The Lilliput Lane Collectors Club

For many years, there had been china figurines from Royal Doulton, Coalport and Lladro, but these were, until then, purchased as a kind of occasional ornament. People would have the odd china figurine on display on their mantelpiece or in a cabinet, but that was all. But then, along came the eighties and everything changed. And it really did begin with Lilliput Lane Cottages. Here was a collectable that seemed to feed on people's insatiable desire to gather and acquire. It wasn't enough to own two or three ornaments to be lovingly placed in various corners of the home. A true collector had to own the whole lot, literally. Whether or not this had originally occurred to the founders of the company, I know not, but of course, cottages were the perfect vehicle for satisfying the collectible lust, for what better way to build up your collection than by creating a village.

Recognising early on the almost manic nature of the collectable mentality, Lilliput Lane calculated that the best way to both feed the collecting lust and, at the same time, control it was to set up a collectors club. This they did in the mid eighties and since then, have never looked back.

The Lilliput Lane Collectors Club is run by a team of specially trained staff, available during working hours to answer all queries, such as where cottages can be bought, how they are made, where the ideas for new cottages originate, almost everything you wish to know. The club is now twenty two years old, and during its life has had the pleasure of welcoming many thousands of new members from all over the world.

Lilliput Lane Collectors Club members receive personal invitations to events held around the country, often in beautiful settings, such as country estates.There is always a painter and a sculptor on hand. So these events provide a great opportunity for collectors to find out more about the exacting process of designing and manufacturing Lilliput Lane cottages. It also gives members the opportunity to meet and discuss their collections with members of the design and sales team.

Not to be missed is a visit to Skirsgill in the Lake District, the home of Lilliput Lane Cottages. On arrival the collector will receive a warm welcome in the specially constructed Honeysuckle Cottage; a phenomenal building which is a miniature cottage 'in reverse'. Instead of being the model of a life sized cottage, it's an authentic full sized version of a miniature cottage. It took almost a year to build, being finally completed in the summer of May 1995, using genuine building materials. It is surrounded by beautiful, manicured gardens and inside the entire current collection of Lilliput Lane Cottages is on view, as well as a display of retired cottages. Having admired this cottage 'museum', a tour can be taken of the studios to see how the world's favourite cottages are made.

To explore our range of Lilliput Lane collectibles further, please visit our website at http://www.theukgiftcompany.co.uk

Church's China, one of the United Kingdom's longest established China and Glass Retailers was founded in 1848 by a wheelright and carpenter, Thomas Church. He set up his business in Maryport Street in the sleepy market town of Devizes in Wiltshire