Collection of dolls, dolls' houses and furniture, shop models, Noah's Arks, trains, games and puzzles.
Approximately 275 dolls as well as other miniature figures. Pedlar dolls including two fortune-telling ones; shops scenes and houses; mechanical, automatic clockwork and autoperipatetikos (walkers), some incorporating musical boxes. Two are by Pierre and Emile Jumeau in their original costume, there are famous characters, eg Mary Queen of Scots, and a teddy bear with a small dog. A selection is on display at St John's Museum.
Provenance
Hilda May Ayliffe; by descent to Peggy A.Nesbitt.