Thread: Does anyone know anything about Insurance Companies in Oxford from the 1800s?

As part of my research into Hampton Gay, we know the house was insured by the phoneix insurance office in Oxford, but despite my best efforts i can only find a tiny bit of info in the company.
I am hoping that one of you lovely people can help.
Even if you can just point me in the right direction i would be ever so grateful!
I have tried the VCH but it just mentions a few names of agents and that is all i have been able to find.
Many thanks in advance.
Cheers x

Hello

All I seem to give you is more reading, History of Phoenix Ins this seems to be an American Insurrance co it's roots. If you look to the right of the page you will see where you can source the books!

Most properties were insured by Sun , and the tale in Hawkshead is if a building was on fire and the fire brigade turned out they would look for the Sun symbol above the 'front' door and if not there forget it! The sun plaques are still visible on the buildings today LMA information

Is this any use, Sally?

From an 1851 Insurance Almanack.

(Click on image to enlarge.)



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Hi again guys, you lot are clever !!!!! I think the links and the picture you have given me will be very useful, the house fire at HG was in 1887 and one newspaper report says it was insured for £2000 with the phoneix office in Oxford. Was it just houses that had plaques for insurance? i wondered if any items in the house would have displayed them.
Sorry its so many questions, i am quite new to all this ancestry research and i really really do appreciate your help!!
I hope one day i will be able to help someone on here ....