BEER and water do not usually mix, but the opposite has proved to be the case for Jonathan Manby.

Mr Manby, one of the country's few remaining master coopers, makes traditional wooden casks for Theakston's Brewery at Masham, and has now used his skills to produce a replica of a medieval water tankard to be presented to the Water Conservators Company in the City of London.

He was commissioned to make the reproduction of one of the cone-shaped vessels typical of those used for hundreds of years by bearers to distribute water in the city before the days of piped supplies.

It stands about 3ft high and holds six gallons of water. Mr Manby used larch rather than the traditional oak to reduce its weight, but it still weighs about 20lb empty and 100lb full.

The replica was commissioned by Ted Flaxman, a past master of the Water Conservators Company, who has jointly written a history of water bearers in the City of London.

At their peak there were more than 500 bearers delivering water to citizens for drinking, washing and cleaning food. The earliest mention of them in London dates back to 1276.

Delivering the tankard to London will be a double cause of celebration for Mr Manby, who will be made a Freeman of the City by the Worshipful Company of Coopers, of which he is a member and through which Mr Flaxman contacted him.

He said: "It was interesting to apply the traditional cooperage skills on something a bit different.

"While I enjoyed making the tankard, I wouldn't like to have had to carry it around all day."

Theakston's is one of the few brewers still employing a full-time cooper crafting wooden casks in which its beers mature.

Managing director Simon Theakston said: "We are delighted that Jonathan's skills have been recognised in this way. As a business committed to tradition, it is very apt that we should be involved in a project whose origins can be traced back hundreds of years."

It is hoped the tankard will go on public display at a London museum.