The Dolls’ Hospital was founded in 1984 on Edinburgh's Dundas Street, and is where Scots from across the city would take their damaged toys and dolls for some love and care. The one-of-a-kind hospital was home to all kinds of teddies, dollies, and more who needed a touch-up. The adorable and bizarre facility would welcome both children and adults. Anyone who had a favourite toy that was unable to be mended at home could venture to Dundas Street for some help. The unusual hospital could reportedly house between 50 and 60 'patients' at a single time.
The hospital was previously managed by Geraldine Elliot, who according to Edinburgh Live, would remain proud of its legacy. Various Edinburgh locals who remember bringing their dolly or teddy to the Dolls' Hospital previously spoke to the newspaper. One of these is Lorna Dickson, who visited the hospital in the 1980s. Dickson stated: "My big sister had a teddy from her nana when she was born, and in the mid eighties I took him to the hospital to be fixed as he was tired looking with only one eye. They did a fantastic job, also phoned me when ready to be picked up, and they told me the patient is ready to go home now."
Another former visitor, Hazel Campbell, shared: "I remember going in the train from Fife to Edinburgh to take dolly Marilyn to have her hair reattached and something else I don’t remember. It was an exciting trip going in the steam train then over the Forth Bridge."
A unique service and eventual closure
The Dolls' Hospital was best known for its repair and restoration services, but it would also produce stuffed bears and other toys. Many of these were sold to loving children and families, one of whom was Deigh Mitchell, who described the hospital as "a great place".
Sadly, the unique hospital would move from its iconic Dundas Street setting to Edinburgh's Canongate and would later close its doors altogether amidst soaring rent costs in the city. However, that is not quite the end of the story. There is another toy hospital in the area that still exists to this day.
The Leith Toy Hospital carries on the tradition
The Leith Toy Hospital is a toy repair shop that first opened its doors in 2017 on Constitution Street in Edinburgh's bustling Leith district. It would later relocate to Musselburgh, where it continues to restore dolls and soft toys that have suffered all kinds of damage.
The Leith Toy Hospital has even become something of an unlikely tourist attraction, offering Toy Hospital Experiences to visitors looking to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse. As part of the experiences, you can tour the hospital's teddy restoration and doll repair workshops and learn all about how old-fashioned teddy bears and dolls are made. More information can be found on the Leith Toy Hospital website.
