YOUNG ALHS
the wendy boston
toy factory
In the 1950s and 60s, if you walked along Queen Street it was very different from how it looks now as the Wendy Boston toy factory was there. If it was a very hot day the doors might be open and you could see the women inside sitting at their sewing machines stitching together pieces of fur fabric or velvet to make teddy bears or lions, lambs, or even penguins.
Perhaps your Auntie or Grandma worked for Wendy Boston at home. Then she might have a big box of teddies delivered and she would stitch the nose and mouth on each one and turn them into real personalities. Or she might brush all their fur in the right direction so none was stuck in the seams and tie on the blue ribbon bow. But you would not be allowed to play with those bears because they were going to be sold to be given to other children.
If you would like to see lots of toys and games, including Wendy Boston soft toys, you can visit the new Toys Collected exhibition at Abergavenny Museum.
(Images: Monlife Heritage, Crickhowell Archive Centre, People’s Collection Wales)
Download Abergavenny Tales and Trails 2 here.
Download the complete YoungALHS collection here
