Museum of Childhood

The Museum of Childhood exhibition will showcase what life was like for Bathgate children in years gone by, with many vintage household items, toys and books on show.The exhibition, for parents, grandparents and children alike, will be a hands-on experience with everyone encouraged to try out the old toys and games such as peevers, yo-yos, marbles, conkers and even a gird and cleek.

Located in the stables section of the Mansefield Street museum, the exhibition was the idea of trustee June Campbell.She said: “At Christmas every year we have old toys in display in the main museum and it occurred to me that it could have an exhibit on their own.“We had a lot of stuff in storage and we decided they deserved to feature on their own as it would be a popular subject.“We wanted it to be child-friendly so youngsters can come in and have hands-on experience with the toys and enjoy them as we did in the past.“It’s taken us a wee while to get it all organised and some of the trustees and custodians of the museum have donated toys they used to play with that they found in the loft.“I’m a retired art teacher and have enjoyed laying and organising the exhibition“Some of the toys date back to the 1930s and there are one or two books from the early 1900s.“The exhibition is just as much for the adults who will be able to reminiscence about their childhoods as well.”

The exhibition is open Monday to Saturday between 11am and 4pm.