARCOAL; KNIGHT'S CHARCOAL; KNIGHT'S PLOUGH; KNIGHT'S {crown}; KBC
Lanesfield Iron Works, Wolverhampton (William G. Merriman): W.G.M. {crown} above Staffordshire knot, STAFFORDSHIRE
William Lee and Co, Gospel Oak Works: G {anchor} O
Lee and Bolton, Hyde Ironworks, Stourbridge: {crown} L&B; {crown} and plough
Leeds Forge and Co, Leeds: LEEDS FORGE YORKSHIRE
H. Lees and Sons, Park Bridge Works, Ashton-under-Lyne: PARKBRIDGE
J. B. and S. Lees, West Bromwich: {crown} LEES; {crown} LEES ALBION
J. N. Lester, Bradford Works, Walsall: J N L {crown}
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
Llynvi and Tondu Co, Maesteg: J B & SONS (signifying John Brogden & Sons).
London Iron Works, Smethwick: L W I CO
Lones, Vernon and Holden, Sandwell Iron and Axle Works, Smethwick: {three crowns} above L V & H
Longford Wire, Iron and Steel Co, Warrington: LONG.FORD {looped wires} LB above W, all in a square frame with cropped top corners.
John Lysaght, Swan Garden Works, Wolverhampton: ORB
Madeley Court Works: S.C. {lion}
Hugh Martin and Sons, Coatbridge Works: COATBRIDGE
Maybury, Marston and Sharpe, Perseverance Works, Manchester: M M & Co
Midland Iron Co, Rotherham: {crown} above MIC, MIDLAND {crown}
A. and T. Miller, Globe Iron Works, Coatbridge: GLOBE {crown}
William Millington and Co: WM Co surmounted by a dove, or SH {crown}.
Henry Mills and Sons, Victoria Iron Works, Walsall: HENRY MILLS & SONS
Molineux and Co, [Molineaux?] Bull's Bridge Iron Works, Morley: picture of bull's head and BRAND W.M. & Co.
Monkbridge Iron Co, Leeds: MONKBRIDGE
Monks, Hall and Co, Atherton's Quay Works, Warrington: F M & CO; {MH} conjoined
Monkland Iron Co, Calderbank Works, Airdrie: MONKLAND
Monmer Lane Iron Co, Willenhall: D&D; ELECTRO
Moor Iron Works (Owners of), Stockton: J&R above {crown} above MOOR
Moore and Manby, Dudley: {crown} above M.& M.; picture of a tiger; {crown} above SAXON
Mossend Iron Co, Holytown, Scotland: MOSSEND
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, Congreaves Iron Works, Birmingham: NB {lion} IC; NBIC CONGREAVES
New British Iron Co, Ruabon: {crown} R; N.B.I.CO RUABON
T. L. Nicklin, Crown Iron Works, Smethwick: NICKLIN'S
Northfield Iron and Tyre Co, Northfield Works, Rotherham: NF (letters conjoined)
Osier Bed Iron Co, Horseley Fields Iron Co: O B below {crown}
Edward Page and Sons, Roway Iron Works, West Bromwich: PAGE & SONS; P {crown} {anchor}; P X L {crown}
Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Co, Jarrow: JARROW; PALMERS {crown}
Parkes and Parkes, Atlas Iron Works, West Bromwich: P {crown} P above ATLAS
Parkgate Iron Co, Rotherham: PARKGATE and two or three {crowns}; P G YORKSHIRE {crown}
Patent Nut and Bolt Co, London Works, Smethwick: {globe pierced by nut and bolt, with lion on top}; P L over B B {large crown} S L over & S
Patent Shaft and Axletree Co: P S & A {crown}; 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.
Pather Uron and Steel Co, Wishaw: PATHER
Pearson and Knowles Coal and Iron Co, Warrington: DALLAM; {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; D in a circle of dots
Pelsall Coal and Iron Co, Pelsall Works, Walsall: large X containing letters P C I C below {crown}}}
Plant and Fisher, Dudley Port Iron Works, Tipton: PLANT'S {elephant} BEST; P {elephant} F; P.F {elephant} BEST {horsehoe}
John Raybould, Bromley Works, Pennsnett, Dudley: BROMLEY {crown}
W. Richards, Dinsdale Moor Works, near Darlington: DINSDALE {crown}
Roberts and Underhill, Witton Lane Works, Walsall: R B F
David Rose and Sons of Albert and Victoria Iron Works, Wednesbury: ALBERT {crown}; D ROSE
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}
Shelton Bar Iron Co, Hanley: GRANVILLE {crown}
Shropshire Iron Co, Hadley, near Wellington, Shropshire: {sun}; GOLIATH against {wire fence with posts}; SICo; S over XL
Smith and McLean, Gartcosh Works, near Glasgow: GRIFFIN; {griffin}
Snedshill Iron Co: HS {crown} BEST, above SNEDSHILL
South Hylton Iron and Steel Co, South Hylton: HYLTON
W. and J. S. Sparrow and Sons, Bilston: SPARROW XXX
John Spencer, Coatbridge: PHOENIX
Stanier and Co, Silverdale, North Staffordshire: S & H {crown}
Joseph Stones and Co, Grove Street Works, Cape, Smethwick: J S & CO
Swan, Coates and Co: CARGO FLEET
G. and R. Thomas and Co, Birchills Works, Walsall: G & R T CANNON
Stephen Thompson and Co, Manor Works, Wolverhampton: MANOR
Thornhill Iron Co, Thornhill Lees, near Dewsbury: E. THORNHILL
George Tinn and Co, Bristol Iron Rolling Mills: {crown} above GT; HELMET
Joseph Tinn, Ashton Iron Rolling Mills, Bedminster, Bristol: {dolphin} and stylised 'JT'
Tredegar Iron Co:T.I. CO
Trowell Iron Co, Nottingham: {triangle} containing E R A above {crown}; EREWASH {crown}
W. Tudhope, Crown Iron Works, Coatbridge: J {crown} S; TUDOR {crown}
Thomas Walmsley and Sons, Bolton: AF; A {crown} F
Joseph Whitham and Co, Perserverance Iron Works, Leeds: P W {crown}; P W BEST YORKSHIRE
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).
George Wilkinson, Globe Etna Works, Tividale, Tipton: {crown} above G-W above TIVIDALE
Philip Williams and Sons, Oak Works, Wednesbury: {bishop's mitre} above WO
Wilcock and Jones, South Yorkshire Hoop Iron Works, Rotherham: W & J over {barrel hoop}
John Williams and Co, Excelsior Works, Wishaw: J W & CO {crown}
E. T. Wright and Son, Monmoor Iron Works, Wolverhampton: MONMOOR
John Wylie and Co, Clifton Iron Works, Coatbridge: CLIFTON
See Also
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.)