Adopt an Object – anyone for cricket?

It’s always a problem finding a Christmas present for those people who seem to have all they need. However, we have an interesting suggestion – what about adopting one of Horsham Museum & Art Gallery’s artefacts?

The money raised through this scheme helps fund important projects at the museum, such as the conservation of our collection and the purchase of important objects. You can set the adoption up to give as a present for someone else.

All the details can be found on our Adopt an Object web page.

In the run-up to Christmas we will be looking at the 12 objects that are available for adoption in detail, and this week we look at an unusual shop sign.

This strange object of two cricket bats, three stumps, two bails and one cricket ball, all held together with a metal support and mounted top and bottom onto a wooden plinth was used by Attwater Brothers in Market Square, Horsham.

The firm was rather unusual in that it offered a wide variety of services, from the early 1900s until the 1950s, that seemed unusual bedfellows.

They advertised as gas and hot water fitters, supplying electric lighting and electric bells, house decorators and plumbers. Add to this they were cricket, lawn tennis and athletic outfitters!

The name Attwater appears in many cricket reports of the time, giving a clue as to why the sign was used and the interest in supplying sportswear.

They also advertised as ‘Preservers of birds’ [taxidermy] which answers the question of why in 1905 the local paper reported that ‘Messrs Attwater Bros have on view a freak of nature in the shape of a chick pheasant with four legs. The bird which was sent to Horsham to be preserved, has no tail, but possesses instead an additional pair of fully developed legs and talons.’

Attwater Bros continued until 1951 when it was pulled down and the site used as additional new offices for the West Sussex County Times.

While builders were working on the site they discovered an old well between the two premises with about 20 feet of water. The also found some coins, the oldest being a George III penny with the date 1770, and a medallion. The latter was an advert for the ‘First request performance in Europe: singing, dancing, tumbling, slack-wire and Co’ at the Lyceum Strand.