A TREASURED piece of a local school’s history has been handed over to The Willis Museum.

A fine and sturdy rocking horse has been donated to the museum, in Market Place, in Basingstoke’s Top of The Town, by the children of nearby Fairfields Primary School.

The school dates back to 1888 and was in fact two schools known as the Basingstoke Board Schools.

It later became Fairfields Infant and Junior Schools, before falling rolls in the 1980s saw the two merge as Fairfields Primary School.

It is possible that the voice of cricket, John Arlott, might have climbed into the saddle on the rocking horse’s back when he was a boy studying at the school.

Lord Wigg, who as a Labour politician became Paymaster General in 1964, also went to the school and may have sat in the saddle too.

Acting deputy head Vicky Wharmby said: “I believe the rocking horse is more than 100 years old and was restored about eight years ago.

“He’s a much-loved part of our school’s past.

“We’ve got children whose parents came to the school and they remember the rocking horse.

“We’ve kept him in the reception area and he was one of the first things you saw when you came into the school and the children loved seeing him there.

“But the children decided he needs to be in a place where he can be looked after because the reception area is a busy place and we were worried he could get damaged.

“That’s why we felt it was right to go to The Willis Museum where he can be looked after.

“Our children often go to the museum, both with their parents and with their classes, so they will still be able to see the horse, as well as the rest of the community.”

Sue Tapliss, curator at The Willis Museum, is delighted that the horse has found a new home and can currently be seen in the Sainsbury Gallery.

No one knows for sure how old the rocking horse is, but Sue said: “I would put it at the early 20th century because he is on safety rockers, rather than on bow rockers.”

She added: “Horses have always been central to man’s existence so it’s natural that children should play with little horse toys.

“And often they were pull-along horses and later they became more mechanical toys.

“There are so many variations of rocking horses, from those on bow rockers and safety rockers, and then you’ve got ones that are like little bicycles with a horse in front and a little basket where a child fits in.”

Noting that the horse from Fairfields is “one of the biggest rocking horses you can get,” Sue said: “This one that has been based on a fairground merry-go-round horse – you can see where the inspiration comes from.

“Often rocking horse makers used to make merry go round horses too.

“Underneath, they are quite roughly carved.

“They were covered with gesso, which is like a plaster, which is built up and sanded down so that he’s nice and smooth and then painted on the hard surface.”

Sue believes the horse is Britishmade.

She said: “We are not sure who made him. We are having that identified at the moment because the maker’s marks have been obliterated.

“He’s probably made by Ayres or Lines – they were famous rocking horse manufacturers.”

No doubt this latest addition to The Willis Museum cost a pretty penny when it was first purchased.

Sue surmises that it may have been donated to the school by a generous benefactor, or possibly a retiring teacher.

“We’d love to know more,” said Sue, who is also eager to find a name for this fine specimen of a horse.

“Perhaps someone knows his name if he’s already got one, or maybe they can send in some suggestions.”

If you have any information on the rocking horse, contact Richard Garfield on 01256 337430 or e-mail richard.garfield@ basingstokegazette.co.uk.