Our History

Benjamin Pollock outside in his shop circa 1920.

Pollock's Toy Museum is the oldest toy museum in the UK. The collection is housed in two atmospheric 18th and 19th century buildings in Fitzrovia, London. The collection was begun in 1956 by Marguerite & Kenneth Fawdry and is run by the Fawdry family to this day. 

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The collection is an eclectic mix of curios, each room filled with unique cases displaying toys from the past. Tin toys, teddy bears, dolls houses, puppets, optical toys and games from around the world adorn the winding staircases and creaking rooms. At the heart of the Museum is its extensive and unrivalled collection of Toy Theater's with a comprehensive archive of plays and plates.

Benjamin Pollock demostrating a Toy theatre  in his shop circa 1920.

The Museum is named after Benjamin Pollock, the last of the Toy Theatre makers! Mr Pollock had a shop and printers, dating back to the 1850s, based in Hoxton in the east end of London. Mr Pollock hand printed, constructed and coloured much of the Toy Theatre material housed in the museum today. 

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The Museum is now run by the descendants of Marguerite & Kenneth with the support of the 'Pollocks educational Trust'.

For a lecture on the history of Pollock's and the Toy theatre click here 

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Please do come and visit the museum to learn more about our rich history.

A sneak peek of some of the Toy Theatres