Dolls’ houses from a miniature village made by a husband as a romantic tribute to his wife go under the hammer Monday, 16th February.
Colin Mousley spent more than 40 years recreating scenes from his wife Beryl’s life, making a model hamlet that took up an entire room of their Spondon home, near Derby.
Their daughter Sue Davis said: “It was an absolute labour of love. They were married for 67 years and were besotted with each other.
“Mum used to describe in detail every aspect of scenes from her past, mainly in Burton on Trent, and then dad would retire to his workshop to make them. He used to say mum never had much when she was young, and he was determined to give her everything she wanted – including recreating her childhood memories.”
Some parts of the miniature village including the pub, school, chapel, butcher’s and tuck shop, are going under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers’ sale in Etwall, Derby on Monday <Feb 16> with an estimate of £100-£200.
The interiors are recreated in breathtaking detail, including tiny villagers – some playing darts, queuing to be served in the shop or pupils being taught in the village school.
As well as reimagining scenes from his wife’s childhood, Colin made models of houses the family had lived in.
Sue, a 62-year-old teacher from Belper in Derbyshire, said: “The cinema in Burton-on- Trent was mum’s favourite. He finished it a few months before he died. It showed everything just as the courting pair remembered, down to the carpet and the chairs.”
She continued: “You can’t imagine the detail. Dad recreated everything just the way my mother told him. The schoolyard even had a roundabout which played a tune. Mum and dad were devoted to each other. When dad was at work in his workshop they were connected by a Tanoy so she could tell him when his tea was ready.”
Colin, who died in 2021, retired from his job as a television installer at the age of 60.
Sue continued: “By then us children were in our 20s so we never played with the houses. In fact, they weren’t really intended to be played with. They were all about preserving mum’s memories.”
Now sadly Beryl is a nursing home suffering from dementia.
Sue said: “It would break mum’s heart if she knew we were selling some of the houses, but as a whole the village it just too big for us and I’d just like someone else to cherish it and make their own memories.”
For the last five years the village has been in the family garage after moved from Colin and Beryl’s home.
Sue said: “It’s heartbreaking to sell it because it is my dad on a plate. I can picture him in his workshop making every individual roof tile and taking such care.”
Hansons Auctioneers’ toy specialist Steve Fulford, said: “The painstaking attention to detail in these pieces is astonishing. It is an honour to be selling such a wonderful part of a family’s history and, like Sue, we hope they find a new owner who will love them just as much as she has.”
Auction Details
Auction: Derby February Two-Day Antiques & Collectors Auction
Auction date: 13th – 16th February 2026 | 10am
Location: Hansons’ Derbyshire Saleroom
Auction contact: [email protected]
Catalogue/bidding: www.hansonslive.co.uk | www.the-saleroom.com
