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It is more than likely that S. P. is the acronym for ‘standpipe’, an alternative name for fire hydrant. They are of a uniform appearance, being an iron plate measuring 9 inches high by 8 inches wide, with a bracket either side for affixing to a building or structure. The text is a standard: ‘S P. / x FT.’ where x is the number of feet from the building to the standpipe. They are usually, but not always, to be found affixed immediately between the ground and first floors of a building, presumably so that they can be easily seen. It is reported that fire-hydrant / fire-plug plates in other places were originally painted white with black text, though today the city’s remaining S. P. plates come in a variety of colours, often black, or to match the colour of the structure to which they are affixed; some have been left to rust.

The first legislative requirement to fix fire plugs (fire hydrants) was made with the passing of the Waterworks Clauses Act 1847 . The Act includes a section relating to fire plugs (paras. 37 to 43). Para. 38 required fire plugs to be not more than 100 yards (300 feet) from each other. Para. 39 required undertakers to put up a public notice in a conspicuous place in each street in which a fire plug is situated, showing its situation, which notice may be put up on any house or building. The format of the ‘notice’ was not specified, hence those that have survived are found in various designs. It would appear that S. P. plates were introduced at this time and affixed to buildings and structures only in that century, given that none are to be found on buildings constructed after 1900. It is not known why the plates were seemingly discontinued after 1900, nor is it known what superseded them, if any, for the intervening period to 1939, when war-time measures were introduced.

No archival references to these plates have been traced as yet, so evidence on the ground must suffice meantime. A rare and possibly unique triple combination is to be found in Chapel Lane Staithe, where the wall of Castle Warehouse is adorned by an S. P. plate, a temporarily-painted hydrant sign from World War II, and a fire hydrant identifier plate of post-War origins of the type that prevails today. That both the S.P. plate and the fire hydrant identifier plate include ‘3 FT’ and ‘3’ respectively indicates that they are basically one and the same, but from different eras: Link

In addition to those photographed, the following six S P plates are no longer extant due to demolition: Day Street: Recreation Club: S.P. / 20 FT; Great Passage Street, No. 42: S P. / 5 FT; High Street, No. 196: S P. / 13 FT; Humber Dock Street, junction with Blanket Row: S P. / ? FT; Salthouse Lane, Scurfield Square: S P. / 5 FT; Walker Street, Nos. 86-87 Dalton House: S P. / 4FT

As at 29 July 2025, the author has identified 27 plates, of which 21 (14 with serifs; 7 sans serifs) are extant and for which photos of all are on this site: commerical premises 76%, housing 24%, public buildings 0%, places of worship 0% None are marked on any edition of Ordnance Survey maps.

Created: Sat, 7 Dec 2024, Updated: Thu, 23 Oct 2025