The Museum of Childhood is a museum that houses a collection of children's toys and playthings, situated on the Royal Mile, in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is the first museum in the world to specialise in the history of childhood.[1] Admission to the museum is free. It is run and owned by City of Edinburgh Council.[2]
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| Established | 1955 |
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| Location | Royal Mile, Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Type | Toy |
Collection size | 60,000 |
| Visitors | 225,000 (2017) |
| Founder | Patrick Murray |
| Owner | City of Edinburgh Council |
| Website | Official website |
History
editThe collection was originally the work of Patrick Murray (1908–1981), an Edinburgh Councillor and passionate collector of toys and childhood memorabilia.[3] The museum first opened to the public in 1955. In 1957, it moved to its present home on Edinburgh's Royal Mile, in what was formerly the Salvation Army's hall.[4][5] In 1986, the museum expanded into neighbouring properties to expand the floor and display space.[5]
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 20th century.[5][1] In 2017, it was estimated that the museum had around 225,000 visitors per year.[5]
Collection
editThe museum's collection includes around 60,000 objects, from the 18th to the 21st century.[3][5] Highlights include a teddy bear brought to the UK by a child on the Kindertransport, a dollhouse with working lighting and plumbing systems, a Queen Anne doll from 1740,[2] and a copy of handmade booklet The Life History of a Slum Child by Lileen Hardy.[6] The collection also includes one of the Scottish Government's baby boxes, a maternity package offered to all new parents in Scotland.[7]
The museum has a number of interactive spaces to encourage play amongst younger visitors.[2]
Gallery
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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
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See also
edit- Trinity Apse and Brass Rubbing Centre, Chalmers Close
- Museum of Childhood, for similarly named museums
References
edit- 1 2 "Childhood Museum sets reopening date". BBC News. 8 February 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
- 1 2 3 "Museum of Childhood". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
- 1 2 "Childhood Collections". www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
- ↑ Gazetteer for Scotland
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Childhood Museum closes for revamp". BBC News. 2 November 2017. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
- ↑ Stevens, Lyn (12 March 2021). "Auld Reekie Retold: Celebrating five pioneering women from Edinburgh's past". Museums and Galleries Edinburgh. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
- ↑ "Scotland's baby box immortalised in Edinburgh's Museum of Childhood". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 9 March 2020.