Bekonscot

A view across the lake, with harbour, Bekonscot model village
View over Bekonscot

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 has been run by the Church Army since 1978 and donates large amounts of money to charity. It has raised the equivalent of almost £5,000,000 so far and has been visited by more than 14,000,000 visitors.

Bekonscot was first created by a Beaconsfield resident, accountant Roland Callingham (1881–1961), in the 1920s. He 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 previously lived.

It was not conceived as a commercial visitor attraction but as a plaything to entertain Roland 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, 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.

Legacy

Bekonscot is acknowledged to be the inspiration for many other model villages and miniature parks across the world, including Babbacombe, Southport, Tucktonia, Madurodam, Bourton-on-the-Water, Wimborne, Great Yarmouth, Clonakilty and Mini-Europe. As such, it is regarded as the "grandfather" of the model village and miniature park movement.[5]

The village expanded in size throughout the first half of the 20th century. Callingham sold off much of the land surrounding the model village, all of which is now a housing estate.[5] The village is now entirely surrounded by urban development so further expansion is impossible.

Bekonscot popularised the miniature park movement, put Beaconsfield on the map and has a continuing financial legacy in donations to charitable organisations both national and local.[5]

Miniature landscape

Watermill with Barley Corn Pub in background
Motor garage
Model of Ascot racecourse

The site is approximately two acres of which just over half is a miniature 1:12 landscape. Buildings are constructed in natural materials, concrete, or dense foamboard; many are originals from the 1920s.

There are six model villages set within the miniature landscape. These are entirely fictional towns, but many buildings within them are based on UK prototypes. Successive generations of modelmakers, gardeners and craftsmen have left their mark on their subjects, which display a wide range of vernacular architectural styles.

Currently there are 12 full-time staff who maintain the village throughout the year; during the open season a further 20 or so seasonal staff are employed.

Names of shops and other features include humorous puns, such as Lee Key Plumbers' Merchants ('Lee Key' = 'leaky'), Sam and Ella's Butchers ('salmonella') and the Mark Owney Wireless and Gramophone stores ('Marconi'). Other model villages have run with the playful nature of the miniature business names and it has become something of a model tradition.

Over the last year, an ongoing project to introduce more – smaller – moving models into the village has been underway. So far these have included a waving coal miner, a lady cleaning her window, a miniature children's play area, walking horses at a cider works, and even a painter falling from a ladder.

Notable features

Railways

Model of burning house at Bekonscot
Harvest time

Gauge 1

Bekonscot's Gauge 1 outdoor model railway is among the largest public garden railways in the UK, at ten scale miles.[4] A custom-built PC-based interface controls the block signalling system, directing up to 12 trains at any one time on prototypical routes. In addition there are two manual lever frames, one ex-British Railways and the other from London Underground. The BR lever frame is still in use as a manual override for the trains. Some original Bassett-Lowke stock from the 1930s is still in daily use, albeit with new running gear. Many of these trains have significant historical value. Some have been running for over 50 years, each covering about 2,000 miles (3,200 km) per year.[6]

Locomotives include several tank engines, a freelance 4-6-0 tender loco, GWR railmotor, pannier tanks, SR 2BIL EMU, plus assorted others. The model railway is not based on a particular prototype but features two stations based on local examples - that at Maryloo High Wycombe and Greenhaily Beaconsfield. There are seven stations in total; others have been inspired by Midland, Great Central and Southern designs. Significant lineside features include several tunnels, working level crossing and a scaled-down replica of the Sydney Harbour Bridge traversed by the branch line to the coal mine.

The model railway has changed many times over its history since being established in the 1920s.[7] Early photos show a coarse scale Gauge 1 network with several branches and many sidings and goods yards, express loops etc. around Maryloo. These were later reduced to enable easier maintenance and a more efficient experience for the visiting public. A branch was added to Evenlode in the 1940s, originally double track throughout with the end looping around a canal basin area, now the site of the coal mine. One part of this loop (single track) was discovered still intact in a ceramic pipe used as a tunnel during excavations in 2002. The branch has subsequently been singled with passing places, realigned and now follows a slightly shortened route. Ideas for extensions and additions have often been considered by staff, which means that the railway has been altered many times.

Former Gauge 1 model railway branches and features include

7¼" gauge

A miniature railway known as the Bekonscot Light Railway giving passenger rides was built along the perimeter of the site in 2001. Of 7¼ inch gauge, this was extended in 2004 to a new terminus. Three battery-electric locos haul trains: one a Bo-Bo tram, one a Bo-Bo diesel shunter and one a large 0-4-0 built by Maxitrak. The latter was named "Sprocket" in 2004; the third birthday of the railway and the 75th of the original model village. The two Bo-Bo locomotives were designed and built by the in-house engineering department. Visiting locomotives have included a Maxitrak Opal 0-4-2 tank engine, a County Donegal railbus and a Mardyke Intercity 125.

Two foot gauge

There is also evidence of 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge railways used on site for construction and later transportation of materials for maintenance. Photographs show the route in 1928 and 1932. Three complete wagon chassis were unearthed in 2003 during excavations for the Bekonscot Light Railway and these have been restored and displayed around the Bekonscot site for posterity.

In popular culture

Bekonscot features prominently in the Will Self short story Scale; was the setting of Beaconsfield-resident Enid Blyton's short story The Enchanted Village; and is thought to have inspired the series of Borrowers books by Mary Norton.

The non-fiction bestseller Forever England by Liam Bailey is a photographic study of the village's miniature characters, whilst Bollocks to Alton Towers, by Hazely et al., celebrates the quirkiness and eccentricity of Bekonscot.

The 2007 song Country Life by Luke Haines mentions Bekonscot in its liner notes and lyrics use the village as an extended metaphor.

The Penny Peeps released the song "Model Village" in 1968. The single's cover artwork featured Bekonscot.

The model Morris Men dancing outside the Guild Hall are based on The Greensleeves Morris Men from Wimbledon who dance there every summer.

Owing to Bekonscot's proximity to London and the southeast-based media industry, Bekonscot features frequently on television and radio.

Television appearances include:

Notes

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bekonscot.

Coordinates: 51°36′49.66″N 0°38′41.62″W / 51.6137944°N 0.6448944°W / 51.6137944; -0.6448944

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