bears, dolls AND TOYS

Young and old will enjoy seeing some of the 500 or so items from our collection of dolls, teddy bears, toys and games dating from the 19th century onwards. The Toys display for 2025 is an eclectic mix of bears and dolls that have climbed out of the toy box. Mr Punch sits up high on his swing gazing down at the teddy bears in the basket. Mary Ann, Katy and Rowan are playing in the trunk and the smaller dolls are sitting on their chairs waiting to be entertained by the clockwork pig (find the video on this website on the latest news page). Who knows what Seraphine, Lulu, Yum Yum and Muffy get up to once the visitors have gone!

PETER BEAR

Peter is one of the rare so-called 'Blissful' bears, made in the US from 1907 by the short-lived Bruin Manufacturing Company.

Mr Punch

Mr Punch is a colourful hand puppet from the Punch and Judy puppet show. In Britain the show was traditionally often performed in seaside towns as entertainment for the visitors. Originating from the Italian character Pulcinella in the “Commedia dell’arte”.

Ursula

Ursula, a mechanical walking doll probably made by the French doll maker Jules Steiner (1832-1902) which moved with the help of three wheels set into the base of a cone.

Steam train

This green Bowman Steam Locomotive No.410 0-gauge dates from the 1930s. Powered by steam from water heated with methylated spirits. One of the smallest steam loco’s able to pull 4 or 5 trucks steadily for up to 15 minutes.

Fairlynch Bear

The Fairlynch Bear was donated to the Museum in 1968 and is called Muffy. He dates from around 1906, making him over a hundred years old.

Cecil bear

Another Fairlynch bear, Cecil, is seen here wearing his WW1 medal. His owner carried him throughout the 1914-18 war.

Noah’s Ark

This Noah’s Ark with animals from around 1880 is from the Erzgebirge region of Germany. The arks were made in small factories and hand painted. The animals were hand crafted by families as a cottage industry.

clockwork pig

The clockwork pig from 1930 is a rare antique automaton made by Roullet et Decamps in Paris. Covered in pink chamois leather with glass eyes. It walks, nods its head and grunts.

​SEE VIDEO

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