Creamware jug of baluster form. On one side transfer-printed in black with a ship under sail, with rococo scrolling framing the sea. On the other side a view of the signal tower and masts at Bidston Hill, including flags numbered from 1 to 44 on a green mount. The flags are painted in overglaze enamels in red, blue, green and grey. Beneath, a list of the shipowers keyed to the flags and a set of instructions to ships. Above: 'Liverpool Light House & Signals on Bidston Hill 1788', '1 Mr. Slater's 2 Mr. Baker's 3 Mr. Watt's 4 Mr. Kent's 5 Mr. Fisher's 6 Mr. Galley's 7 Mr. Bolton's 8 Mr. Ingram's 9 Mr. Ashton's 10 Mr. Kenyon's 11 Mr. Bent's 12 Mr. Backhouse's 13 Mr. Dickson's 14 Mr. Freeland's 15 Mr. Copland's 16 Messrs. Earle's 17 Mr. R. Fisher's 18 Mr. Staniforth's 19 Mr. R. Wilding's 20 Mr. Brooks's 21 Mr. France's 22 Mr. Boats's 23 Mr. Birch's 24 Greenland ships 25 Men of War 26 Ships 27 Brigs 28 Snow's &c 29 Well boat's 30 Mr. Gregson's 31 Mr. Tomlinson's 32 Rawlinson & Co. 33 Mr. Tarleton's 34 Mr. Orange's 35 Messrs. Lake's 36 Mr. Jackson's 37 Mr. Kewley's 38 Allanson & Barton 39 Mason & Bourn 40 Dublin Traders 41 Willock & Co 42 Lond. Cheese ships 43 Harper & Brayde 44 Belfast Traders For more than four Vessels on one kind a Flag on ye proper staff/For Vessels in distress on onshore on the Rock Channel or about Hoyle/coming in/On the Oblique Pole to the Southward of the Light House/Ship....a Ball with a Flag half Mast/Brigg...a Cone broad end up & Flag half Mast/Snow or small vessel do. Small end up and a Flag d[itt]o./going out/The same as above but a broad Pendant instead of a Flag/ IN FORMBY CHANNEL/coming in/On the Oblique Pole to the Northward of ye Light House/Ship...a Ball with a Flag half Mast/Brigg....a Cone broad end up & a Flag half Mast/Snow or small Vessel do. small end up & a Flag do./going out/The same as above but a broad Pendant instead of a Flag.'