Nenthead Model Village

Nestled on a back track in Nenthead is this impeccable, impressive model village built by retired miner Lowson Robinson...oh, and he built his own human size house too from scratch!

At a glance, you'd be forgiven for just thinking you'd been mistaken with your perspective, for everything is astutely mirrored with infinite detail to make the mini building seem just like its larger counterpart, but then a rabbit hopped through the ring of houses and messed with my mind. Something size wise didn't tally!

Like many people when they retire, Lowson was keen to continue being resourceful and having purpose. He didn't want to opt for a life stuck in front of the TV after many years being active in the pits, so he cast his mind to making.

Fast forward thirty years, and last summer, this cosy cottage in Nenthead was up for sale with its own perfectly pointed village in the front garden featuring a variety of cottages and houses, two churches, its own school and a 12ft high model of Big Ben. The garden village is split into three smaller villages, all around 15ft in size, and each is based on real places across the UK.

Lowson Robinson has literally built his own community on his doorstep.

Look closely at the buildings; each one is carefully considered and designed to replicate a larger counterpart. Some of the houses seem bijoux, cottagey and quaint and are designed to show a specific local style or building technique. Whilst some are carbon copies and are able to show the skill and precision of making in miniature.

Look at the Bridge House with inspiration drawn from Ambleside and the working waterwheel. This little clump of slate and Cumbrian pink sandstone lintels looks like it's been plucked straight for The Lake District and dropped in Lowson's garden.

Many of the buildings are familiar landmarks, whether you're part of the Nenthead community or a fan of Elvis; there's something for everyone to wow and wonder at. Pass the ostentatious front door of Gracelands, and you'll be serenaded by the big guy himself. And don't dare tell the press that Elvis is alive and well and living in Nenthead! Ah huh huh...

But the devil is in the detail here. Nenthead was largely a Quaker community, like many of those in the Allen Valleys and North Pennines. They built strong communities with good housing, a school, a wash house and public baths for the miners and their families. You can see the Clock Tower here, known locally as 'Peter the Clock'. It was demolished to make way for a new ore dressing mill, and the buildings adjacent to it were the public baths where families could wash their clothes and pay a penny for the privilege of a bath!

There was a reading room, the first free library in England, built by the London Lead Company in 1833, which was to encourage working men to read and learn about science. The Nenthead mines had a reputation for their lead and silver of outstanding quality, and men were encouraged to develop their smelting techniques. And of course, the big house where the mining manager lived. This was Lowson's first home when he and his family moved to the area from Durham. You can see it here above in the centre.

Nenthead, despite being remote and rugged and one of England's highest villages at 1450 feet above sea level, was the first village in the UK to have street lighting, which was operated with excess power from the mines. It sits along the route of Isaac's Tea Trail.

Though the mines closed in the 1960s here, the tenacity of miners is still clearly evident in this garden work of art by Lowson Robinson. Every time you look, you see something new, some small detail which makes you marvel at the mastery of his miniature building skills. All of the houses are built in moulds from real stone, with copper gutters and lead pipes. Windows are plastic, and whilst they may not be historically accurate, they help to fend off the unforgiving Cumbrian weather and last a little longer. The sandstone is local and comes from Flinty Fell, whilst the Lakeland Village is all made from Keswick slate.

There's a good reminder of size and perspective in the few old red phone boxes dotted about the garden. This helps to keep you on track about what's big and what's super small! This replica of Big Ben, housed in Westminster Tower was built to ensure Lowson could constantly keep track of time in the garden without the need to wear a watch!

In all weathers, this is an astonishing accomplishment. It's a little off the beaten track so, you'll have to actively seek it out, but it's well worth the wander.

And a small reminder that this tiny neighbourhood is no vanity project. The houses and buildings are all erected in an effort to raise admirable funds for the Great North Air Ambulance. There's a small chimney to pop your pennies down. To date, around a staggering sixteen grand has been raised through these bricks and slates, all going to a great cause to help people in need reach safety in difficult times.