Bekonscot Model Village

United Kingdom / England / Beaconsfield /
 village, miniature
Bekonscot began as a hobby for Roland Callingham, a London accountant. He bought a meadow of several acres next to his home in Beaconsfield in the mid-1920s to expand his garden. In the mid-1920s, he and his head gardener Tom Berry built some model houses as a feature of the alpine garden to the simple scale of one inch to one foot. Following suggestions from friends and family, Roland opened Bekonscot to the public in 1929. There are six charming little villages in a 1.5 acre miniature landscape of farms and fields, castles and churches, woods and lakes! Walking around, you'll tower over the tiny population enjoying the fun of the fair, visiting the zoo, or lazily watching the cricket on the village green. As you walk down the High Street of Bekonscot town, you can peer into the tiny windows of the shops, near the busy garden railway station. Since then, all excess profits have gone to charity and in excess of £1 million has been raised (in excess of £4 million at today’s prices). Throughout the 20th century, Bekonscot grew and modernised. In 1993, a decision was made to preserve Bekonscot in the way its founder would recognise; to depict an idealised view of life in the 1930s.
www.bekonscot.com/
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   51°36'49"N   -0°38'40"E

Comments

  • An amazingly interesting place. Cultural insight into how the English used to like to see themselves but also a real joy for children. The vast model railway alone has them gasping with excitement. Boats move through rivers and harbours; a house catches fire regularly and Noddy's car is parked outside Enid Blyton's house (a model presented by the local Council after they allowed the real one to be demolished).
  • My wife and I visited Bekonscot model village many years ago when we were on holiday in England from Australia and we were absolutely enthralled with it. On the day we were there, it was raining, but it did not spoil our enjoyment and being a railway modeller myself, the railway was the thing I took most interest in. Imagine our surprize when we saw it on a recent new episode of Midsomer Murders. It brought back happy memories of our visit. We hope it will be there for many more years to come, for all visitors to enjoy and to the people who keep it in good order, many congratulations. Roy and Jenny Pitchford, St. Leonards, Victoria, Australia
This article was last modified 18 years ago