The museum is an independent, non-profit making organisation. It was founded and registered as a charitable trust in 1990. The trust was originally known as the Sussex Toy & Model Museum and was based on several important collections. Since 1990 these collections have been refined and enhanced to bring the museum to a point where it houses one of the finest displays of model trains, tinplate toys and other related exhibits on public view anywhere in the world. For this reason the museum is well patronised by collectors and experts from near and far. Research students and school parties are frequent visitors, since toys are included in the National Curriculum. The majority of our visitors are the general public who come to see the collections and marvel at their diversity and quality. “I used to have one like that!” is a frequently heard cry.