Hand in Hand Fire & Life Insurance Society
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| Company type | Mutual society |
|---|---|
| Industry | Insurance |
| Founded | 1696 |
| Defunct | 1905 |
| Fate | Acquired by Commercial Union |
| Successor | Aviva plc |
| Headquarters | London, UK |
The Hand in Hand Fire & Life Insurance Society was one of the oldest British insurance companies.
The company was founded in 1696 at Tom's Coffee House in St Martin's Lane in London.[1] It was one of three fire insurance companies started after the Great Fire of London[citation needed], and it was initially called the Contributors for Insuring Houses, Chambers or Rooms from Loss by Fire, by Amicable Contribution.[1] Less than thirty years later the other two insurers had failed, and the Hand in Hand was left as the oldest fire insurance company in the world.[citation needed] It was structured as a mutual society, and for 135 years it operated its own fire brigade and played an important part in shaping fire fighting and prevention.[1]
In 1905, the Hand in Hand was acquired by the Commercial Union Group.[1]
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