Monument record 0789600000 - Bekonscot Model Village

The model village and railway was started as a hobby by a local accountant, Roland Callingham, in 1929, assisted by Mr Berry and Mr Clark. Since it was opened to the public it has entained over six million visitors, including Queen Mary, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret in April 1934 (it was Princess Elizabeth's 8th birthday treat). Princess Elizabeth also visited for her 10th birthday, and again later (B1).
The model railway (moved out of the house in 1928) is 1:32 scale, whilst the miniature village is 1:12 scale. Initially local buildings provided much of the inspiration for the village and attempts were made to keep it up-to-date with contemporary model vehicles, however in 1992 the decision was made to revert to a 1930s period. There are now more than 200 model buildings, 3,000 inhabitants, 1,000 animals and hundreds of vehicles. Some of the buildings have been rescued from model villages elsewhere, such as houses in 'Greenhally', which were moved from Ramsgate Model Village and restored in 2003 (B3).
Bekonscot is the oldest surviving model village in the world. It has inspired many other model villages and miniature parks in the UK and around the world. It is a rare surviving example and has influenced model villages over the years such as Bourton‐on‐the‐Water in 1937 (now Grade II listed), Madurodam in the Netherlands in 1952 and later Legoland in Denmark in 1968. It was designed and created in the garden of Roland Callingham in the late 1920s, opened to the public in 1929 and has continued to expand over the decades since, to his vision. For him, the aim was not strict accuracy of scale, but to give pleasure. This labour of love was never meant to be taken too seriously. Bekonscot was always meant to be eccentric, fun and full of character. See report for detail (B4).