The puzzle jug of John Banner, Watnall 1824

 A George IVth period stoneware puzzle jug, the property of Watnall farmer John banner. Written into the jug before firing, "John Banner Watnall Nottinghamshire,Sep 3 1824", along with "Here you may drink and take your fill, but sixpence pay if you do spill." 


Keeping the tradition of naming the first-born son after the father, the Parish of Greasley and Watnall had a long succession of John Banners, recorded in the Parish as early as 1701, and then well into the 1900s. There are several John Banners buried at St Mary's Church in Greasley. The owner of this puzzle jug is believed to be John Banner who was born in the parish in 1779, and recorded as having a farm in Watnall Chaworth in 1824, and recorded as still being a farmer in the 1841 census. A successful farmer and businessman, John Banner appeared in the Churchwardens' accounts records for The Greasley Parish Church in 1843, supplying coal on February 6th and March 10th, and again on November 5th. He also appears in the diary of Joseph Hutsby, a coal miner, local preacher, and pit official who worked at Loscoe colliery in Derbyshire. Hutsby recorded in his 1845 entries, "Mr John Banner of Watnall brought us 8 sacks of potatoes, Oxnobles at 4s 6d". 

John Banner's farm at Watnall Chaworth no longer appears on a map of the area in 1851. It may be that he gave up farming and moved to the steam powered flour Mill recorded as being in operation at the back of the Queen's Head pub in the 1850s. Richard Jackson was the first owner of the mill, and then sold it to John Banner. Possibly our John Banner, the owner of this  puzzle jug, or maybe his son. John Banner born in 1779 passed away at the age of 83, and was buried at St Mary's Church in Greasley on Christmas day,1862.  

Puzzle jugs were a popular form of entertainment during the late Georgian period. With the script on the jug,  "Here you may drink and take your fill, but sixpence pay if you do spill.", you have to wonder if John liked to amuse his friends with this jug in the Queen's Head after a hard day's work. 


(information about the steam powered mill in Watnall c/o Chris Appleby)














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