At Preston Park Museum & Grounds, we’re on an exciting journey of discovery, thanks to our collections team and dedicated volunteers. As part of the Decluttering Preston Park Museum National Lottery Heritage Fund project, we have been going through the museum’s store and have so far documented over 3,500 objects. From old televisions to vintage pianos, bicycles to dolls, we’ve come across some fascinating items.
This is all part of a process called Collection Rationalisation, where we decide which objects the museum should keep and which ones might be rehomed – with the help of community representatives.
One of the most delightful discoveries so far has been a wooden wheeled horse. When we found it, there was no record of it in the museum’s database -quite a mystery! Typically, museums keep track of every object, assigning it a unique number and recording important details like its description, condition, and location. This helps us keep everything organised and ensures nothing gets lost.
After some research, we’ve learned that this toy horse could date back to before World War I, or even the Victorian era. It may have been made by a well-known British toy maker, G&J Lines, but its simple design also suggests it might have been a homemade creation. Either way, it’s a wonderful piece of toy history that we’re excited to share and put on public display!
When we found the horse, it needed quite a bit of care. The leather seat had cracked, the wheels were rusty, the paint was worn and one of its eyes were missing! With love and attention, we carefully cleaned it using soft cloths, cotton buds, and special waxes to restore its condition.
Thanks to the Decluttering Preston Park Museum project, this hidden gem has been saved and is now ready to go on display for visitors to enjoy in the future. We can’t wait for you to see it and experience a little piece of history up close!
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to explore and preserve the wonderful objects in our museum’s collection.
You can find out more about the Decluttering Preston Park Museum Project here
