A FAIRYLAND VILLAGE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 49, 27 February 1937, Page 26

A FAIRYLAND VILLAGE

I wonder how many of my readers have heard of "Bekonscot," the model village in Warwick Road, Beaconsfleld. England, which was constructed and designed—miniature township, railway, etc.—by a Mr. W. A. Berry, his gardener, and a number of helpers, says a writer in the Melbourne "Age." It is open from April to September, the admission fees going to the Railway Benevolent Institution, 'he Church Army, and other charities. I paid a visit with some friends to this wonderful place a few days ago and thought that newspaper readers would be interested in a few impressions.

When we arrived ■we were amazed. We wandered slowly along narrow, winding paths and over bridges, passing now and again sign posts and road signs which stood only as high as our ankles; past tiny houses, some of which were being decorated by miniature wooden painters on ladders. Then we went along the short "High Street," containing about six shops, which included a news agent's, in whose windows were displayed books about one inch in height. We also noticed a chemist's shop, with bottles of the same height in his window. This High Street even had a B"elisha Crossing! The tiny village church is a masterpiece. It is beautifully built of grey stone, complete with tiny little stained glass windows, by Edmund Duloc, and a notice board outside. The church yard had delicately-made small iron gates. As we passed this sweet little church we heard a peal of bells; then voices singing psalms and hymns. Somehow the makers of this fairyland of a place .had managed to fix a workable gramophone inside.

As we wandered round we passed on our left a hunt in full cry, with huntsmen in bright red coats on horses, the hounds in front r.nd the fox a little ahead of them. A few small spectators were watching at the side of the field. Tiny modelled sheep, horses, and cows were seen in their own tiny fields. Dogs and horses were in the streets, and tradesmen's carts stood at little doors. Further on we passed an aerodrome, then a swimming bath, beautifully tiled with blue tiles, and complete wee divers, sunbathers, and swimmers. Next to the swimming pool was a life-like tea garden, with round tables about two inches in diameter, and sheltered by coloured umbrellas. Miniature hikers, with knapsacks on their backs, were walking in. The meals represented would not have satisfied a sparrow.

■ Then in and out of this wonderful fairyland village ran trains, which stopped at various tiny stations.

Everything in this miniature village was perfect in design and detail. When walking through, one felt like Gulliver in Lilliput. None of our party will ever forget .our visit to this delightful place.

An official -amphlet adds to the contributor's impressions these facts:— The railway system reproduction of double lines, with bridges, viaducts, points, and signals, is in the minutest accurate detail, and' is a practical and useful lesson (carried out on a scale of 1 inch to the foot), in that it shows how' modern building can conform to the surrounding country. ; The village covers an. area of, roughly. 1000 square yards.