A large Godstone 'Iron Pear Tree' gout water bottle, c.1745, the tall body applied to the shoulder

A large Godstone 'Iron Pear Tree' gout water bottle, c.1745, the tall body applied to the shoulder with two plaques, one depicting a man on crutches crying 'Oh the Gout!', the other a healthy man titled 'Drink and be well', incised beneath 'Iron Peartree Water / near Godstone, Surry', 36cm.

Provenance: from the collection of the late Jonathan Horne.

Surrey Archaeological Society reports that a Surrey landlord named Mr Bonwick sank a new well on his land, near to a pear tree, so he did not have so far to walk for water (being troubled with gout). After using the water for some time he found he had lost his gout, and used it to brew his beer. Legend has it that the taste was not popular and the unfortunate Mr Bonwick then lost his customers along with his gout. However, for a period of time the Peartree Water was highly fashionable in London and was mentioned by Horace Walpole in a letter to Sir Horace Mann in 1753.