The first UK trade mark registration was the iconic Bass & Co red triangle which registered on 01 January 1876, for pale ale and remains registered today. It was filed on the first day when trade mark registrations became available in the UK. 150 years later there are now more than 2.5 million trade marks on the UK trade mark register protecting a very wide range of subject matter.

The D Young & Co trade mark team has taken this opportunity to reflect on some of the iconic brands that we represent, many of which have their origins in the Victorian era.

The oldest mark we are representatives for is a device mark for GRANTS MORELLA CHERRY BRANDY which protects liqueurs and registered on 29 June 1876. Grants Morella Cherry Brandy was established in Kent in 1774 and the mark is owned by Britain’s oldest brewer, Shepherd Neame. Today Grants Morella Cherry Brandy holds a Royal Warrant from King Charles III.

The Ardbeg distillery on Islay, Scotland was founded in 1815. Since then, ARDBEG has become a renowned brand of Scotch whisky. To protect the brand, the word mark ARDBEG and stylised letter A were first registered at the UKIPO on 30 September 1911.

Turning now to mouthwash. In 1874, a formula was discovered by an American doctor, Dr Joseph Lawrence, which was an effective antiseptic for use in surgical procedures. This antiseptic developed into Listerine mouthwash and Dr Lawrence named it in honour of Sir Joseph Lister, an English surgeon, who was the first surgeon to conduct an operation in a room sterilised with pulverised antiseptic. Protection for the mark Listerine was obtained in the UK on 03 December 1903. 

In 1894 a pharmacist named Lunsford Richardson in Greensboro North Carolina developed a product to alleviate cold and cough symptoms. It was originally called “Richard’s Croup and Pneumonia Cure Salve”. Today this product is owned by Procter & Gamble and known as Vick’s Vaporub. UK trade mark protection for the mark VAPORUB was first sought in October 1920.

On 07 January 1899, the mark FAIRY was registered for soap. This marked the origins of the iconic FAIRY brand, famous today for its dishwashing and laundry detergent. 

On 21 September 1899 the mark ANUSOL was registered for a variety of pharmaceutical and related products. Today ANUSOL is still going strong as the UK’s number one treatment for haemorrhoids. 

King Camp Gillette was an American businessman who invented a safety razor blade at the beginning of the last century, which was designed to bring the same qualities of a trip to the barber to the shaving experience at home. On 01 June 1906, a UK registration was obtained for the portrait image of King C Gillette. Today the Gillette Company, owned by Procter & Gamble, is a global market leader for male and female shaving products.

AkzoNobel is another brand with a long-standing heritage for whom we act. In 1792, Wiert Willem Sikkens opened a paint and varnish works in the city of Groningen in the Netherlands. In 1904, a new factory was built in the UK to produce their successful marine antifouling paint, branded International. The international brand was later acquired by AkzoNobel in the 1990s. AkzoNobel owns a large number of brands and trade marks, including one for a propellor which protects paints and related products and registered on 29 June 1910.

Recently, in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of the UK trade mark register, the UKIPO released a press release with the results of a poll which was conducted to uncover the British public’s most iconic trade marks. Listed at number eight of the poll is a famously reassuring brand, trusted by parents throughout the UK…Calpol. The earliest CALPOL registration dates back to 10 July 1951.

We have provided a snapshot of the many iconic brands, with rich histories and diverse portfolios that we represent. Despite changes of ownership over the years, these brands have endured the test of time and remain firm consumer favourites. 

Useful links

• UKIPO press release, “Poll reveals public’s most iconic trade marks as register turns 150”, 22 April 2026: https://dycip.com/ukipo-tm-register-150
• Bass & Co red triangle: https://dycip.com/bass-red-triangle
• GRANTS MORELLA CHERRY BRANDY: https://dycip.com/grants-morella-brandy
• ARDBEG: https://dycip.com/ardbeg 
• Ardbeg stylised letter A: https://dycip.com/ardbeg-letter-a
• Listerine: https://dycip.com/listerine 
• P&G Vaporub: https://dycip.com/vaporub 
• Fairy: https://dycip.com/fairy 
• ANUSOL: https://dycip.com/anusol 
• King C Gillette: https://dycip.com/gillette  
• AkzoNobel propellor: https://dycip.com/akzonobel-propellor
• CALPOL: https://dycip.com/calpol