Bekonscot in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, is the oldest original model village in the world.[1][2][3] It portrays aspects of England mostly dating from the 1930s.
Bekonscot was first created in the 1920s by a Beaconsfield resident, Roland Callingham (1881–1961). Callingham, an accountant, developed the master plan for his miniature empire as an addition to his large back garden, drawing in help from his staff: the gardener, cook, maid and chauffeur. Together they developed the model landscape portraying rural England at the time. The swimming pool became the first “sea” and the undulating rockeries were built up as hills. Bassett-Lowke, the large-scale model railway manufacturers, were commissioned to build an extensive Gauge 1 railway network for the project.[4] Callingham named the village Bekonscot after Beaconsfield and Ascot, where he had lived previously.
Bekonscot was not conceived as a commercial visitor attraction but as a plaything to entertain Callingham and his guests. It was only after 1930 that its existence became widely known, catching the imagination of the press and public alike. Frequent newsreels, such as Pathé, and international and national newspaper coverage, ensured a steady stream of visitors, all of whom were invited to make a donation to the Railway Benevolent Institution.
How beautiful and lovely to see the miniature buildings. I love model villages – we’ve visited them on the Isle of Wight, Dorset and the Cotswolds. The little buildings are so beautifully crafted.
I would have love to purchase a book with them all listed but sadly I couldn’t find one on the shop.
Oh my gosh, I LOVE this! I love miniatures anyway, ever since I was a child. Doll houses, children’s tea sets and demitasse sets (ever since my great aunt brought some Nippon back from being stationed in Japan in WW2). I kept asking for a train set but never got one because I was told it was a “boy’s toy.” Got the same answer with a chemistry set.
???
Like we girls don’t enjoy trains too? Or want to understand chemistry? lol.
Maybe that’s just what they told me because were afraid I’d blow up the house or drive them crazy with my train going everywhere, because I totally would have had train tracks and connecting trains all over the house – hehehe
The historical representation of the architecture here – amazing! I’m looking at their website again because I’m sorry to say that not living there, I don’t recognize all the miniature depictions – I recognized the Ascot track right away, though, as will Mark when I show this to him later – that’s awesome!
I was reading where they put in some “events” in the models, too, like an escapee from the police station? Lol, that’s hilarious! Hope that’s not too close to the schools, though
All right, when you put me on your waiting list to visit post-COVID, can we go here? Huh, can we, huh?
Thank you for sharing this, I love it! xo
In addition to the miniature railway you can see in the pictures there was also a light railway. Mr C wasn’t interested in the latter so we didn’t take a ride
https://www.bekonscot.co.uk/miniature-railway/
https://www.bekonscot.co.uk/ride-on-railway/
My brother wasn’t to keen on his railway set, much to the disappointment of my dad.
Looking for info on the railway I found more info on the village
https://www.bekonscot.co.uk/models-villages/
I would still love a more detailed on the model village
He he… The best of England in miniature.
Did you see anything there from Shropshire?
Oh, I recognise that White Horse in the last photo.
That’s from Wiltshire
Maybe the one from Westbury? Cos I have been there a couple of times.
I didn’t notice anything from Shropshire, but there is a lot to see and take in.
I think it is the Westbury White Horse
Thank you sooo much for this amazing post dear Cheri
))
what a delight to look at these miniature architecture ,it is so beautiful and fascinating no doubt
shots are taken so well ,you really made my day with such stunning virtual tour
You have to thank Mr C for this one. It is not a place I would have thought to visit.
But I am so glad he chose it, it is a wonderful place