A range of toys were excavated from the Royal Jubilee hospital grounds -- what do the tell us about children in Victoria in the 1890s and their experience of health care?

A china doll and selected marbles excavated from the grounds of the Royal Jubilee Hospital. Who would have played with these toys? Find out by listening to the audio clip following this entry.

In celebration of Queen Victoria's Jubilee in 1888, many people in Victoria imagined a new hospital as fitting commemoration, and set their sights high on establishing a hospital that would be fit for the most fashionable cities in the British Commonwealth. 

As Victoria grew as a port and a gateway to the gold rush, access to healthcare was desperately needed. Between 1858 and 1868, a series of hospitals were established with this purpose but each time were too small or unequipped to adequately treat the growing populations with advancements in medical science. 

In 1991, construction at Royal Jubilee Hospital uncovered a rubbish heap from when the hospital first opened in the 1890s. A team of archaeologists volunteered to excavate the artifacts, and the collections came to the Royal BC Museum archaeological repository. The artifacts are a critical record of early healthcare and community in Western Canada.