During the late 1960s historians began to appreciate the importance of fire insurance policies of the 18th and 19th centuries as a source of information on property, its nature, its value, and ownership. Although documents relating to fire insurance were not new to them, no systematic use had been made of the voluminous policy registers of the fire offices until the recognition that such policies could contribute to research into methods for measuring the role of capital formation during Britain’s Industrial Revolution. The availability of these records on microfilm provides researchers with a convenient way to cover substantial material. A highly detailed index by Professor R. Floud and students at Birkbeck College is available on microfiche.

Complete collection 44 reels
Reference: SFI

Microfiche index available separately.