No, we’re not talking about houses in LegoLand or neighbourhoods where Naomi, Linda, Christy, Cindy et al live. Model village refers to those housing developments, popular during Victorian times, that were built, often, by wealthy industrialists for their mill, mine and factory workers.

Some mill and factory owners were largely philanthropic and enlightened, putting their employees’ welfare at the forefront. Often times, that would also mean the enforcement of their religious and lifestyle beliefs on their workforce; temperance and sobriety. Therefore, no ale house was included in their village plans… but often washhouses, a hospital, school, library, art gallery or concert hall and, not forgetting, a chapel for the workers to attend on their day off.

A few of the model villages are very famous; Bournville built by the Quaker owners of Cadbury’s Chocolates, Port Sunlight by the soap producing Lever Brothers and Saltaire by textile magnate, Sir Titus Salt for his Salt’s Mill. King Charles, while still Prince of Wales, developed Poundbury on Duchy of Cornwall land just outside Dorchester in Dorset.

There are around 30 model villages in total, dotted all around the country, but we’ve chosen to highlight homes on the market in the following places (the dates that they were built, are shown in brackets):

• New Lanark, Lanarkshire, Scotland (1786)
• Tremadog, Caernarfonshire, Wales (1798)
• Saltaire, West Yorkshire (1853)
• Bromborough Pool (aka “Price’s Village”) (1853)
• Bournville, Worcestershire (1879)
• Port Sunlight, Cheshire (1888)
• Creswell Model Village, Derbyshire (1895)
• New Earswick, Yorkshire (1904)
• The Garden Village, Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire (1908)
• Silver End, Essex (1926)
• Poundbury, Dorset (ongoing since 1993)

£95,000 – 175 Model Village, Creswell, Worksop, Nottinghamshire S80 4BT

• Three bedrooms
• Two reception rooms
• Ideal purchase for a first time buyer or investor
• Great for a growing family
• Good commuter links at J29 M1

£160,000 – Manor Place, Bromborough, Wirral CH62 4TU

• Investment opportunity
• Two bedroom mid-terrace property in the heart of Bromborough
• Entrance hall, two reception rooms, kitchen, downstairs wet room & WC
• Two bedrooms, airing cupboard, patio area, rear garden & on street parking
• Located close to the Croft Retail Park and plenty of other amenities
• A great catchment area for primary schools and in easy reach of transport links

£220,000 – Long Row, Lanark ML11 9DD

• Spacious three-bedroom end-terrace property
• Lounge and further living room
• Fully fitted kitchen
• Three, good-sized bedrooms
• Family bathroom with four-piece suite
• Picturesque village of New Lanark

£230,000 – Duke of York Cottages, Port Sunlight, Wirral CH62 5DD

• Double fronted cottage
• Three bedrooms
• 846 Sq ft approx
• Freehold
• Recently renovated and ready to move into
• Sought after area
• Spacious accommodation
• Well presented throughout

£255,000 – Caroline Street, Saltaire, Shipley, West Yorkshire BD18

• Private paved garden
• On-street parking
• Delightful gas fire in the living room
• Recently refurbished
• Wonderful views and surroundings

£270,000 – Chestnut Grove, New Earswick, North Yorkshire YO32

• Grade II Listed
• End terrace house
• 2 bedrooms
• Large rear garden
• Off-street parking
• Overlooking central green
• Subject to estate charge of approx. £380 per annum for upkeep of surrounding area

£310,000 – Market Square, Tremadog, Porthmadog, Gwynedd LL49 9RB

• 3 bedroom end of terrace house
• Master bedroom benefits from an adjoining dressing room with wash hand basin
• Family bathroom
• Shower room
• Lounge
• Breakfast room
• Kitchen
• Utility room
• Full-width attic rooms
• Original timber panelled walls
• Inglenook fireplaces
• Decorative tiled flooring
• Sash windows
• Rear courtyard with gate through to a 21′ stone outbuilding/barn which is arranged over two floors
• Enclosed orchard packed with trees and plants
• Timber constructed garden room
• Gravelled area providing off-road parking

£375,000 – Jedburgh, Beaumont Road, Bournville, Birmingham B30 1NX

• Conveniently Located End Terraced Period Residence
• Well Presented Throughout
• Interconnecting Reception Rooms and separate Dining Room
• Recently Refurbished (2023) Modern Kitchen with a range of base and wall units and integrated dishwasher, wine cooler, ovens and hob with extractor over
• Three bedrooms
• Elegant, first floor Family Bathroom comprising bath with shower over, wash basin and wc
• Access to a large loft area with potential for conversion (subject to usual permissions)
• Recently renovated (2023) Rear Garden laid to lawn with a large raised patio area
• Side gate with easy access to the rear of the property
• Very well situated for sought after schools to include Bournville Village Primary, St Francis Church of England primary school and nursery and Kings Norton Girls’ and Boys’ Secondary Schools

£399,950 – The Oval, Hull HU8 8PN

Located in the esteemed Garden Village area, The Oval offers a highly sought after address with a sense of community and exclusivity.
• 4-bed semi-detached house
• Four reception rooms
• Front and rear gardens
• Off-street parking

£475,000 – Francis Way, Silver End, Witham, Essex, CM8

Situated in the garden village of Silver End is this beautiful 1920s detached property which has been extended and renovated to an extremely high standard. This property was originally built for the Industrialist Frank Crittall’s senior staff and was inhabited by his Head Gardener.

• Detached house
• Four bedrooms
• Generous plot
• Kitchen/diner
• En-suite to bedroom one
• Family bathroom
• Freehold
• Numerous off-road parking

£600,000 – Woodlands Crescent, Poundbury DT1 3RQ

• Elegant town house situated in the heart of Poundbury
• A leafy location in much sought after crescent
• Four bedrooms & two bathrooms
• First floor dual aspect sitting room
• Kitchen/dining room
• Attractive enclosed garden
• Double garage with an EV charger fitted