Street Names

Captured this one today

Would you believe that 'Old Blackrock Road' used to be called 'Blackrock Road'...

... Rumour has it that it was called 'New Blackrock Road' prior to this ;-)


The funny symbol beneath the sign with the date 1858 is an old Fire Insurance Certificate for the year 1858.

In the early 1800s there was no organised fire brigade service, instead Insurance Companies controlled and established the first organised fire-fighting in the city. To avoid heavy losses among the risks they had insured, insurance companies established their own fire brigades. A distinctive fire mark sign bearing the insurance company details was erected on the building once a premium was paid.
The sign served as an identifier so that if a fire occurred any insurance company Fire Brigade who responded would know if it was one of their buildings that was on fire

They can be seen all over the city. I've already inadvertantly blipped one here on the right hand side of the picture