This north of England city has had a long established silversmithing tradition, with items attributed from the 16th Century. It was granted its status as an official Assay Office by an Act of Parliament in 1700 and it was in this year that an official date lettering system commenced.
Newcastle Assay office was represented by a mark depicting three castles, two on top and one below. From 1721, an additional mark, the leopard’s head crowned, was added.
Early Newcastle silver is quite scarce although spoons, tankards and mugs can be found. Although the assay office benefitted from the closure of the nearby York office from 1717 to 1776, spoons from this period are by no means plentiful.
Newcastle marked flatware is fairly common after 1770, plentiful from 1810 and scarce again from the 1860's. The assay office closed down in 1884 due to lack of demand and competition from Sheffield.
