Fred Smith’s Compass House, Grimsby – Enamel Lapel Badge, c.1955–1965

A circular enamel lapel buttonhole badge bearing the name Fred Smith, Grimsby. Its distinctive design features a central sunburst surrounded by a geometric compass pattern in green and dark brown, with the compass points N, E, S and W and a small fleur-de-lis at the top.

The design matches the compass emblem used by Compass House, Fred Smith’s fish-processing and packing business on Riby Street, Grimsby. An advertisement describes the premises as a modern centre with facilities for smoke curing, quick freezing and cold storage, operating “at the sign of the Compass” under the personal direction of Fred Smith.

The badge was probably produced as a promotional item for distribution to employees, customers and business associates. It is a tangible reminder of Grimsby’s fishing and fish-processing industry and the businesses that helped establish the town’s reputation as a major centre for the trade.

The date is provisional, based on the history of Compass House and its development during the 1950s. The precise date and original purpose of the badge have not been established.