Pewter tankard from the Admiral Hardy public house, Greenwich.

Repro ID: H5547

Description: A pewter pint tankard with the name of the public house ‘Admiral Hardy, Greenwich’ on the base. It bears the verification stamp of a Victorian weights and measures inspector. Beer mugs were originally made of pewter or pottery. Glasses began to replace them when drinkers developed a taste for the pale ales made in Burton-on-Trent and this type of beer began to supersede the dark, murky porters hitherto popular in London. The Admiral Hardy stands a short distance from the former Royal Naval Hospital and is named after Vice-Admiral Thomas Masterman Hardy, Nelson’s Flag Captain at Trafalgar. Hardy was Governor of the hospital from 1834 until his death in 1837. During his period of office, he abolished the wearing of the yellow coat with red sleeves, as a punishment for Greenwich pensioners who got drunk on a Sunday.

Creator: J. McPherson

Date: 19th Century

Credit line: National Maritime Museum, London