Egerton Park Rocking Horses

posted by Angela Earthy on 01 Oct 2006 at 6:23 pm

When I was a child we used to spend our summer holidays staying with my grandmother, who lived in Bexhill, and one of the things I most remember was playing on the wooden rocking horses in Egerton Park. At that time (in the 60's) they were painted brown and white, (there was one bigger one painted black and white, which all the kids would fight to ride on) and had real horsehair tails and leather saddles and bridles with brass studs. Years later, when visiting Bexhill with my daughter, I was thrilled to see that they were still there, although they'd been repainted white. Funnily enough I was thinking of them today for some reason, and came across a posting on a web site which said they had been STOLEN! Is it true? I do hope they will be found and returned, as they are one of my happiest memories of Bexhill.

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Egerton Park Rocking Horses

posted by Anna - Bizzy Fingerz on 14 Oct 2006 at 3:25 pm

Reply for Angela - sadly, the rocking horses were stolen in the early 1990's [I think] and were never found. At the time, many of us thought they might have been stolen to order - but it was very sad for the children because many of them, like my own who were quite small at the time, had their favourites. And they were always the first things they played on when they entered the playgorund. We lived opposite the park in those days so my children were in there almost every day and were very upset when they didn't come back "after their holiday" - well, there was always the possiblity they had gone for a wash and brush up! The playground was never quite the same after that. Unfortunately, the thieves got away with it - and I'm sure they were delighted with what they managed to do. But what sad lives people have when they feel it's OK to steal from children. Shame some people are so selfish.

One Rocking Horse Left

posted by Christine Govier on 20 Oct 2006 at 12:02 pm

One of the horses was being re-furbished at the time the others were stolen, and is now kept in the Museum in Egerton Park.

Rocking Horse

posted by Becky on 21 Feb 2008 at 3:21 pm

My grandad Bill (clutter) Davis orginally owned one of the Painted Rocking horses before he gave it to Bexhill Park.
My Auntie believes that a local man named George Harris used to paint the horses.
I don't suppose anyone has a photo of them?
I'm trying to find out more about my family history.

Question For Becky

posted by chris summers on 26 Feb 2008 at 4:14 am

Is Bill Davies the man that had the "shop" in
London road? If so I went to school with Garry? I may be wrong but I think George was a road painter?

Rocking Horses

posted by hill on 09 Mar 2012 at 12:21 pm

researching the theft of rocking horses from egerton park in the 1990's. any information welcome. Thanks

Rocking Horses

posted by Stella on 04 Apr 2012 at 2:15 pm

May I suggest that anybody interested in the Rocking Horses visit the Museum in Egerton Road where one is on display in the 'Cafe' area and perhaps speak to Julian Porter, the Curator, who will be able to enlighten on the history.

Whilst in the museum please do walk around the galleries and enjoy.

Egerton Park Rocking Horses

posted by Jennifer Gammon on 18 Nov 2012 at 11:53 am

I have a photo of myself on one of these rocking horses in about 1955. I am now looking forward to going back to Bexhill to see the surviving rocking horse in the museum there.

Rocking Horses Mentioned On Radio

posted by Jennifer Gammon on 18 Nov 2012 at 2:05 pm

On yesterday's 'Saturday Live' (17th November 2012) a caller phoned in to say she always wondered what happened to these lovely
rocking horses.

Horses

posted by dave on 25 Nov 2012 at 3:15 pm

I have great memories of the horses in the park, and the slide i remember climbing up the slide wow it seemed so high back then you could see most of the park from there,

Rocking Horse Memories..

posted by Sus on 04 Oct 2013 at 11:54 am

I spent so many hours on the rocking horses in the 50's. Either that, or I was sailing my boat on the lake. or paddling in the sea...so so sad to think they were stolen.
I lived along the Marina,in the flats next door to the Dunselma Hotel. What a wonderful childhood I had...

Rocking Horse Pictures

posted by Charlie on 19 Dec 2013 at 9:56 pm

I am fascinated with these rocking horses and their special memories they gave people. I only heard about these horses on radio 4 programme and had to look them up. I would love some pictures if anyone could email me some. Thanks. I'm from Bristol and really would love to hear their stories concerning the rocking horses. Thanks again to all who wish to help with my quest!

Rocking Horses

posted by Valerie Setrem on 14 Jan 2014 at 6:39 pm

My father George Davis worked as a carpenter for the Corporation. He would repair, refurbish and paint the horses usually just before the children's playground opened for the summer. He also repaired the boats on the boating lake. My favourite horse as a child was the minature one.

Rocking Horse Photos

posted by Charlie on 03 Feb 2014 at 8:27 pm

Hi Valerie, have you any photos I could copy or you could email over to me. I really would love to see them
Charlie

Rocking Horses

posted by brenda on 01 Apr 2014 at 9:08 pm

I remember just about every summers day playing in the playground in Edgerton park in the 50's. I loved those horses . I'd walk there every day on my own. I also loved the paddle boats and the boating lake, then of course the swimming pool. We couldn't wait for it to open and swam in water that was 52f !!!! ah memories.