22 April 2013
Last updated at 05:11 GMT
The village is made from traditional materials such as local limestone and miniature Cotswold stone slates
A model village in Gloucestershire, thought to be one of the oldest in England, has been Grade II listed.
Work on the Bourton-on-the-Water attraction began in 1936. It took local builders five years to complete and is an exact replica of the village.
English Heritage said with such excellent craftsmanship, the “charming creation” deserved its recognition.
“It’s great. It shows that we’re a unique site, there’s nothing else like us,” said owner Julian Atherton.
“There are other model villages but there are none that are Cotswold stone on the scale of an actual village.
“So it’s really nice that English Heritage has bothered to pick us out and make us listed.”
‘Highly unusual’
The village is made from authentic materials such as locally-quarried limestone and miniature Cotswold stone slates.
The models are so detailed, visitors are even able to see pews inside the parish church of St Lawrence through delicately stained-glass windows.
They can even recognise the waterways flowing through the village that use running water from the village itself.
The craftsmanship is so detailed even the parish church pews are visible
The model’s Grade II-status from Heritage Minister Ed Vaizey, means its “special interest” must be taken into account if changes to its appearance or location are proposed.
“This may be a highly unusual listing but it is no less worthy of its Grade II-listed status,” said Mr Vaizey.
“The craftsmanship involved in creating what is a hugely loved family attraction is second to none.”
English Heritage, who advised the on the listing, said the attraction is thought to be the second ever built in the UK, the first being Bekonscot at Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire.
Deborah Williams from the organisation said the model’s value was “greatly added to” by the number of listed buildings it records and the fact it is set within the grounds of a Grade II listed pub.
Many of the original buildings in Bourton-on-the-Water are listed themselves, with the oldest dating back to the 17th Century.