Street numbers

Joel S. Berson Berson at ATT.NET
Fri Aug 9 17:47:28 UTC 2013


A gleaning from an email list on the 18th century yielded a
confirmation for the introduction of house numbers in London:

>In April 1762, there was a Grand Exhibition of the 'Society of
>Sign-Painters', put on by Bonnell Thornton at his Rooms in Bow
>Street, promoted through the St James's Chronicle, probably as a
>result of the proclamation of 1762 ordering the removal of hanging
>signs in the City of London, and in 1763 there was a similar decree
>for the City of Westminster. This was reinforced by Paving Acts in
>1766 and 1768. Thus necessitating the introduction of street numbers.

Some time ago Victor wrote "London got house numbers with the Postage
Act of 1765".  In any case, the years are close enough for government work.

Joel

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