The Rocking Horse Workshop

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The Rocking Horse Workshop Quality manufacture and restoration of traditional rocking horses.

David and Noreen Kiss created The Rocking Horse Workshop in 1987, in Wem, a small market town in Shropshire, England. From fairly humble beginnings, Noreen and David are now recognised as one of the leading manufacturers of rocking horses in the world.

The Rocking Horse Workshop that was situated in the quaint village of Hodnet is now closed due to our retirement

'Crown Products' Ossett, Yorks.I thought this may be of interest, a maker not covered in my book….. On the 23rd May 1949...
05/12/2024

'Crown Products' Ossett, Yorks.

I thought this may be of interest, a maker not covered in my book…..

On the 23rd May 1949 a small article was published in The Daily Mirror….titled
‘Steve has a way with a Rocking Horse

The article was about a chap called Steve Winder (35) who had set up his own workshop in Healey Road, Ossett to make rocking horses. It was reported that he had been making rocking horses since he was 15 (except for 6 years in the army) and was hoping to make 120 a year!

A number of examples have turned up over the years and have a striking ,although cruder similarity to the later Ayres Sports Goods (Sykes) horses. Ossett is only a very short distance (2 miles) from Horbury (Sykes works) so one may assume that Steve had worked for Sykes, hence this similarity.

A few of the horses have a logo on the front of the base ‘Crown Products. Ossett. Yorks.’
I have attached a couple of examples of the horses for identity purposes….. note the 'squared' off posts!

Disappearing Heritage…..Scott & Walker Ltd. may not be a name that we are particularly familiar with but after WW1 they ...
19/11/2024

Disappearing Heritage…..

Scott & Walker Ltd. may not be a name that we are particularly familiar with but after WW1 they set up in business producing a range of horse based items, Horses & Carts, Double Horse Chariot?, Rocking Horses etc, they appeared to have ceased trading by 1935 as they were struck of the companies register. As far as I’m aware none of their products have been identified.

The firm had premises at 65-68 Princip St and shown below is the ‘Defiance Works’ where they were based….. in 2008 during my research I took the opportunity to see if the building was there and was pleased to report that it had survived, however the property was in a poor condition. A recent look on Google maps (dated June 2024) shows that the building had suffered from a catastrophic fire that had affected the whole building and I would assume that with the whole area being redeveloped it has now been demolished, always sad when another piece of our heritage disappears.

I have recently acquired a couple of 'engravers proofs' that I thought would be of interest, they were done for Savages,...
15/11/2024

I have recently acquired a couple of 'engravers proofs' that I thought would be of interest, they were done for Savages, both c.1860.

February 5th 1918.......
04/04/2024

February 5th 1918.......

F.H.Ayres 'Moveable Head' horse...DEPOSIT NOW TAKEN....We are very pleased to offer for sale a ‘Prince’ amongst rocking ...
04/04/2024

F.H.Ayres 'Moveable Head' horse...

DEPOSIT NOW TAKEN....

We are very pleased to offer for sale a ‘Prince’ amongst rocking horses, this being an F.H Ayres ‘Moveable-Head’ horse that dates from c.1890. A wonderful example of this sought-after item with provenance back to 1933, earlier provenance may be available with some further research to confirm Royal connection!

As with all F H Ayres horses of this period it is very finely carved and looks quite magnificent, the horse has a no. ‘2’ stamped to its forehead, (believed to be an identifier as to the carver), the horse also has an ‘F H AYRES’ stencil to its belly. Dimensions are…. 48” tall and the stand is 60” long. This actual horse also features in the book, ‘A Kiss of Rocking Horses’.

The horse has recently had a full ‘service’ (including the head mechanism) and is in overall very good order. It has of course had restoration over the years but still retains the majority of its original paint-work.

Price…. On application.

The horse is at present located in SE England.

If you would like further more detailed information/pictures about the horse it is important that you contact us at [email protected] where we will endeavour to answer any questions you may have. We do not like using FB messenger and will NOT reply to any detailed questions about price or condition etc..etc…

“Fancy Nails & Studs”……Been having a sort out, found a box of old nails…some of the ‘Fancies’ after trading 40 odd years...
07/03/2024

“Fancy Nails & Studs”……

Been having a sort out, found a box of old nails…some of the ‘Fancies’ after trading 40 odd years……. Do you recognise them all… answers on a postcard….

New maker…..1845 Louis Ahlborn Liverpool.Another old letterhead I acquired some time ago, Louis Ahlborn, September 5th 1...
08/02/2024

New maker…..1845 Louis Ahlborn Liverpool.

Another old letterhead I acquired some time ago, Louis Ahlborn, September 5th 1845. Seems to have been a general Haberdasher but also states ‘Manufacturer of Rocking Horses’.

A brief bit of research shows that a partnership between Louis and Julius was dissolved in 1849. In 1854 it appears that Julius was in prison and in 1855 Louis filed for bankruptcy!

Haven’t had time to dig any deeper but could be quite intriguing…

From the statement, ‘Manufacturer of Rocking Horses, one would assume that it was bow rocking horses they made.

New Information regarding ‘SMEETON’ rocking horse manufacturers.I have recently acquired this fantastic letterhead dated...
06/02/2024

New Information regarding ‘SMEETON’ rocking horse manufacturers.

I have recently acquired this fantastic letterhead dated 24th May 1910 for S. (Samuel) Smeeton, (who I think was the son of George Smeeton. There is a listing in my book for George).

Apart from it being a rather nice decorative letterhead with the four engravings, there is a statement that says…. “SOLE INVENTOR OF THE VELOCIPEDE HORSE”.

Well, what a statement that is, one may have assumed such things were the provenance of Ayres or Lines… I’m not sure if there is any registered Patent that Smeeton took out or if it is something purely stated on their letterheads…..I certainly have not come across anything during my research. The name Smeeton is more commonly associated with Perambulators…. i.e. listing from census forms etc. so perhaps that would be a research avenue to follow… There may well be a connection with the firm ‘Allen’ who were also located in Hackney road.

I think looking at the engravings on the letterhead it would be unwise to base any identification on these as often they were generic images.

More research is obviously required and I’m sure that none of Smeeton’s products have been formally identified…. However, they may well be living ‘unknown’ within someone’s collection….

Smeeton is just one of many named manufacturers that is still to have their products to be identified……

25/01/2024

Tony Jackson.....

I have recently heard the very sad news that Tony Jackson has passed away, I had the great pleasure of meeting Tony quite a few times over the years, he was a most knowledgable and generous gentleman...he was very skilled in all aspects of rocking horse manufacture and restoration and he will be sadly missed within the rocking horse community, my sincere condolences to his family... rest in peace Tony.....

Humphry & Barringer, Birmingham..... manufacturers?? from a very dilapidated but surviving 1906 Catalogue, 45 pages of c...
16/12/2023

Humphry & Barringer, Birmingham..... manufacturers?? from a very dilapidated but surviving 1906 Catalogue, 45 pages of carts, carriages etc... one rocking horse page......... if anyone has any information about this firm, please contact me at [email protected]...... not keen on facebook messenger!

Could almost be Christmas..... USA...
16/12/2023

Could almost be Christmas..... USA...

F.H.Ayres looking well used! Circa 1890...
12/11/2023

F.H.Ayres looking well used! Circa 1890...

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Our Story

David and Noreen Kiss created The Rocking Horse Workshop in 1987, in Wem, a small market town in Shropshire, England. From fairly humble beginnings, Noreen and David are now recognised as one of the leading manufacturers of rocking horses in the world.  The Rocking Horse Workshop is now situated in the quaint village of Hodnet, where a selection of beautiful horses both old and new can be viewed.