Dunster Doll Museum

The Dunster Doll Museum stands in Dunster, a village in Somerset. It occupies a single room in the village memorial hall. The collection began with dolls once owned by Mollie Hardwick, who left them to the village after her death in 1970. More than 800 dolls now fill glass cases along the walls. They come from many countries and show different costumes and styles. Thirty-two dolls were stolen in 1992 and have never been found. The museum shows how dolls reflect changes in fashion and culture. British dolls wear clothes from the 19th century to the present. Foreign dolls bring costumes from Europe, Asia and the Americas. Each doll has its own small label with details about its origin. The room is quiet, lit by natural light from a window above the cases. Visitors move slowly between the cases, reading each label. Outside the museum, Dunster’s cobbled streets lead to the Yarn Market and Dunster Castle. The village keeps its old character with thatched roofs and stone walls. A short walk brings visitors to the mill beside the River Avill. The museum sits among these historic buildings, offering a quiet pause in a day of exploring.