Wimborne Minster Model Town - King Street, Wimborne Minster, Dorset, UK
Posted by: 
Dragontree
N 50° 47.928 W 001° 59.431
30U E 571140 N 5627936
This local attraction is a model town of Wimborne.
Waymark Code: WM75T3
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 09/06/2009
Views: 2
Home to many tiny streets and houses this family attraction is an ideal place to explore Wimborne in miniature. The shops have their displays with items from yesteryear and you can peer through the windows of the houses to see what the residents are up to.
The town is a suitable size so that visitors can walk along the streets and touch the rooftops. Surrounding the town are the award winning gardens for all to enjoy. The model of Wimborne Minster itself stands proudly as the focus of the town. By peering inside the east window you can witness a miniature wedding complete with music.
Features around the town include the famous Quarterjack strike, a ringing phone box, flushing public toilets and marvellous displays.
Also on site is an area for the children to play in the Wendy Street Playhouses - child size houses. There is an audio/picture history gallery and a model railway of Thomas and Friends where you can meet the author of 'Thomas the Tank Engine' Christopher Awdry at certain times.
A putting green and children's birthday cabin, toilets, plant sales, tea room and gift shop are also available. The attraction endeavours to be fully disabled friendly.
The idea to create a model town in Wimborne came about in the 1940s. Detailed photos were taken of the actual town in order to create plans for the model. Using a 1/10" scale a site was chosen in a walled area just off the Cornmarket.
In the late 1940s the building of the model town began and it was completed in 1951 when it opened its doors to visitors. Concrete panels were used to cast the buildings and Beech wood was used in the windows.
Ownership changed over the years until the original site was bought by a property developer causing the models to rapidly decline. The site was a favourite with local vandals. After some townsfolk got together in the mid-1980s the property developer was persuaded to give the models to the town and they found the new site used today. This was offered as a small field by Sir Michael Hanham and the Hanham Trust.
With the help of the East Dorset District Council, the District Surveyor and many volunteers the model town was moved in its entirety. It was opened to the public in 1991 and now belongs to the charity which preserves it for the future.
The "Official Tourism" URL link to the attraction: [Web Link]
The attraction’s own URL: [Web Link]
Hours of Operation:
3rd April - 1st November 10am to 5pm every day and in addition during August every Wednesday 6.30pm to 10pm.
Admission Prices:
Adult £4.50
Seniour Citizens £4.00
Child £3.50 (3-15yrs)
Under 3's free
Approximate amount of time needed to fully experience the attraction: Half of a day (2-5 hours)
Transportation options to the attraction: Personal Vehicle or Public Transportation
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