Britain’s oldest toy museum is facing a fight for its future after a history dating back to 1877, because it is losing its home.
Pollock's Toy Museum has a unique collection of vintage toys and games, from 100-year-old teddy bears and a set of Russian dolls bearing the faces of Soviet leaders to more modern items such as a Buzz Lightyear display. The treasure trove of childhood delights has been housed in its current premises, a Georgian townhouse in Fitzrovia, London, since 1969.
But the Mirror reports the venue has been forced to close its doors and the toys have been put in storage while the owners hunt for a new home. “Due to a change in circumstances surrounding the ownership of the buildings, we have been unable to negotiate a sustainable future for the collection in its current location,” says 32-year-old Jack Fawdry, who runs the family business with his girlfriend, fellow artist Emily Baker, 28.
