AN HISTORIAN is asking Ryedale residents for help in re-creating some unusual memorabilia.

Steve Ferry, who works at the Bromley’s of Harrogate shop in Malton, was recently given some plaster cast copies of 18th century fire insurance marks.

The old lead, copper, tin and iron marks were once attached to the front of buildings by insurance companies to show the building had been insured against damage or loss in the event of a fire.

The marks were useful because in the 1700s many insurance companies had their own fire brigades, and they would only extinguish fires in houses with their mark displayed.

Mr Ferry bought the casts from a man in Leigh-on-Sea in Essex. He is now asking for the public’s help in recreating these marks using his plaster casts.

He said: “My hope is to create a collection of fire marks closely ressembling the originals for display purposes. I would also like to be able to offer replacements for those which have been taken from buildings or sold to collectors over the ages.”

Mr Ferry would particularly like to hear from anyone who has knowledge of casting in lead, who knows how to make rubber moulds or take resin copies, who can make aluminium sand castings, or who can put electro copper plating directly on to rubber moulds.

Mr Ferry was in the fire service for 32 years, and has researched many areas of fire service history.

He said: “Part of the enjoyment of casting from these moulds will be the craft side of it – creating something attractive.

“At the same time I think it is important to preserve something that would otherwise be lost.”

Anyone who would like to help can phone Mr Ferry on 01653 692559.