Looking at Little Cottages......

Living in Cornwall for several years was really inspirational - and apart from the wonderful skies, moors and coast (and the clotted cream ......) - I fell in love with the cottages.

Principally a doll maker, I began to build 1/24th scale cottages, fitting them in between sculpting. It became something of a 'treat' for me as I created and continue to, just three or four each year depending how busy life is.

Veryan is a beautiful village, famous for its five round houses, built in the early nineteenth century by the Trist family of builders, apparently at the instigation of the local vicar, to provide work for the local men in hard-pressed times. They're white painted, all a little different, but each with an impressive Cross on the top of the pointed roof. The story goes that they are round so that the devil has nowhere to hide!

Inspired by these cottages I've just completed a little 1/48th scale one, and hope you'll enjoy seeing it. It will be on our stand at the Thame Dollshouse and Miniature Fair on 19th February.




Detail to show scale




The back of the cottage - with and without the removable roof




You'll see from the following pictures, that I've made other round houses - both are 1/24th scale. The white one is the most 'authentic', with traditional flint-bordered windows - one of the earliest ones and called 'Roundabout'. It was well before my digital camera, so the picture quality isn't great.
The other one, 'Blackberry Bottom' was commissioned for a family of mice, and has a blackberry bush growing around the back. The 1/24th scale houses all have open backs. Another day I'll put up pictures of ones that aren't round.






I must just say a quick 'Welcome' to new followers - sorry that I've not properly visited your blogs yet - and a special one to old friend Dave Williams of Harvington Miniatures, a great miniature painter (amongst other talents) who has just started a new blog - do take a look.

Thanks for looking.
Robin