Spring Madness? by Eleanor Richards-Jones

As you probably already know, property is a bit of an obsession for me and this can occasionally become a problem. I have a particular soft spot for pre-war houses in need of TLC, and so when recently browsing at a local auction I spotted a wonderful 1930s mock-Tudor detached beauty I bought it on the spur of the moment! Crickey, what had I done and what would my family say? Surely, they’d understand what a bargain it was at £35?

Yes, that’s right. Only £35 because I am now the proud owner of a Tri-ang No. 62 dolls’ house!

Since I have never shown any inclination towards playing with dolls before, I must say that this recent purchase has come as something of a surprise, even to me. But it is the lovely architectural details that really appeal such as the green metal windows, mock-Tudor gabling and parquet flooring. The green windows are also very reminiscent of the traditional green paint used on the Rhiwbina Garden Village houses.

I have done a bit of research into Tri-ang dolls’ houses and it turns out that it is quite a popular collecting area with some houses in the collection of the V&A Museum. Except for a break during WW2 when the company produced weapons, Tri-ang (Lines Bro. Ltd) manufactured a large range of dolls’ houses which reflected popular taste in architecture and interiors from the 1920s onwards. Their designs are very accurate and are perfect models in 1/16th scale. Cleverly, Tri-ang also numbered all of its different house designs and so it’s easy to see why once you have one you may want to collect more! Particularly desirable is the art deco geometric modernist houses and the ultimate and wonderfully named Stockbroker mansion.

Well, perhaps I have lost the plot and Spring Madness has struck, but maybe my little dolls’ house is a bit more manageable than the full-size version. It may even help to dampen my occupational hazard of moving house!

Look out for this architectural gem brightening up our Rhiwbina office window.