SMALL WONDER
Model villages are as popular today as they were decades ago. Andrew Nichol examines the history of Bekonscot as it celebrates its 90th anniversary.
TURN off a leafy street in Beaconsfield, down a fir-lined path, through an arch in the hedge and you are immediately transported back to the 1930s. A zoo lies at your feet; beyond it, rolling hills stretch into the distance, picturesque houses, farms and castles cling to the hillside, surrounded by lush planting and giants stride across the landscape.
Where else could you be but the world’s oldest model village?
Time has stood still here for 90 years. This is a place where milk is delivered in churns, corn is ground by the windmill and the miniature inhabitants travel by steam train.
Bekonscot was started by an accountant called Roland Callingham
at his country home in Beaconsfield. In 1927 he had a swimming pool dug in his garden and started building model houses on the mounds of earth created by the excavated soil.
The following year, Mrs Callingham, fed up with Roland’s train set, which was taking over their house, demanded that either the trains went or she would.
The trains were duly moved outside, and with the help of the BassettLowke model railway company, one of Britain’s finest model railways was created. More and more buildings were added until it started to grow into a whole model town.
Roland would invite friends to visit and, after playing tennis, they would go for a swim in the pool then play with the trains. Visitors were so impressed with what they saw that they urged Roland to open the village to the public, which he did for the first time on August 4, 1929, to raise money for charity.
It proved a huge success and soon
Bekonscot featured in newspapers and newsreels around the world.
In 1932, a charitable association was set up to administer the village and distribute the income to charity. Roland’s household staff were all enlisted to help, including his chauffeur, gardeners, housemaid and even his cook!
The village was constantly being expanded and soon the tennis court was taken over and the swimming pool became a lake, complete with pleasure pier.
Visitor numbers continued to grow and Bekonscot received the ultimate seal of approval in 1934 when Queen Mary visited with her grandchildren, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose.
During World War Two the village became neglected and maintenance ceased as most of the staff were called up and materials were difficult to acquire, but in 1948 an ambitious programme of rebuilding and restoration began.
Roland Callingham died in 1961, but his staff kept his dream alive until, in 1976, a new management company was set up to operate the village. To this day it is still run as a charity, helping many other local organisations.
Throughout this period, Bekonscot had been moving with the times. In the 1970s, diesel trains ran around the village and Concorde stood on the runway at the airport, but in 1992 the decision was taken to turn the clock back to its 1930s heyday.
Steam locomotives were brought back and models were rebuilt or restored to their original 1930s styling.
The village has continued to expand, with a whole new town opening in 2018. It features a model of the iconic Hoover Building, a funicular railway, and even Bekonscot’s first Tube station, where visitors can see down to the platform through a glass panel.
Modern technology means the models are more realistic and animated than ever, with a cuttingedge computer system running the model railway from a full-size signal box; a thatched cottage catches fire and is quickly extinguished by the fire brigade; and there are even tiny details like a man waving from the coal mine.
A visit to Bekonscot is a nostalgic journey away from the stresses of modern life and it remains a tribute to English eccentricity, humour and craftsmanship. As it celebrates its 90th anniversary, let’s hope it stays that way for many years to come.