The Metropolis

City history: 16th century booze holder goes on show at Museum of London Docklands

Mike Pollitt | Monday 17 September, 2012 11:53

This jug for booze can be seen at the Museum of London Docklands from 17-26 September.

Not being an expert on 16th century booze, I can do no better than quote the Museum of London press release:

“This tankard holds three pints. Was it used to carry beer from the barrel to the table or, was this someone’s personal beer mug? The only other items that are contemporary and similar in appearance come from the Mary Rose, although the Mary Rose examples carry 8 pints. In this period ship building in the Ratcliff area was well established. A link between these drinking vessels and ships is clearly emerging. Perhaps these containers were designed to guarantee minimal spillage on rocky boats.”

Sailors. I knew it.

“On the base of the tankard the initials RH are inscribed. It is not known whether these are the initials of the owner, the maker or perhaps even the ship.The preservation of this object is astonishing and was made possible by it having lain buried in the muddy depths of the Thames.

Ah, booze. Bringing people together over 500 years. You might think you can’t understand these Londoners from far back in the past, but then you realise they wanted a pint just as much as you.

More details at the Museum of London Docklands website.

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