Highland Museum of Childhood
Encyclopedia
Highland Museum of Childhood is a museum in the restored railway station in Strathpeffer
, Scotland
.
in 1885 to bring visitors to the Spa village of Strathpeffer. In the village’s heyday as a Spa resort there was a weekly express from London, however changes brought about by two world wars and the rising popularity of the motor car contributed to the closure of the station in 1946.
The Museum was based initially on the doll and toy collection of former Strathpeffer resident, Mrs Angela Kellie. It is now a museum of local, regional and national significance, telling the story of Childhood in the Highlands through photographic collections, interpretive displays, original illustrative material and artefacts. The collections include not only dolls, toys and games, but also children’s costume and childhood furniture. Since 2009 the museum has begun to collect local and family history. Displays are upgraded and changed annually and research is regularly undertaken.
The Museum is home to the comprehensive Angela Kellie Doll Collection. The collection comprises a wide range of dolls from the early 1880s; almost every type is represented, for example, wooden, composition, parian, bisque, wax, cloth, fashion, folk, automata, character and baby dolls. Several important doll manufacturers are represented with 14 items of international significance noted in Scotland’s National Audit including: ”Tissie” a wax over papier-mâché doll from 1830 with links to the Highland Clearances; “Fifi” a Parisienne Fashion doll from 1868; “Jane” a Parisienne from 1865, and many more.
Other collections include a wide range of 19th and 20th century board games and puzzles, toys such as construction toys and role-play toys, children's books, children's costume and smaller items of childhood furniture. The museum also has a comprehensive collection covering education in the Highlands - primary and secondary school work and textbooks, teacher training college work and papers and school and teaching resources. Display space is limited and each year displays are refreshed to show a variety of objects. Part of the museum's learning and access programme is to encourage study access wherever possible.
Each year the museum stages an annual exhibition which runs throughout the season. For 2011-2012 this exhibition explores the childhood hobby of collecting: "The Things Children Collect". Displays for this exhibition include scrapbooks and autograph books from the early 20th century, stamps, matchbox labels ("phillumeny"), postcard albums, cigarette cards, tea cards and many other childhood collections such as badges, buttons and much more.
In June 2010 the museum completed the construction of "The Goods Shed" a new building to provide more education space for its Learning & Access programme, an office/reference room and a purpose-built Collections Store. This extension was funded by The Heritage Lottery Fund; The Robertson Trust; Highlands & Islands Enterprise; The EU through the Highland Leader Programme; Community Energy Scotland; Museums Galleries Scotland; The Highland Council; several other Trusts, and the museum's own resources.
Strathpeffer
Strathpeffer is a village and former spa town in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland, with a population of 1,469.-Geography:It lies in a glen 5 miles west of Dingwall, with varying elevation from 200 to 400 feet above sea level...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
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History and background
The Highland Museum of Childhood is located in Strathpeffer’s restored Victorian railway station, built by the Highland RailwayHighland Railway
The Highland Railway was one of the smaller British railways before the Railways Act 1921; it operated north of Perth railway station in Scotland and served the farthest north of Britain...
in 1885 to bring visitors to the Spa village of Strathpeffer. In the village’s heyday as a Spa resort there was a weekly express from London, however changes brought about by two world wars and the rising popularity of the motor car contributed to the closure of the station in 1946.
The Museum was based initially on the doll and toy collection of former Strathpeffer resident, Mrs Angela Kellie. It is now a museum of local, regional and national significance, telling the story of Childhood in the Highlands through photographic collections, interpretive displays, original illustrative material and artefacts. The collections include not only dolls, toys and games, but also children’s costume and childhood furniture. Since 2009 the museum has begun to collect local and family history. Displays are upgraded and changed annually and research is regularly undertaken.
Collections and Displays
The Museum tells the story of childhood in the Highlands of Scotland, recording customs and traditions amongst crofters and townsfolk. Themes include Birth and Baptism, Homelife, Health and Nutrition, Leisure, Child Labour and Education. There is an award-winning oral-history film, “A Century of Highland Childhood”; there are also hands-on activities.The Museum is home to the comprehensive Angela Kellie Doll Collection. The collection comprises a wide range of dolls from the early 1880s; almost every type is represented, for example, wooden, composition, parian, bisque, wax, cloth, fashion, folk, automata, character and baby dolls. Several important doll manufacturers are represented with 14 items of international significance noted in Scotland’s National Audit including: ”Tissie” a wax over papier-mâché doll from 1830 with links to the Highland Clearances; “Fifi” a Parisienne Fashion doll from 1868; “Jane” a Parisienne from 1865, and many more.
Other collections include a wide range of 19th and 20th century board games and puzzles, toys such as construction toys and role-play toys, children's books, children's costume and smaller items of childhood furniture. The museum also has a comprehensive collection covering education in the Highlands - primary and secondary school work and textbooks, teacher training college work and papers and school and teaching resources. Display space is limited and each year displays are refreshed to show a variety of objects. Part of the museum's learning and access programme is to encourage study access wherever possible.
Each year the museum stages an annual exhibition which runs throughout the season. For 2011-2012 this exhibition explores the childhood hobby of collecting: "The Things Children Collect". Displays for this exhibition include scrapbooks and autograph books from the early 20th century, stamps, matchbox labels ("phillumeny"), postcard albums, cigarette cards, tea cards and many other childhood collections such as badges, buttons and much more.
Staffing and governance
The museum is independent and fully registered with the MLA (Museums Libraries & Archives Council); it operates as a company limited by guarantee with charitable status. The museum’s Trustees and Directors are drawn from the local community as are the Volunteer staff and Friends of the Museum. Paid staff consists of the curator/manager in post since 1997. To help develop the museum's Learning & Access programme during 2010-2011 a freelance part-time officer has been recruited. Young people work weekends in the season.Learning and Outreach Programme
The museum has a focused Learning Programme serving schools and other learning groups in the Highland area. The museum and its site have a strong local community focus. Its coffee shop, shop and craft outlets at the site are popular with local people, and it plays a key part in locally-run events in Strathpeffer such as Victorian Week and appropriately themed regional and national initiatives.In June 2010 the museum completed the construction of "The Goods Shed" a new building to provide more education space for its Learning & Access programme, an office/reference room and a purpose-built Collections Store. This extension was funded by The Heritage Lottery Fund; The Robertson Trust; Highlands & Islands Enterprise; The EU through the Highland Leader Programme; Community Energy Scotland; Museums Galleries Scotland; The Highland Council; several other Trusts, and the museum's own resources.