A much-loved Victorian school that takes pupils back in time could be forced to close unless the charity responsible for its upkeep can raise enough money to buy it.

Sevington Victorian School in Grittleton now receives visits from more than 100 schools each year, as students dress up appropriately and time-travel back to the late 1800s to see what life was like for children during the reign of Queen Victoria.

But the Neeld family, who own the property, are now looking to sell the building, and the charity needs to raise a further £55,000 to save it after fulfilling a 21-year lease on the property.

Trustee and teacher Sue Sunderland said the school offers a unique experience.

“We have leased the property for many years now, but unfortunately it looks like that will no longer be possible,” she said.

“This school offers a unique experience for children.

“It’s an original Victorian school that was shut, and when it was reopened in the 1980s, it still had all the original teaching artefacts inside. It would be a terrible shame to lose it.”

The school is an authentic village schoolroom, which opened in 1848 and closed in 1913.

It is still almost unchanged, with some of the original desks, slates, coal fires and oil lamps.

During a visit, children can practise 19th-century domestic skills and prepare for the world of work in a recreated school-house, tour a restored Victorian garden with an earth closet and washhouse, and receive lessons from ‘Miss Elisabeth Squire’, the Sevington schoolmistress, and her sister ‘Miss Hannah Squire’.

Mrs Sunderland said: “We are still in negotiations with our solicitors, but the hope is still that we will be able to raise the money to buy the building.

“We also plan to apply for a donation from the Heritage Lottery, and we will be trying to raise funds from sponsors and trusts too.”

The school employs some teachers, but most of the staff who help are volunteers.

The charity runs the school self-sufficiently, using the money given by schools visiting for the day to cover costs.

Leaflets asking for help raising the cash have already been sent to the schools who visit – if you can help, visit www.sevingtonvictorian school.co uk