By RUTH LOGNONNE ruth.lognonne@hexham-courant.co.uk

Last updated at 12:41, Friday, 12 March 2010

A TINY doll’s head, found nearly 40 years ago by a young girl on a family treasure hunt, is to take pride of place at Wallington.

The 3cm by 4cm porcelain Victorian doll’s head was discovered by Debbie Hall, from Gateshead, when she and her father stopped to dig at an old rubbish tip while out walking the dog.

The then 10-year-old kept her find in a ring box wrapped in cotton wool.

Now the fragile artefact is set to become one of the star attractions at Wallington, when the National Trust property reopens for the new season.

For Debbie (47) is the North-East winner of a National Trust competition to find the public’s most treasured objects.

The competition, called Treasure Forever, invited people to enter a photograph of their favourite memento, together with the story behind it.

The aim of the nationwide contest, launched in August 2009, was to highlight everyday items which mean something special to their owners, rather than antiques or priceless heirlooms.

And Debbie’s discovery made all those years ago, proved a winner with both the public and National Trust judges, who voted it their favourite North-East treasured object.

The doll’s head will now go on display at Wallington for the next six months.

Debbie is thrilled the doll’s head she has cherished all these years, could find a place in so many other people’s hearts.

She said: “As a 10-year-old I could never have imagined that she would one day be part of a display in a National Trust property. It is very exciting and I hope she will now bring as much joy to other people as she has brought to me over the years.

“As a child, I used to wonder who she belonged to. I thought her so fragile, I kept her in a ring box wrapped in cotton wool. It never mattered to me that she didn’t have any body or limbs – she was perfect as she was.”

Wallington house steward, Steve Dixon, said he was pleased Debbie’s find was going on display at the Palladian mansion, which boasts a fascinating collection of dolls’ houses.

“We feel very privileged to be involved in Treasure Forever and to be playing host to this beautiful doll’s head for the next six months,” he said.

“Wallington is full of treasured objects with fascinating stories behind them.

“The best of these help bring to life the people and the lives of past times. The doll’s head is a wonderful example of this. It is a lovely thing and reminds us of family, life and childhood.”

First published at 09:44, Friday, 12 March 2010
Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk