A special train took them through the New Forest, giving them 9 hours at the seaside.
This is a printed poster advertising the 19th annual Basingstoke British Schools’ summer excursion, which took place on 18th June 1885, to Bournemouth.
The children and Friends of the Schools met on Station Hill in Basingstoke at 7.30am and proceeded to the railway station. A special train took them through the New Forest, giving them 9 hours at the seaside. On their return, the Mechanics’ Institute Band met them at the station and played them into town.
Basingstoke British Schools organised regular summer excursions to places such as Hampton Court, Netley Abbey, and various locations on the Isle of Wight, as well as Bournemouth.
The British Schools system in Basingstoke was based at Sarum Hill. The first school was established just below the present Methodist Church in 1841. It was very unusual in being co-educational. By 1875 this had become overcrowded, and a new infants’ school was opened.
Tickets for children from the school cost 2s 6d, and adults 5s 6d.
Online catalogue entry for item
More information about Sarum Hill, Basingstoke
Find out more about The British and Foreign School Society
Discover more about the Archive Collection of the British and Foreign School Society (BFSS), Brunel University, London.
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