Life in Miniature: Bekonscot Model VillageBeaconsfield, UK

Life in Miniature: Bekonscot Model Village
Beaconsfield, UK

This month’s theme, “Setting Up Home,” got us thinking about our obsession with all things miniature and that the first “home” many of us set up was the tiny one for our dolls or model trains. However you explain it, we went crazy for this miniature version of an entire village that we visited on a recent trip to the UK.

The village was built by London accountant and model railroad enthusiast, Roland Callingham, in 1927. He opened it to the public in 1929 and modelmakers continue to painstakingly restore the models and replace the buildings every 10 years. To find out more about the elaborate village which contains a zoo, a port with model ships, several castles, a coal mine, and more, visit www.bekonscot.co.uk.

(Images: Sarah Rainwater)

Comments (9)

how funny to see this on here! I went here as a little girl, and to the Christmas farmer's market in the village this past year. A very lovely place to go, indeed.

posted by Barbara S on August 21st 2009 at 10:53am
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Aaaah so cute. I love the birdies.

Emily

posted by Emily Sneds on August 21st 2009 at 11:15am
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Adorable -- but even better is Madurodam in the Netherlands

http://www.madurodam.nl/templates/mad/global/index.php?lngid=5&sqlmode=1&fid=638

posted by 37Rubydog on August 21st 2009 at 11:29am
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i think i went here when i was little too! probably around 9ish and i was wearing a pink raincoat (i remember a photo of me there)

posted by zhenpoo on August 21st 2009 at 12:30pm
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We used to go there all the time when I was little. We loved it! I'm so glad it's still there. I might have to put it on the list to visit when next in the UK.

posted by karandash on August 21st 2009 at 3:49pm
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Ahh this is amazing. The Christmas village under the tree is my favorite part of Christmas decorating. I love miniatures.

posted by nick0326 on August 21st 2009 at 8:11pm
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must get on plane for UK right now....

posted by Charlotte on August 21st 2009 at 8:27pm
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Many years ago we visited Woodleigh Gardens/Replicas, on Prince Edward Island, Canada. What a beautiful place, and amazing replicas of UK landmarks, i.e, Tower of London (you could actually enter this), Anne Hathaway's cottage, Westminster...I wonder if it's still there? The gardens alone were worth a visit.

posted by muirwoods08 on August 21st 2009 at 11:23pm
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I went there as a kid on a school trip! Ahhh the memories...

posted by tylr61 on August 21st 2009 at 11:26pm
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