Introducing The Chantry Manor

Hello Everyone,

How are you all? I hope you are doing well. Welcome back to the workshop for a very special update! Today I have the absolute pleasure of introducing a brand new project to My Miniature World. 

Recently, this beautiful vintage dollhouse was passed down to me from The Catechism Centre right here in Marsaskala. The house was most likely given to them as a donation at some point, and unfortunately, they simply no longer had the room to keep it.

When they realized it needed a new home, they contacted me directly. They expressed a strong desire for the house to remain within the Marsaskala community, and knowing that I operate the only dollhouse museum in Malta, they felt they could not imagine it going to a better place. I am incredibly honoured to welcome it into the collection, especially since I do not actually have any old dollhouses in the museum! This makes it a completely unique and exciting addition to our displays.

Finding the right name for such a special piece is an important first step. I decided to name this wonderful house The Chantry Manor. The word chantry refers to a building, chapel, or endowment dedicated to religious and community purposes. Choosing this name is my way of honouring the fact that it came to me from The Catechism Centre.

I have to say, I am completely blown away by the craftsmanship. Whoever built this knew exactly how to construct a sturdy, beautiful dollhouse.

Looking at the exterior, the manor is a beautiful solid wood construction featuring a natural wood grain finish, a wide pitched roof, and a wonderfully symmetrical façade with multiple paned windows. The architecture has a very distinct British influence. This does not surprise me at all, considering Malta spent over a century as a British colony. Especially around the time of World War II, we had a large number of Royal Navy officers and British families living on the island, and those architectural tastes clearly is visible in this dollshouse.

The front panels of the house swing open like grand doors to reveal a fantastic interior layout. The centre of the home features a beautiful main hallway complete with a wooden staircase leading up to the second floor. Surrounding this central hall are five spacious rooms, some of which still feature vintage floral wallpaper.

Having a hallway and five full rooms gives me an incredible canvas to work with. I am already brainstorming how to restore these spaces while respecting the vintage charm of the original build. I absolutely cannot wait to share more of this restoration journey with you all as I bring The Chantry Manor back to its full glory!

Here is a short video too

This is all for today. I hope you'll like it and follow the journey with me. Make sure to keep tuned for the next update and latest news. 

Take Care and See You Soon.

Hugs,

Rebecca xxx