This listing is for Ely House, a 1/12. Scale Dolls House made by Anglia Dolls Houses Ltd who are situated near Kings Lynn. The Ely is still manufactured by Anglia Dolls Houses.
This house (along with others) and the craftsmanship and sheer attention to detail that goes into their construction can be viewed on the companys website. The following text is largely copied from Anglia Dolls Houses description. Ely House has 4 floors: the reception rooms are on the two central floors, while the kitchen is in the basement and bedrooms on the top floor, accessed by cupboard stairs. Even a dolls house of this size may have had a servant although they would have probably slept in the basement, possibly on a fold-down bed.
Ely House would probably be part of a terrace of buildings. To overcome the restrictions imposed by a dolls house and to make it interesting, a window is provided in a side opening panel to light the first floor landing. Image was important in Georgian England: the front panel at ground floor level is covered in horizontally banded stucco in an attempt to make the building look grander than it really is. Underneath the stucco may have been cheap brick or rubble stone. Outside there is a pavement finished with grouted faux flagstones that swings open with the front panel.
Set into the flagstones is a grating over a light well for the basement window. Ely House is designed for a man of means like a successful merchant definitely not a member of the gentry!And the interior, whilst comfortable, is not very grand. It has modest rooms on 3 floors above a basement kitchen. The reception rooms are on the two central floors, while the bedrooms are on the top floor, accessed by winding cupboard stairs. If there had been a servant, they would probably have slept in the basement, possibly on a fold down bed. Ely House has a large basement room, fitted out as a combined kitchen/scullery with a washing copper, bread oven and inglenook arch with a range.
A pillar supports the floor above and the basement window receives its light from a light well set into the pavement outside and covered by a grating. Cupboard stairs connect the basement to the hallway above.
The ground floor has a reception room with arched alcove either side of the fireplace, each containing dummy cupboards and fitted shelving. The first floor has a large landing and two rooms. The larger room might be used as a drawing room or parlour. The smaller room, which might make a breakfast room, has a corner fireplace which was quite a common method of fitting in a fire where there would otherwise be insufficient space. The second floor rooms would probably be used as bedrooms and are high enough in the building to be out of the worst of the noise and smells of the street below. Stairs are a speciality of Anglia Dolls Houses. Although only a simple provincial town house, as you would expect the main stairs in Ely House have stringers and separate stain-varnished treads. Even the cupboard stairs to the basement and to the second floor are complete. Those to the second floor have winding steps. Height: 42 inches (106.7cm) to top of chimneys - 48 inches (122cm) max. Depth: 20.5 inches (52.5cm) including basement 23.5 inches (60cm) max. I bought my Ely House as an ex-demonstration model directly from Anglia Dolls Houses, travelling to collect it from them where we were made most welcome and shown the premises where each house is made with so much care and attention to detail. During my ownership there are a few more very minor grease marks where I had curtains positioned behind the windows.However, I must emphasise that these marks are very minor and could probably be easily cleaned off. Anglia Dolls Houses are highly regarded and rarely become available.
This item comes from a smoke free home. Please note this house will not be sent by courier (even if you offer to arrange the courier) as the risk of damage during transit is simply too great. Therefore, this is a collection only sale so please note the dimensions of the house if planning to collect as you will need a large estate car (with the rear seats lowered) to accommodate the house. Similarly if you need any other information or specific photographs that I dont already have please ask. The item "Anglia Dolls House Ely House" is in sale since Monday, August 26, 2019. This item is in the category "Dolls & Bears\Dolls' Miniatures & Houses\Dolls' Houses". The seller is "gelertd" and is located in Hull. This item can't be shipped, the buyer must pick up the item.