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The Little House
at Royal Lodge
'Y Bwthyn Bach'
In April 1932, on the occasion of Princess
Elizabeth's sixth birthday, when the Duke and Duchess of York
had started work on the grounds of Royal Lodge, a little straw-thatched
cottage, 'Y Bwthyn
Bach', (The Little Cottage), was presented to Princess Elizabeth
and Princess Margaret in the name of
the people of Wales.
It was constructed in the gardens of Royal Lodge
and was furnished both inside and out. It had its own front garden
with scaled down hedges and flower borders. The cottage survives
to this day much to the delight of royal children visiting Royal
Lodge.
Prince Andrew, the present Duke of York, has taken
over Royal Lodge following the death of Queen Elizabeth, The
Queen Mother. It is understood that Royal Lodge is being thoroughly
renovated and modernised before Prince Andrew takes up residence.
No doubt 'Y Bwthyn
Bach' will receive similar treatment.
outside Y Bwthyn Bach
Princess Elizabeth standing in the doorway
January 2007: We were delighted to receive this picture of a group of workmen at 'The Little House. We are hoping to discover if they were looking after the gardens, or had just finished building the house.
We are delighted to have been sent this photograph of The Little House by Ann Smith who lives in Cornwall. She writes:
In 2002 I bought an old dolls' house in a shop in Macclesfield, Cheshire, where we used to live, because it was so unusual. All I knew was that it had belonged to a family who lived in Scotland. When moving house in 2003, I was sorting through a box of my childhood books when I found one of my favourites. It was given to me to mark the Queen's Coronation in 1953 and called 'Elizabeth Our Queen'. It was unmarked and well preserved and as I sat on the staircase reading it - low and behold - a picture of my dolls' house. I couldn't believe it - what fate! It is an exact replica of The Little House, but I cannot find out anything about it. The lady who owned the local dolls' house shop in Macclesfield seemed to remember that they had produced a limited number of replicas. My husband however feels that someone might have made it themselves as it is neither 1/12 or 1/16th scale. I am keen to find out its origins but, in the mean time thoroughly enjoying renovating it. Perhaps one of your readers might have some more information.
Thanking you in anticipation.
Ann Smith (Mrs)
Cornwall
We would be delighted to pass on any information. Please email us here at Thamesweb or you would be welcome to contribute a post on our Discussion Board here The Little House Dolls House