Information on Loughborough

Palitoy exhibition comes to Donington le Heath Manor House

Posted on 14/07/2009

Leicestershire Councty Council Community Services

13 July 2009

Palitoy exhibition comes to Donington le Heath Manor House

An exhibition charting the rise and fall of the famous Leicestershire toy maunfacturer, Palitoy, is now on show at Donington Le Heath Manor House.

Throughout the 60s and 70s Palitoy’s main factory was in Owen Street in Coalville and most people from the area know someone who worked at the factory which employed 1,000 workers at its height of production.

The exhibition displays many of the famous Palitoy products including the hugely successful Action Man and Pippa, but also some items less commonly associated with the company, such as model trains. The items on display are from the Leicesterhire Museums collection of home and family life.

Keeper of Home and Family Life for the council’s Museum Service, Fiona Ure, said: “This was a great exhibition to create, as not only is it a famous brand with some excellent products, but a local one too.

“We made contact with many local people who were involved in the company and were able to tell some of their stories in the exhbition. The company touched many local lives that even if you didn’t work there yourself, you knew someone who did and all the local children played with Palitoy toys!”

The exhibition runs at Leicestershire County Council’s Donington le Heath Manor House until Tuesday, September 29th.

The manor house is open from 11am – 4pm every day.

-ENDS-

For further information on Donington le Heath Manor House, contact Richard Knox on 0116 3058327, richard.knox@leics.gov.uk

Or visit www.leics.gov.uk/museums/donington