A Little Village by the Sea

On Monday morning we miraculously managed to get ready (with a picnic and everything) to leave the house at 8.15 am. We kept our fingers crossed for  fine, dry weather and set out to spend the day pootling and pottering at our closest seasidey place on the Fylde coast.

Our first stop was at this delightful little village - doesn't it look quaint?

This is no ordinary village, as it is very teensy-small indeed. So small in fact, that you can walk the streets and feel like a great big lumbering giant.

Yes, you probably guessed right away that this is in fact a model village. And maybe you might also have guessed right away that I absolutely loved it to bits! I was soooooo excited to visit as I adore model villages - I was that child who obsessively played with her dolls house for hours and hours on end and was in love with the whole idea of miniature houses. Still am actually. 

So this is Blackpool Model Village, and it's a very quirky little place that's been here since the 1970's. I've wanted to visit for ages, and managed to persuade J and the Little Peeps that we really needed to go see it. Oh, it was really good! It's quaint and ever so slightly faded, but I just fell in love with it all. As we arrived early we were the very first visitors so pretty much had the place to ourselves (only one other family arrived whilst we were there). We had a quiz sheet which led us around the little twisty-turny pathways, and we had loads of fun answering all the questions. The was plenty of gentle humour too - for example, one of the questions on the quiz sheet was "who's in charge of the school?" and the answer was Mr. Terry Bull and Mr. P. Brain. We had to work a little to explain the names to Little B, but when the penny dropped he nearly wet himself laughing.

 This is a family outing very well suited to those with Little People (or adults who still have rather childish minds), and it's all very simple indeed with no gimmicks and nothing extraordinary. Its old fashioned charm certainly pleased me no end, and it was  a lovely start to our day.

Blackpool Model Village is on the edge of Stanley Park which is absolutely huge (over 300 acres). The formal gardens are spectacular, with exuberant, colourful flower beds designed to wow.

I particularly loved the dahlias - these fiery coloured ones with the dark foliage were amazing, and made me want to scoop them up and run back home with armfuls of blooms to fill my house with.

I'd heard about the famous art deco cafe in the park, and was keen to see it for myself. It really was stunning inside, quite grand and very 1920's stylish. We chose to sit outside on the terrace.....

....to enjoy a morning coffee and a little bit of a breather. Gosh, I realise that so often a good strong milky coffee is one of the true pleasures of my day. Not sure if I need to worry about that or not?!

After the village and park (and coffee) excitements, we drove the few miles to the coast, choosing as usual to leave the bustling crowds at Blackpool behind and head a little further south to St Annes instead. As you can see, the day was grey and overcast, but that certainly didn't stop a good many families enjoying the vast sandy beach.

We found a bench on the busy promenade and sat a while to eat our picnic and partake in a bit of people (and dog) watching. It fascinates me to visit our rather old fashioned British seaside towns and ponder on the fact that families have been promenading and taking in the sea views for over a hundred years. According to Wikipedia, St Annes was a 19th-century planned town, officially founded on 31 March 1875. Eighteen Seventy Five!!!

After lunch, we took to our feet and leisurely promenaded along the promenade before dropping down to the beach and slowly strolling back again. 

By this time it was mid afternoon and the weather had dramatically improved since the morning. The low grey clouds had completely blown away to reveal these perfectly summery white wispy ones.

As with all of our previous visits, the tide was waaaaaay out, exposing the vast open sandy beach. It was decided between us all that we weren't all that bothered about trying to reach the sea this time, it was enough to simply kick off our shoes/flip flops and enjoy the sand between our toes. There were lots of kites flying - some really simple ones flown by children, as well as bigger two-string stunt kites flown with varying degrees of skill by adults. 

I enjoy the atmosphere so much in St Annes, there is something incredibly tranquil about it. It feels calm and peaceful, a town built purely to provide gentle leisure and pleasure. We sat a while on the beach, then walked out onto the end of the pier to eat ice cream and take in the views. 

Our walk back to the car was through our favourite Ashton Gardens which was looking as beautiful as ever. We flopped around on the grass for a bit, watching the oldies play bowls on the green whilst keeping an eye on Little B who was flinging himself relentlessly down the slide in the playground there. 

It felt like a perfect little slice of English Summertime, and all was content in my summer-loving world. Even the fountain was making rainbows as we walked past, which just added to the quiet charm of the whole day. 

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Comments

[Jayne Evans]

So glad I found your blog. I organise an event in Norfolk called Makers' Month and a visit to Yarndale last months was such an inspiration for us. Makers' Month is a free event held at The Forum in Norwich. It involves so many local knitters, crocheters, quilters, stithcers, weavers, spinners and more, all keen to share their skills. We may shamelessly copy your mandala display idea for our event in 2018! With best wishes Jayne Evans

[Linda]

Im lucky enough to ive in St Annes opposite Ashton Gardens. It certainly is a lovely place. Look out for the kite festival next year.

[Jools]

I drive past the model village multiple times a day because I work at Blackpool hospital :) Your pictures make me more determined than ever to take the grandchildren there, then on for a picnic under the trees in Stanley Park (while they still have leaves!)
It always makes me smile to know you have been nearby - one day we may bump in to each other, who knows!

[Karen Dodgson]

Ah Lucy what a perfect day you had! We've holidayed at St Anne's since 1965, and now my hubby has retired we hope to move there next year. I've dreamed of this for so long, and your post has helped me to look forward to it even more xx

[Verycrochetty]

Ahhh Lucy how lovely that you come to visit my hometown, St Annes! Your words and photos helped me see it in a new light ..... thank you for helping me appreciate the place where I'm lucky enough to live. I'm what people round here call a sandrown'un - someone born and bred here on the Fylde coast - and sometimes familiarity means it's easy to take this beautiful place for granted. How funny that for me a trip to Skipton is one of my favourite places to go! .... I guess the grass is always greener!

[Nancy Ferrier]

That miniature village reminds me of one we used to have here in southern Ontario. My ex-husband and I used to love going there and it became a summer tradition for the kids. Unforunately it's long gone.

[winifred waite]

I remember how far it is to walk to the water once the tide is out. Miles!
Love that model village children do seem to like all things miniature. A lovely summer day and even the weather was great.
Enjoy!

[Ileana]

Bellissimo! Le tue descrizioni e le tue foto sono fantastiche: sei una moderna poetessa! Da bambina e poi con la mia famiglia, siamo andati spesso alla Minitalia, dove ci sono i più importanti monumenti italiani in miniatura. Grazie per la condivisione e Dio ti benedica!

[Bex Crowell]

On our honeymoon back in '86, we went all over England & Scotland and landed in Bourton-on-the-Water and there is a tiny village to match that same village there...it's made of the local stone and is spectacular. Not only do they have that one but they have two gradually smaller ones, as well... it's quite the tourist attraction in a very lovely Cotswold village.

[Tinke]

Lovely post Lucy.

[Edwina]

I'm with you and the love of miniature houses. I also love tiny trains, so my husband's model railway layout is a source of joy, and wonderment at the engineering skills that go into making a miniature steam locomotive about four inches long with its tender attached.

[tinyhorsetalk]

Aww, how cute! It always astounds me how large the sky looks in your beach pictures, it seems to stretch on overhead forever. I do a lot of miniatures and dolls houses on my blog, if you'd like to have a look. https://tinyhorsetalk.wordpress.com/ :)

[Elizabeth]

This is just like the model village described in The Borrowers Aloft!

[Susan Smith]

What a wonderful day out with all the elements I so love. Will jot down the model village for future reference if we get to UK again. My doll's house was a cardboard version of Princess Anne's, being only a year older than her & with 2 younger brothers it didn't wear well, but I loved it. Thanks for the post & take care.

[Laurie Mowat]

I love that Village! I build dollhouses and
right now I'm making a small four room cottage.
It's so nice to be able to build a little world where
everything is just the way you want it. I'm really
enjoying your summer trips. Oh, tell Little B. I had to say Mr. Terry Bull out loud twice before my penny dropped!
That expression is precious, I've never heard it before.
Best wishes from Indiana

[Carolyn wood]

I'm very jealous over here in cold n.z! Especially as we used to live by the sea before the earthquakes and I do miss it so!
Must visit your area when we come over it looks lovely. Love to visit the minature village.so you are still getting beach weather at this time?

[CJ]

What a wonderful summer day out, perfectly English and no doubt a real treat. I love the model village, great that things like that still exist in this cyber age. We love a little promenade along the sea front as well. There are Victorian seaside towns near here that we go to and I always like to imagine people strolling along the front in times gone by. Glad you had such a lovely day. CJ xx

[Teresa Kasner]

What a perfect day you had! I also adore miniatures and have a Victorian dollhouse all of my very own. LOL! I enjoyed the little village a lot. The beach you visited was also amazing.. did you find any sea glass or shells? Thanks for sharing. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

[Deborah]

Those are such wonderful places to visit, and the pictures are great. My favorite is the one of the gypsy wagons. They just fascinate me. I share your love for miniatures.

[gina in alabama]

I love the model village!! the shepherd's wagons are simply perfect. What a lovely peaceful place.

[Charis]

Beautiful!

[Winwick Mum]

I hope you managed to get fish and chips too! :-)xx

[Catriona Mason]

St Annes is where I would like to be but DH isn't keen so have to content myself with visits. Catriona

[Samantha]

I live in St Annes and me and my family had our picnic in Ashton Gardens this week too! I love living here. Although, I adore your home town too, and chose to be married there in the registry office, a few years ago <3

Been to the model village loads when I was younger. Such a magical place when you're a child.

[Charlotte.]

Lucy, thank you for sharing your special outing with us.