BREWERIANA is going great guns according to a little message received this week.

That rather unwieldy title is, apparently, given to the hobby of collecting all manner of bits and pieces to be found in the brewing and pub and club trade.

Philip Gormley of Claremont Road, Billinge, makes us aware of this leisure-time pursuit in responding to a piece which recently appeared on this page about a miniature whisky jug made of brown and cream pottery. With the traditional toast 'For Auld Lang Syne' embossed around its neck, it also bears the printed words Sterlini Whisky, D &J McEwen & Co.

Reader Carl Dingsdale had earlier sought clues as to whether the four-inch high item, found when the Alexandra pub was demolished at Thatto Heath, could have been manufactured at one of the potteries that flourished in the St Helens area in bygone times.

No confirmation of that to date. But Philip kindly forwards a collectors' magazine showing the widespread interest in such items. According to age and rarity, such whisky jug novelties and other drinks containers can command considerable prices. For example, one 1830 soda water bottle, with a pointed base, is listed as fetching £795 back in 1983!

Philip also sent some contact addresses which I'm passing on to Carl.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.