Thirlestane Castle set to open new toy museum

Thirlestane Castle in Lauder, Scottish Borders, has created a new toy museum which is due to open in March.

The planned opening ceremony of the castle’s new School Room Toy Museum — including its collection of Georgian, Edwardian and Victorian toys in specially designed displays — had to be cancelled, but a behind-closed-doors ribbon-cutting ceremony has taken place and the exhibits are ready for viewing once the country gets the all-clear.

A spokesperson for Thirlestane Castle Trust said: “We are disappointed our planned opening ceremony to thank the hard-working volunteers and our superb funders was not able to go ahead in the current situation, but we could not let their work go unrecognised.

“Instead, we have held a simple ribbon-cutting ceremony behind closed doors to mark some positive news at a time of great uncertainty, particularly for the leisure industry.

Thirlestane Castle in Lauder has created a new toy museum which was due to open in March.

“We plan to hold a celebration event later in the year.”

The collection includes some items that belong to the Maitland family but a substantial part is on loan from the Pollock Toy Museum.

Catherine Fawdry from the museum said: “I was one of the team who set up the much-loved nursery rooms at Thirlestane Castle in the 1980s.

“They have now been given a new lease of life in a more intimate setting.

Volunteers who have been helping with the collection at the new toy museum at Thirlestane Castle.

“Although very different from the nursery rooms, the impact of the collection is not diminished and I am sure it will continue to be an interesting and valued part of any visit to Thirlestane.”

A vast amount of work has been undertaken to prepare several thousand unique items for display thanks to heritage volunteers from the Arts Society who have been carrying out this task.

Ray Cartwright from The Arts Society said: “It has taken 14 volunteers over a year to identify, catalogue, photograph and record the contents of the toy museum.

“This has been one of the most enjoyable projects that the group has been involved in and bought back memories of the volunteers’ childhood.”

Gerald and Edward Maitland-Carew with some of the toy soldiers on display.

Funding for the display has come from the Pilgrim Trust, Museums Galleries Scotland, Fallago Environment Fund and the Cadogan Trust.

Georgina Nayler, director of the Pilgrim Trust, said: “The Trustees of the Pilgrim Trust are delighted to have been able to support the School Room Toy Museum at Thirlestane Castle. The Museum’s new home will safeguard the collection for the future and make it more accessible and available for visitors to enjoy. The trustees wish it, and the castle, every success.”

Fallago Environment Fund chairman, Gareth Baird added: “We’re delighted that the Fallago Environment Fund has been able to help enrich the visitor experience at one of Scotland’s most important historic houses by providing a grant towards the refurbishment of the family-friendly School Room Toy Museum. It offers a fascinating insight into Thirlestane Castle’s history and we hope it will help to attract even more visitors and Borderers alike to the castle and surrounding area.”

The Thirlestane Castle Trust spokesperson said: “With ongoing measures to tackle the spread of COVID-19, it is currently extremely unprecedented and concerning times for museums like Thirlestane Castle.

“The trust is looking forward to sharing this new museum space with the general public once it is appropriate to do so but at the moment it is difficult to predict when that will be.

“The castle is planning to open over the summer period as soon as possible and is keeping up to date with all government guidelines. As a charitable trust, and like many other similar businesses, the castle relies on income from visitors to stay operational.”

Edward Maitland-Carew, family trustee, said: "This is an extremely challenging time for everyone who works in the tourism and leisure industries, but the health and wellbeing of the wider community is of the upmost importance at this time.

“It is such a pleasure to see these toys on display in this amazing new space and we hope it is not too long before visitors can enjoy it.

“We are so grateful to everyone who has been involved in this project which in time will enable more people to enjoy this collection as much as my family has over the years.”