A pewter tankard from the Thames foreshore, in the Museum of London’s collections (accession number: 78.132), bears the inscription ‘John Kennett in Sheirness Fort suttler 1669’.

Construction of Sheerness Fort began in 1666, during the Second Dutch War (1664-7), but it was destroyed by the Dutch before it had been completed. Rebuilding was still in progress in 1669, the date at which John Kennet – as sutler – will have been supplying provisions to the workmen and soldiers stationed there.

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