ANYONE reaching the top of the first set of stairs in Alton’s Curtis Museum will see a new ‘Hampshire hidden treasure’ – a lovely pearlware bear advertising ‘Atkinson’s Bear Grease’.

In 1799, James Atkinson left the north of England and headed for London where he established a shop selling bear’s grease. This was used as a dressing for hair and was thought to cure male hair loss.

The slogan suggested: “If the grease of the bear gives it this much hair, think what it will do for you.”

This is just one of the curios on display in Collectors’ Corner alongside items donated by the late Les Packett. They were collected by Mr Packett over the years and include archaeological finds from Alton and the surrounding area. Among them are flint tools, pottery and metal objects which give an idea of what kind of things can be found locally if you keep your eyes open.

The newest village to have a display in the ‘village corner’ is Farringdon. There are pictures and information about many of the old buildings, including Massey’s Folly and the school, the Bavage family feature a headmaster Samuel Crump, and the men who helped build the folly and the railway.

The High Street museum is open from 10am to 5pm, Tuesday to Saturday.