Toys of yesteryear come out to play as museum exhibits

PLAY things that have kept children amused over the past two centuries make up the latest exhibition at Beaminster Museum.

Most of the items were supplied by the town's residents.

Entitled When We Were Very Young: Revisiting Childhood, the display has more than 500 items.

Curator Jenny Cuthbert said: "We have some very early toys, nearly 200 years old, and what's outstanding is the lovely condition they are in.

"We have early Meccano and a Hornby O gauge train.

"There are some homemade toys from the time when people did not have money to buy them. The oldest thing we have got is a toy sword from 1820.

"From the time of the Second World War we have a children's ration book and playing cards.

"Now we want to attract people to see the displays. The small entry price helps with the financial stability. We are almost entirely self financing.

"We try to choose subjects that will have a wide appeal and to attract new people."

Pam Lemmey, vice-chairman of the museum, who negotiated the loan of a Punch and Judy display from Dorset County Museum, said: "My favourite thing is the clockwork boy pulling a cart, which is from the 1900s."

Salway Ash Primary School pupil Adam Buckley, five, got a sneak preview of the display before it opened on Saturday and said: "My favourite is the steam train, the van and two train carriages. I like them because men made them instead of machines. I like looking at the old toys."

Gordon Simmons, one of the museum volunteers, said: "As a child I had a ration book we used to get sweets and chocolates – they were rationed until 1950."

A forerunner of Lego, Lotts Tudor bricks which date back to the First World War, are included in the exhibition.

It also contains a 19th century doll's head dug up from a garden in Beaminster. There are a range of activities for children of all ages, with a chance to play with vintage toys and take part in French knitting, cup and ball, origami and pin the tail on the donkey.

Along with the toys are accounts of childhood memories from people in the town. Pat Hewitt, who arranges all the displays, said: "My favourite exhibit is a christening gown from 1914. The workmanship on it is amazing.

"I also love the little brown bear from the 1950s. You don't see a bear like that any more."

The exhibition is open until September 5 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Bank Holiday Monday from 10.30am to 12.30pm and 2.30pm to 4.30pm and on Sundays from 2.30pm to 4.30pm. Entry is £1 and accompanied children under 14 are free.