Cask
Description
The remains of a spirit barrel. About half of the staves are present and intact and the circular base/top is still in situ. There is a tap or plug hole of 20mm diameter in the bilge of the barrel. The engraved letters (HDX?) may be an indicator of its contents or place of origin. This small barrel was probably known as a ‘half anker.’ These contained about four gallons of liquid, most likely brandy or other spirits. There was a special room on board ship for keeping the spirit barrels since their potential combustibility made them as dangerous to carry as gunpowder. No candles were allowed in the spirit room, which was lined, locked and guarded, and they were only opened on deck during daylight hours where any fumes could dissipate safely and no artificial (candle) lighting was required.
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Object Detail
Diameter: 190mm (7 1/2")