Historical information

This china jug has been made in England by Grindley Hotel Ware. The Grindley company that manufactured earthenware and ironstone items was founded in 1880 by William Grindley and was initially based in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, England. The jug has had a red stamp added so that it could be used at the Criterion Hotel in Warrnambool and identified as the hotel property. The jug was used during the licenseeship of Theresa Lynch. The Criterion Hotel was situated on the western side of Kepler Street near Lava Street, Warrnambool. It opened in 1872 with the first licensee, John Tate. In the 1920s there were extensive renovations to the hotel in the Art Deco style. Theresa Lynch was the licensee from 1919 to 1926. In 1922 she bought the hotel and sold it to Harry McGennan in 1926. In 2006 the Criterion Hotel was closed and it was partially destroyed by fire in 2010 and later completely demolished.

Significance

This jug is of interest as a 1920s souvenir of the Criterion Hotel, Warrnambool that closed in 2006. This hotel was a prominent one in Warrnambool, known in the 1990s for its promotion of live rock music.

Physical description

This is a white china jug with a circular base slightly tapering to an open top with a spout and handle. On the side of the jug there is a red stamp in the shape of a belt with red lettering. The base has a crown image and the maker’s name.

Inscriptions & markings

‘Lynch’s Criterion Hotel Warrnambool’
Grindley Hotel Ware, Made in England, Patent’.