Snowshill Manor and Garden will exhibit famous model village

The model village will be shown in it's original place of creation, the grounds of Snowshill Manor and Garden, between from 11am – 4pm this Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26. 

This manor is best known for its eccentric twentieth-century owner, Charles Paget Wade, who collected a treasure trove of quirky and curious objects. 

Building models was a life-long passion for Charles Wade and in 1907 he decided to start making a village when he was living in Hampstead and had just qualified as an architect.

Wolf's Cove at Snowshill Manor and Garden (Image: Snowshill Manor and Garden)

When he came to Snowshill in 1919 he brought the models with him and by the late 1920s he had started to create the model Cornish fishing village, Wolf’s Cove.

The model village includes a pub, houses, fisherman’s cottages set, a road, a canal and a railway.

This charming model became one of the most celebrated features of Snowshill and articles written at the time led some to believe that Wolf’s Cove was a real Cornish town. 

Wade used his imagination and nostalgia for places he had lived in and visited, to create a world within a world in his garden. 

This winter National Trust volunteers have been painting, thatching, and rebuilding the replica models that now make up the tiny village.  

They invite visitors to share in the stories of Wolf’s Cove and admire the models up close this weekend.

The Visitor Experience team will be on hand to share the fascinating history and stories of Wolf’s Cove.

Nick Taylor, senior visitor experience officer, said: "We are very proud to carry on Charles Wade’s tradition of caring for Wolf’s Cove and it is one of the highlights of our garden experience. 

"The launch day will be an exciting opportunity to share more about this remarkable village with visitors."

The model village exhibition is free but normal ticket admissions apply. 

To book your tickets for this weekend visit https://rb.gy/q18g8m