On this Day 1978: Matlock Bath model village

Peter Green visits the vast model village constructed in the garden of Ray and Hilary Phillips at Matlock Bath in Derbyshire.

The garden featured historic local buildings such as the now-demolished Matlock Bath Palais Royal. Peter speaks with the model enthusiasts Hilary and Ray Phillips about how they have tried to reflect local history in the buildings and discuss plans for the future expansion of the model village.

Ray and Hilary went on to establish a public attraction Gulliver’s World in Matlock, in 1978 later opening Gulliver’s World in Warrington in 1989, Gulliver’s Land in Milton Keynes in 1999 and, Gulliver’s Valley in Rotherham in 2020.

Hilary sadly died in July 2022, in tribute, Ray, told the Derbyshire Times: “Our family are devastated by the loss of Hilary, but Gulliver’s Theme Park Resorts is a family business, so her loss is also profoundly felt by our entire team.”