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Katherine Hall of Cardiff played with this dolls’ house in the 1930s. It’s a miniature version of Y Bwthyn Bach – Princess Elizabeth’s playhouse in the grounds of Windsor Castle.

This dolls’ house was made in England in the mid 1930s by Tri-ang. It’s a model of the miniature thatched cottage – Y Bwthyn Bach – which was presented by the people of Wales to Princess Elizabeth on her sixth birthday in 1932. The four room cottage was built near Cardiff from materials leftover from the building of Llandough Hospital. This was no ordinary playhouse – the kitchen and bathroom had hot running water, electricity and working appliances. Most children could only dream of playing in such a house. At a cost of 56 shillings (about £105 in today’s money), some parents could afford this toy alternative.

Two storey doll's house on green wooden base with stuccoed walls and combed plaster 'thatched' roof comprising of kitchen, living room, bedroom, enterance hallway, first floor landing and garage built on left; six opening metal windows downstairs, three upstairs, two on left hand side and two at back; original imitation linoleum floor covering in upstairs rooms, but this is covered by carpets downstairs and on landing; front hinged in two parts; red front door matches double doors of garage.