The toy theatre collection of the late Coronation Street actor Peter Baldwin is to go up for sale at auction.

Baldwin, who was best known for playing the role of Derek Wilton for more than 20 years in the TV soap, collected them and even had a shop selling them in London’s Covent Garden.

Baldwin
Peter Baldwin with an item in his collection (Hansons Auctioneers/Peter Baldwin/PA)

The actor, who died aged 82 in 2015, developed a passion for toy theatres when his parents gave him a Pollock’s toy theatre after seeing a production of Peter Pan at the age of 12.

Hansons Auctioneers in Etwall, Derbyshire, will sell the collection on April 5 and expects it to “generate interest around the world”.

Baldwin
Peter Baldwin developed a passion for toy theatres and had a shop in London’s Covent Garden selling them (Hansons Auctioneers/Peter Baldwin/PA)

Jim Spencer, valuer at Hansons Auctioneers, said: “Mr Baldwin toured Britain and the continent using his collection, reviving a lost art and bringing to life long-lost plays. The Corsican Brothers and The Miller And His Men were his favourites.

“In 1988, his collection was exhibited at the National Theatre in London and, later, at the Museum of Childhood in Lancashire.

“His passion for juvenile drama and performance, and the little-known continental juvenile drama, led to his publication of Toy Theatres Of The World, Zwemmer 1992. Theatre historian George Speaight wrote the foreword.”

Baldwin
The collection of toy theatres will go to auction at Hansons Auctioneers in Etwall, Derbyshire (Hansons Auctioneers/Peter Baldwin/PA)

Mr Spencer added: “Peter was an acknowledged global expert on juvenile drama and was president of the British Puppet and Model Theatre Guild. This collection is quite extraordinary and will generate interest around the world.”