The minute the clocks change, it starts to feel like Autumn. The leaves I see from my window have gone yellow and red apparently overnight ... but rather than showing you what's around the corner, I thought you might like to see autumn in Bekonscot Model Village. I wrote about it here, in 2011, so if you read that, you'll find out a bit about it, and will know that it's just outside London. It's been a favourite with the children in our family for years and years.
The planting of the village is delightful and although this weekend is almost at the end of their season, and the flowers are starting to look a bit faded, the bonsai and dwarf trees are marvellous. Enjoy these photos and imagine yourself to be visiting an England of 1910, 1930 or 1950 - for modernity has been kept at bay in Bekonscot.
Here's the aerodrome
The harbour
One of the many faithfully observed railway stations. Many of the buildings must be exactly copied from life.
Below, a gang of 1930s workmen can just be seen toiling on the railway line, with the market hall behind them.
What a super old peoples' home, run by the Church Army, It could be almost worth being an old person to sit out on such pleasant lawns and drink tea. Can you see a man and his horse-drawn lawnmower to the right?
A pleasure pier. Its posters advertise George Formby and Gracie Fields, stars of the 1930s.
The gypsy encampment looks charming in this sheltered grove.
This fellow has sheep in his back garden
And is that a cement works?
No landscaping has been done yet in the newest section of the village, which is under construction, but we all recognised the art deco gem the Hoover Building (or something very like it) because we'd passed it on the way from London. By next season, this section will be landscaped.
Here's the Bekonscot website in case you want to go. It's only open selected weekends over the winter, but from mid-February it will be open daily again. I'd add that since it is operated by the Church Army, prices are reasonable and profits go to charity. And I'd also recommend the cafe (which has a large play area) which does simple, inexpensive kid-friendly food, some of it home made. The boys appreciated that!
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