There’s a fascinating library inside Queen Mary’s dolls’ house, which is on permanent display at Windsor Castle. The house was built between 1921 and 1924 by leading British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. It was a gift to the Queen from the nation, and everything was constructed on a 1:12 scale.
The library is panelled in walnut and is, in miniature, the perfect room for relaxation, with books, pipe tobacco and a tiny newspaper to hand. It was Princess Marie Louise and her friend, the author E.V. Lucas, who took charge of the library. She contacted 200 of the leading authors of the day to see if they would write a tiny story especially for the library. A few, such as George Bernard Shaw and Virginia Woolf, refused, but most others obliged. How many London residences have 200 books written in their authors’ own hands?
There are books by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, A.A. Milne (who sent a copy of his poem Vespers), John Galsworthy, Rudyard Kipling (who included three poems, changed his handwriting for each one, and illustrated them in black ink), Joseph Conrad, Sir J.M. Barrie, Robert Graves, Thomas Hardy, Somerset Maugham and Vita Sackville-West.
The library also contains reference books, stamp albums, gardening books and train timetables, and the walls of the room are decorated with prints by contemporary artists. The Windsor Castle gift shop sells replicas of some of the tiny books. I have been to see the dolls’ house and of course, my favourite room was the library. However, it is a ‘show’ library, and not a room for use, which of course every library ought to be.
Have you seen this dolls’ house? Can you recommend any other special dolls’ houses or tiny libraries? Tell me your thoughts by leaving a comment.
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Brenda Cox
Thanks for sharing this, Susannah! I’ll be visiting Windsor Castle in a few weeks and will definitely look for this, and for the gift shop!
Once when I visited No. 1 Royal Crescent in Bath they were having a special exhibition of dollhouses, which was delightful.
My Dad was a dentist, and the best Christmas present he gave me was a dollhouse that he made out of an old dental cabinet; it had working lights, an attic, and removable stairs. I loved furnishing it. My grandkids are enjoying it now.
Susannah Fullerton
I think kids who decorate dolls’ housese themselves probably have far more creative fun than those who are presented with a fully furnished bought one.
Enjoy Windsor and seeing Queen Mary’s one.
Angela Boyd
I have just been to Amsterdam and have seen Petronella Oortmans exquisite dollhouse in the Rijksmuseum .
The dollhouse is the inspiration for Jessie Burtons novel The Miniaturist.
Susannah Fullerton
I have seen that fabulous dolls’ house and also read the Jessie Burton novel. Did you also manage to see the amazing Vermeer exhibition while you were in Amsterdam?
Carolyn Wolfe
I have seen this lovely dollhouse and the original books. (Did not get to the giftshop sadly. An unusual tour not to exit through the giftshop!) I think Mary might have preferred a simpler dollhouse that SHE could decorate and people! Children often prefer to play with the box the toy came in and use their imagination. Now as an adult, I would LOVE to play with this.
Susannah Fullerton
Definitely not a dolls’ house for actual playing. My sister and I made our dolls’ house out of old apple crates – we wallpapered, decorated, put tiny pictures on the walls, and had probably far mroe creative fun than we’d ever have had with a bought one.
Carolyn
I have seen this lovely dollhouse and the original books. (Did not get to the giftshop sadly. An unusual tour not to exit through the giftshop!) I think Mary might have preferred a simpler dollhouse that SHE could decorate and people! Children often prefer to play with the box the toy came in and use their imagination. Now as an adult, I would LOVE to play with this.
Merrowyn Deacon
Hello Susanna from wintry Melbourne. I’ve visited and seen Queen Mary’s Dolls House, several times, both as a young adult and then with my small daughter who was fascinated by it. I still have a brochure about it in colour. Have you been to Bekonscot, the small village not far out of London? That’s fantastic if you like miniature stuff. Also our National Trust Victoria has been running Miniatures at Como House, with different dolls’ houses, having been loaned or given to the Trust for display. Enjoy the Scottish vibe and I hope your best laid plans won’t “gang oft agley”. Merrowyn.
Susannah Fullerton
Thanks, Merrowyn, I’m having a wonderful time in Scotland. Off to Abbotsford today which is always superb.
Thanks for letting me know about the dolls houses at Como. I have never been to Bekonscot, so another place to add to my list.