HALLMARKS OF ENGLISH SILVER
MAKER'S MARK IDENTIFICATION

WITH THE ADDITION OF SCOTTISH, IRISH, CHANNEL ISLANDS AND COLONIES SILVERMITHS

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BRITISH SILVERSMITHS - ALPHABETICAL LISTING OF MARKS: WH - WL
ALPHABETICAL LISTING
OF SILVERSMITHS' NAMES
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
(click on the photo to enlarge image)
AH in script  mark, Alexander Henderson, Edinburgh 1816
William Hannay (possibly), Edinburgh 1808
WH
William Hannay (possibly)
Edinburgh 1816 hallmark
with AH mark of Alexander Henderson



Edinburgh 1812 hallmark
WH  mark, Wang Hing & Company, HONG KONG c. 1815 - courtesy Johnboy's Antiques Emporium
WH
Wang Hing & Company
Queen Road Works
HONG KONG c. 1815 hallmark
WH  mark, William Hope, Exeter 1824
WH
William Hope
Exeter 1824 hallmark
WH into an oval mark, William Horton, London 1850
WH into an oval
William Horton,
London 1850 hallmark
WH into two conjoined circles mark, Walter Hands - possibly, Chester 1886
WH into two conjoined circles
Walter Hands - possibly ,
Chester 1886 hallmark
W.H into an ovalmark, W M Hayes , Birmingham 1905 W.H into an ovalmark, W M Hayes , Birmingham 1905
W.H into an oval
W M Hayes ,
Birmingham 1905 hallmark
WHC into an oval mark, W.H. Carrington & Co, Birmingham
WHC into an oval
W.H. Carrington & Co
53 Thomas Street, Manchester. This firm registered a mark in Chester in 1888 c. and in Birmingham Assay Office on April 24, 1891. The firm was classified by Chester Assay Office as "Tabacconist and fancy goods dealers". See the section of "TOBACCONISTS, PIPE MAKERS, PIPE MOUNTERS" marks.
Birmingham date not identified hallmark
WHD into a shield  mark, W H Darby & Sons Ltd , Birmingham 1964
WHD into a shield
W H Darby & Sons Ltd
Birmingham 1964 hallmark
W.H.C  without outline mark, W H Collins & Co , Glasgow 1930
W.H.C without outline
W H Collins & Co
Excelda Works, Handsworth, Birmingham
Glasgow 1930 hallmark
WHH mark, William Hair Haseler, Birmingham 1914
WHH
William Hair Haseler
Birmingham 1914 hallmark
W.H.H mark, W H Haseler Ltd , Birmingham 1907
W.H.H
W H Haseler Ltd
Birmingham 1907 hallmark
WH and JWH double mark, William Henderson and James W. Howden, Edimburgh 1820
WH and JWH (double mark)
William Henderson and James W. Howden,
Edimburgh 1820 hallmark
WHL mark, not identified, Exeter 1836
WHL
not identified,
Exeter 1836 hallmark
W.H.L  mark, William Henry Leather, Birmingham  1904 - courtesy Johnboy Antique Emporium
W.H.L
William Henry Leather,
11 Pitsford Street, Birmingham. Mark entered 1904
Birmingham 1904 hallmark
WHS into a six sides polygon mark, (William Henry Sparrow- H Williamson Ltd , Birmingham  1904
WHS into a six sides polygon
William Henry Sparrow- H Williamson Ltd ,
Birmingham 1904 hallmark
W H W in three separate squares mark,W H Weston -possibly-, Birmingham  1897
W H W in three separate squares
W H Weston -possibly-,
Birmingham 1897 hallmark
WI under two stars over a fleur de lys mark, David Williaume I, London 1712
WI under two stars over a fleur de lys
David Williaume I
,
mark entered in 1697
London 1712 hallmark
W.I.S into three conjoined circles  mark, William John Salt , London 1880
W.I.S into three conjoined circles
William John Salt
,
mark entered in 1879
London 1880 hallmark
W.J mark, William Johnson, London 1830
W.J
William Johnson
London 1830 hallmark
W.J.H mark, William James Holmes , Birmingham 1929
W.J.H
William James Holmes
,
Birmingham 1929 hallmark
WJ over B over MS over RD into a shield mark, Walter, John, Michael, Stanley Barnard & Robert Dubock, London 1899
WJ over B over MS over RD into a shield
Walter, John, Michael, Stanley Barnard & Robert Dubock
London 1899 hallmark
A predecessor silversmith of Edward Barnard & Sons Ltd, business still active in present days ... MORE....
WJM over & Co into a shield mark, W J Myatt & Co Ltd, Birmingham 1911
WJM over &Co into a shield
W J Myatt & Co Ltd
Birmingham 1911 hallmark
WK mark, William Knight II or William King, London 1839
WK
William Knight II or William King,
London 1839 hallmark
W.K.R into two circles mark, William Ker Reid, London 1845
W.K.R into two circles
William Ker Reid,
business established in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1788 by Christian Ker Reid. Reid & Sons was converted into a limited liability company in 1930 under the style Reid & Sons Ltd.
London 1845 hallmark
W.L into an oval mark, W Leuchars, London 1877
W.L into an oval
W Leuchars ,
London 1877 hallmark
W.L & Co  mark, William Lock & Co , Birmingham 1900, image courtesy Robert Massart
W.L & Co
William Lock & Co,
the mark 'W.L in a rectangle' was registered in October 1881. He changed the sponsor's mark to the W.L & Co initials in July 1893. Director names added at this time were Mr James Golbourne and Henry Loveridge. Latest records are for the early 1920's. Registered as Wholesale Jewellers, address was 176 Hockley Hill, Birmingham.
Birmingham 1900 hallmark
WL over CL over WL mark, Lister & Sons, Newcastle 1846- courtesy Johnboy's Antiques Emporium
WL over CL over WL
Lister & Sons
Newcastle 1846 hallmark
W.M  mark,William Moulson, London 1841
W.M
William Moulson
London 1841 hallmark

a subsidiary of Lambert & Rawlings. First partners were John Wrangham and William Moulson joined in 1823 by Paul Siddall.
WM under a crown into a trefoil mark, William Mortimer or William Marshall & Son, Edimburgh 1849
WM under a crown into a trefoil
William Mortimer or William Marshall & Son
Edimburgh 1849 hallmark
WM and English pseudo-hallmarks mark, William Moore , Cape Colony 1840 c.
WM and English pseudo-hallmarks
William Moore,
a Cape of Good Hope Colony silversmith. Active 1840-1863. Registered as Goldsmith and Jeweller (1841-1842) and silversmith (1842-1863)
Cape Colony 1840 c. hallmark
W.M mark, William Mann , London 1859
W.M
William Mann
London 1859 hallmark
WMCo into three circles mark, Wilmott Manufacturing Co, Birmingham 1936
W M Co into three circles
Wilmott Manufacturing Co
Birmingham 1936 hallmark
Formed in 1912 upon the amalgamation of Wilmot Brothers (York Works, Birmingham) and Norton & White and Walsam & Co (Camden Street, Birmingham). From 1920 the firm had showrooms at 40 High Holborn, London and Paris.
W.M.Co into three circles mark, Wilmott Manufacturing Co, Birmingham 1920
W.M.Co into three circles
Wilmott Manufacturing Co
Birmingham 1920 hallmark
W.M.D mark, William A Duncan, Glasgow 1943
W.M.D
William A Duncan
Glasgow 1943 hallmark
WN mark, William Nolan, Dublin 1822 WN mark, William Nolan, Dublin 1822
WN
William Nolan
Dublin 1822 hallmark
WN mark, William Nowill, Sheffield 1835
WN
William Nowill
in partnership with John Nowill
Sheffield 1835 hallmark
W.N mark, William Needham, Sheffield 1906
W.N
William Needham
Sheffield 1906 hallmark
W.N mark, William Neale or William Neale & Sons, Chester 1903 W.N mark, William Neale or William Neale & Sons, Birmingham 1911
W.N
William Neale or William Neale & Sons,
Chester 1903 hallmark


Birmingham 1911 hallmark
W.N over LTD into a shield mark, William Neale & Sons Ltd, Birmingham 1933
W.N over LTD into a shield
William Neale & Sons Ltd
Birmingham 1933 hallmark
Firm established by William Neale in 1850 in Birmingham. Later the firm became William Neale & Sons as a partnership of William Neale senior, William Neale Junior and Arthur Neale, building new premises at 29 Warstone Lane, Birmingham (1896). In 1905 the firm was converted into a limited liability company under the style of William Neale & Sons Ltd moving in 1910 at 34 Cox Street, St. Paul's Square, Birmingham. In 1941 the firm was absorbed by Suckling Ltd.
WP into a heart mark, William Peaston, London 1749
WP into a heart
William Peaston,
entered 1746
London 1749 hallmark
WP into an oval mark, William Pitts, London 1786
WP into an oval
William Pitts,
entered 1781
London 1786 hallmark
WP mark, William Pugh, Birmingham 1811
WP
William Pugh,
Birmingham 1811 hallmark
WP into an oval mark, William Scott Peat or William Pirrie, Edinburgh 1826
WP into an oval
William Scott Peat or William Pirrie,
Edinburgh 1826 hallmark
WP mark, William Scott Peat or William Pirrie, Edinburgh 1828
WP
William Scott Peat or William Pirrie,
William Scott Peat apprentice of James Douglas in 1802. Freeman in 1813. Held as apprentice David Pollock (freeman in 1847)
Edinburgh 1828 hallmark
WPC mark, William & Patrick Cunningham, Edinburgh 1801
WPC
William & Patrick Cunningham,
William Cunningham was apprentice of Patrick Robertson in 1757. Freeman in 1776. Held as apprentices John Swinton Simpson (freeman in 1788), Simon Cunningham (freeman in 1800), Robert Hamilton active in Calcutta (freeman in 1787), William Dick (freeman in 1807) and Daniel Walker (freeman in 1815)

Patrick Cunningham was apprentice of Patrick Robertson in 1758. Freeman in 1775. Held as apprentices William Cunningham (freeman in 1802), Patrick Cunningham (freeman in 1808), John Cunningham (freeman in 1798), James McDonald (freeman in 1815)
Edinburgh 1801 hallmark
W.R mark, Birmingham 1855, Birmingham 1855 W.R mark, Birmingham 1855, Birmingham 1855
W.R
William Ryland (possibly),
Birmingham 1855 hallmark
WRS into two rounded outlines mark, William Rawlings Sobey, Exeter 1840
WRS into two rounded outlines
William Rawlings Sobey,
Exeter 1840 hallmark
W.R.S mark, William Rawlings Sobey, Exeter 1835
W.R.S into trilobate outline
William Rawlings Sobey,
Exeter 1835 hallmark
HALLMARKS OF ENGLISH SILVER - MAKER'S MARK IDENTIFICATION
ALPHABETICAL LISTING
OF SILVERSMITHS' NAMES
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
CAPE SILVERSMITHS A - C D - I J - M N - T U - Z
CHANNEL ISLANDS SILVERSMITHS A - F G - H I - P Q - Z unidentified
CANADA SILVERSMITHS A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
BRITISH TOWN MARKS AND DATE LETTERS
London town marks Birmingham town marks Dublin town marks Edinburgh town marks Sheffield town marks Exeter town marks
London Birmingham Dublin Edinburgh Sheffield Chester
The hallmarking of British silver is based on a combination of marks that makes possible the identification of the origin and the age of each piece.
The marks are:

Town mark, corresponding to the mark of the assay office that has verified the piece
London town mark Sheffield town mark Birmingham town mark Newcastle town mark Dublin town mark Edimburgh town mark Glasgow town mark

Lion's passant guardant or Britannia or lion's head erased certifiying the silver's quality
lion passant: 1598-1820 lion passant: after 1820 Britannia and lion's head erased: from 1697 to 1718
Maker's mark, identifying the silversmith presenting the piece to the assay office

Date letter, in cycles of twenty letters of the alphabet of different shape identifies the year in which the piece was verified by the assay office
London date letter 'a'
A further mark was used in the period 1784 - 1890:
Sovereign head ('duty mark'), certifying the payment of duty
Sovereign head: duty mark from 1784 to 1890
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