Dolls Hospital

As the weather was a bit better today we decided to go to Beamish Museum and renew our annual passes.  I was so pleased that we did as I had forgotten that a few new things have opened - a toy shop, an electrical shop and the cinema in the 1950's village,

I was in seventh heaven in the toy shop.  So many toys from my era including a typewriter and a little sewing machine - I had both of them.

However, tucked away in a corner was the Dolls Hospital.  In the 1950's dolls started to be made from plastic but my sister and I must have inherited some from cousins etc. and they were made of porcelain or china (I think) and they used to break.  Also, their arms, legs etc were attached with rubber bands (again I think) and these used to snap and limbs would fall off.  My mam used to take our dolls to a Dolls Hospital in Goforth to get them fixed.  

When I met Mr YB he lived in Gosforth and the when I introduced my mam to him the first thing that she said to him was 'Val told me that you live in Gosforth.  Is the Dolls Hospital still there?'  He had absolutely no idea and why would he!  I think it was long gone by then as dolls were all made them all made by plastic.

We also visited the electrical shop today and saw tiny televisions, huge tape recorders and radios, hoovers, hairdryers (not too different from the ones that are still around today), washers etc.

We then called in at the beautiful new cinema - The Grand.  The cinema was originally in Ryhope, Sunderland.  It closed in the 1960's (it was originally built in 1913) and became a bingo hall.  It was donated to the museum and in 2020 it was dismantled and all usable parts brought to Beamish and incorporated in the rebuilding of the cinema.  

It certainly was a Grand day out!

I have attached a few extra photos.  The lady in the photo is dressed as a porter/assistant at the station.