After three centuries of history, C Hoare must have amassed some pretty interesting things in its vaults apart from client dosh.

The latest curio to emerge after nearly 370 years is a leather jug made from the hide of Oliver Cromwell's war horse Blackjack.

It is one of a dozen made from the poor nag’s outer garment, although most were not as big as the Cromwellian tankard which has just been auctioned.

The 2-foot high pot, for ale or water, fetched £7,400 at a sale by Dorset auction house Dukes – compared with a presale estimate of £6,000.

The jug was deposited ages ago at Hoares bank and later...