Miniature Buildings

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Serious about Dolls Houses

As you will have gathered my interest is in models of buildings, rather than their furnishings.  And certainly not in all the little knick-knacks that entrance many dolls house collectors.  Which is a little bit cruel.  Some of the work that goes into the fittings for dolls houses is exquisite.  Though some is simply horrid.  It's just that my enthusiasm is the buildings themselves.

My latest discovery is of a website which takes the subject very seriously and which I commend to you: dollshousespastandpresent.co.uk.  Do not be put off by the poor battered (much loved?) example in their headline banner.

Not every article is directly of interest to me - but the same applies equally in architectural journals or railway modelling magazines.  What I like about dollshousespastandpresent is that it takes the subject really seriously.  AND it is not trying to sell me stuff, which is a big bonus.  It is run by enthusiasts, sharing their enthusiasm with other enthusiasts.  The site is co-ordinated and managed entirely by volunteers and is non-profit making.

Dolls' Houses Past & Present has been running for 11 years now.  It pitches itself as as an online meeting place for owners, conservationists and restorers of old and new dolls' houses.  It seeks to fill the gap left when International Dolls House News stopped publishing.  Their (free) membership is worldwide.

It represents the serious end of the hobby and asserts that it is considered an internationally significant dolls' house resource, referenced by museums, and sellers or restorers of antique and vintage dolls' houses.  It aims to promote research into, and provide information on, dolls' house makers of all periods, especially the 19th and 20th centuries, from a range of sources worldwide.

Included within the site is an online magazine and ( at the time of updating this article) their latest issue is September 2022.  But, looking back, the March 2020 issue included an article entitled Crewkerne House by Elizabeth Jackson. There is lots else in each magazine issue and in the wider site but I'm going to focus on that one article.

The house itself is not especially to my taste, but it and the article are interesting.  The name of the house is a creation of the author - she bought it as a second hand item from a shop in Crewkerne, Somerset.

What is special about it is that it dates from the mid 19th century - circa 1850.  It was in need of restoration, which Elizabeth has done with both enthusiasm and talent and has sourced a lot of high quality items to furnish it.  The finished product is well worth a look.

This is not some dusty battered piece of work preserved from 170 years ago but a solid piece of construction renovated and refreshed and cared for.  Just as real buildings from the Victorian era are loved and lived in.

I'm not going to repeat any more of her material.  Go to the site and read the original article for yourself. Then explore what else is to be found within the site.

Credit for the site goes to Rebecca, Brooksey, Zoe and Edel, an international team from Australia, the UK and Germany.  Congratulations ladies.

As always, e-mail Miniature Buildings at MiniatureBuildingSite@gmail.com if you have something to add.  Comments, criticisms, errors you have spotted, extra thoughts, pictures, or even complete articles for inclusion in the Miniature Buildings site are all welcome.  Or if you would like to be added to my mailing list to hear when a new article is published.

David, March 2020