A tobacco jar which appears to have been made at the Wetheriggs Pottery near Penrith in the year of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897 has recently been given to Penrith and Eden Museum.
With the inscription on a white slip band Wm Robinson Tirril October 2nd 1897, the jar is in the form of a tree trunk showing stumps of trimmed branches. The lid has similar stumps and a perched bird affords a convenient means of lifting it off.
The name on the jar has the Museum stumped as they have not yet been able to find out anything about the William Robinson of Tirril who was the recipient of this jar. It is possible that it was a birthday or even retirement gift (for a woodsman it would be have been quite appropriate) but a similar example elsewhere also has the date 1897 suggesting it was to mark the royal event.
Any information about the Victorian gentleman of Tirril would be welcomed by the Curators who can be contacted via email: [email protected] or telephone: 01768 865105.
Entry to Penrith and Eden Museum is free and it is open all year at the following times:
Winter: October to April, Monday to Saturday, 10am-4pm.
Summer: Monday to Saturday 10am-5pm and Sundays 11am-4pm.
