Museum of Childhood (Edinburgh)

The Museum of Childhood is a museum which houses a collection of children's toys and playthings, situated on the Royal Mile, in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was the first museum in the world to specialise in the history of childhood.[1]

Museum of Childhood
Established1955 (1955)
LocationRoyal Mile, Edinburgh, Scotland
TypeToy
Collection size60,000
Visitors225,000 (2017)
FounderPatrick Murray
OwnerCity of Edinburgh Council
WebsiteOfficial website

History

The collection, which ranges from the 18th to the 21st century, was originally the work of Patrick Murray (1908-1981), an Edinburgh Councillor and passionate collector of toys and childhood memorabilia.[2] It first opened to the public in 1955 and moved to its present home on Edinburgh's royal mile in 1957 housed in what was formerly the Salvation Army's hall.[3][4]

In 1986 the museum expanded into neighbouring properties to expand the floor and display space.[4] Highlight items in the collection include a teddy bear brought to the UK by a child on the Kindertransport, a dollhouse with working lighting and plumbing systems and a Queen Anne doll from 1740.[5]

Today

In 2017 the museum underwent a major refurbishment including the installation of new display cabinets and lighting for exhibits. The refurbishment also saw the installation of a new digital photo gallery which offers a look at the changing way children grew up across the twentieth century.[4][1] In 2017 it was estimated that the museum had around 225,000 visitors per year and it had around 60,000 objects in its collection.[4]

The museum has a number of interactive spaces to encourage play amongst younger visitors.[5] Admission to the museum is free and it is run and owned by City of Edinburgh Council.[5]

The collection includes one of the Scottish Government's baby boxes as of 2018. This is a maternity package offered to all new parents in Scotland.[6]

  • Victorian butcher's shop, 1880s
  • Funfair Galloper Horse, c.1902
  • A pre-1914 battleship toy modelled on H.M.S. Dreadnought
  • 'Meccano' construction set
  • Child's metal spinning top from the 1950s

See also

References
  1. "Childhood Museum sets reopening date". BBC News. 8 February 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  2. "Childhood Collections". www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  3. Gazetteer for Scotland
  4. "Childhood Museum closes for revamp". BBC News. 2 November 2017. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  5. "Museum of Childhood". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  6. "Scotland's baby box immortalised in Edinburgh's Museum of Childhood". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 9 March 2020.

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