London Salvage Corps

The London Salvage Corps and the London Fire Engine Establishment were created and maintained by the principal fire insurance offices of London. The London Fire Engine Establishment had undertaken salvage work as part of its normal fire extinguishing duties. However, the Metropolitan Fire Brigade Act of 1865 was vague enough to enable the Metropolitan Board of Works to refuse responsibility for any salvage work without payment. The amount sought by the Metropolitan Board of Works for this service exceeded that for which an independent salvage corps could be maintained by the fire offices themselves. Therefore it was decided at a meeting of the London Fire Engine Establishment on 22 December 1865 to establish a salvage corps independent of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade. The London Salvage Corps commenced operations during January 1866. The original subscribers to the London Salvage Corps were the Alliance, Atlas, Globe, Imperial, London, Protector, Royal Exchange, Sun, Union and Westminster fire offices, but membership varied subsequently.

The London Salvage Corps was based at 31 Watling Street until 1873, 63-64 Watling Street from 1874 to 1884, 64 Watling Street from 1885 until 1905, 63-66 Watling Street from 1906 until sometime after 1955. The Corps was located at 140 Aldersgate Street when it was wound up in 1984.

The Printers and Theatres Rating Committee (Southern Committee) (CLC/B/017-29) was set up under the auspices of the London Salvage Corps towards the end of the 19th century to administer a scheme for the rating of insurance premiums on theatres, music halls and printers and allied trades. The scheme was later extended to cinemas and film production studios. The Southern Rating Committee became increasingly associated with the Fire Offices' Committee rather than the London Salvage Corps until, in 1962, its administration was taken over by the Fire Offices' Committee.