The West Country, including Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset, was a wealthy farming area that liked its silver. At the centre is Exeter, with spoons dating from the 16th Century and an assay office that was officially opened in 1700.
Exeter-made silver is the most commonly found of all provincial centres and we always have spoons in stock from the 16th century onwards. Addionally, spoons can be found from many outlying market towns, e.g. Plymouth, Barnstaple, Taunton, Bridgwater and Chard.
The town mark for Exeter was a castle with three turrets and hallmarking to spoons with the Britannia Standard mark between 1700 and 1720 was often done with great care creating fabulous sets of crisp hallmarks.
Spoons of all the major forms and patterns proliferated at the Exeter Assay Office after 1820 when 19th Century manufacture was dominated by the William’s family company based in Bristol. It is no coincidence that the assay office closed down in 1883, soon after Josiah Williams' retirement in 1879.
