This bicycle might look old-fashioned, but back in the day it was cutting-edge—and definitely not what we'd call "ordinary" now.
Nicknamed the Penny Farthing, this type of bicycle was actually called an Ordinary when it was invented in the 1800s. The nickname comes from two old British coins: the penny (which was big) and the farthing (which was small). This bike has a big front wheel and a tiny back one—so when you look at it from the side, it really does look like a penny and a farthing side by side!
Built to Impress
This particular Penny Farthing is a rare one. It’s an Arab No.1 Roadster, made by The Arab Cycle Company in Coventry—one of the key centres for bicycle production in Victorian Britain. We think it was made in the 1880s. It has a front wheel that’s 52 inches across and packed with 52 metal spokes. The smaller back wheel is 18 inches. It’s got a leather seat, a bell on the handlebars, solid rubber tyres, and a lightweight tubular frame that made it much faster (and easier to carry!) than earlier models.
But it wasn’t all smooth riding. With the pedals connected directly to the front wheel, riders had to balance carefully. A wrong move could send them flying over the handlebars—a crash so common it earned its own nickname: “taking a header.”
First in Line
This Penny Farthing is extra special to us because it was the first object ever recorded in the Petersfield Museum collection. It came from the founding collection of the Petersfield Area Historical Society, which started in 1973, gathering items to tell the story of the area.
It was originally owned by the Holder family, who lived locally. A man named Henry Holder was often seen cycling it around Petersfield—and we even have a photo of him proudly posing beside it!
Letters from the Past
In 1875, local man John Bonham Carter wrote a letter from his home at Adhurst St Mary, describing how tricky it was to ride a Penny Farthing:
“I began on a slight slope on the lawn, and after endless tumbles, managed to get on without any help... I thought I would now negotiate the drive. All went well until we got to a slight hill... I pressed unevenly on either side and with a tremendous burst, I came an awful cropper—machine and all into a hollow on the side of the road.”
Sounds painful—but determined!
Cycling Takes Off
By the late 1800s, cycling had become a popular sport. The Petersfield Bicycling Club was formed in 1880 with 24 members. They wore navy blue uniforms, had a Maltese Cross badge, and met at the Dolphin Hotel. A year later, they renamed themselves the Petersfield Cycling Club and moved HQ to the Railway Hotel.
Cycling was a big part of local life—but it wasn’t always easy for everyone to take part.
Meet Edith Mary Richardson
In a time when most cyclists were men, Edith Mary Richardson stood out. She was the first woman in Petersfield to ride with the all-male cycling club. Her husband, William Alfred Gammon, was a founding member and gave her a new “Globe” bicycle as a wedding gift in 1893.
Cycling wasn’t just about speed and fun—it raised big questions about gender and freedom. Women’s clothes at the time (corsets, long skirts, high heels) made it hard—and sometimes dangerous—to ride. Campaigns like the Society for Rational Dress fought for safer, more practical clothing for women. The bicycle became a symbol of freedom and change.
From its daring design to its role in local life and social change, this Penny Farthing tells a bigger story than you might expect. It’s a fantastic example of how one object can open a window into the past—speeding us straight into the lives of the people who used it.