Goldsmiths
have been recorded working in York as early as 1270. It was granted it's
own Assay Office by the act of 1423 when the town mark of half leopard's
head/half fleur-de-lys was instituted. The date letter was introduced in
1560, and between 1632 and 1698 the town mark changed to half rose crowned/half
fleur de lys. This in turn gave way in 1701 to a cross charged with five
lions passant taken from the arms of the city. In 1716 the Assay office
closed, and until it re-opened in 1776, York silver was "touched" at Newcastle.
The Assay Office finally closed in 1857.
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