London, 1879. Is there a maker’s mark on it somewhere?
Henry John Lias and James Wakely.
ETA: And the dates are spot on, which is always reassuring. 
Are hall marks ever faked or is there items that are forged
Hall marks have been faked - and still are. Google “silver hallmark forgery” and you will find some interesting examples.
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How do i know the stuff i buy is real and not faked
Fake hallmarks are really rare and you will probably never find one. To some extent it comes down to experience and familiarisation with what to expect. If you ever have any doubts either don’t buy or ask an expert (or even ask us!).
I did note what appeared to be a Twinam forgery on Ebay last year. I alerted the seller who was in the USA but was ignored. That is the only outright forged mark I have ever seen.
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What the forgery cases have in common is also instructive.
Non-sterling objects aren’t being passed off as sterling, for the simple reason that it’s not overly difficult to test things, especially with the availability of XRF machines at pawn shops, jewelers, and dealers in scrap metal.
Second, the things that occasionally get forged hallmarks are high-value, rare antiques. No one is going to expend the effort and risk the penalties, all in order to forge the hallmarks on a William Comyns coffee pot from 1916 to make it appear to be a Walker & Hall from 1902. If you’re being told that King Charles I had his last cup of tea from a pot being flogged on eBay, watch out, but otherwise…