Cosgrove Hall Films Archive: Where 'Danger Mouse' and 'The Wind in the Willows' Were Born

Founded in 1976 by Brian Cosgrove and Mark Hall as a small workshop, the studio went on to reach global audiences with productions such as 'Danger Mouse', 'Count Duckula' and 'The Wind in the Willows'. By the time it closed in 2009 it had built up three decades of children's television history.

Today a wing of the old studio building houses the archive, open to visitors. Display cases hold the first maquette of Penfold, several original versions of Toad of Toad Hall and script pages rewritten mid-season. Animators' notebooks include the blueprint sketches of intricate sets.

The collection continues to grow through donations. Visitor numbers remain modest, and a small group of volunteers keeps the archive going. A joint project with Manchester's Science and Industry Museum will send some pieces on tour next year.