I discovered, with a bit of detective work, that many of the 17 concrete buildings I have already were made by a company called Whelan’s in Sheerness on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent.
Last Saturday I went, via the bullet train from St Pancras and Sittingbourne, to Sheerness to see if I could find them and I did. Amazing!
They have lots of different building all about the right size and the prices range from £8 for the chip shop to £15 for the castle which is the most expensive item they had. What a saving. I have been paying between £40 and £65 for them at a local garden centre. I actually think they are more detailed than the old Tuxcraft buildings. There is a church, pub, cottage, bridge, antique shop, oust house, school, vets and stables and although some are a touch smaller than 16mm they all look fine when painted and in the garden.
Anyway on bank holiday Monday I returned in the car. It’s really easy to get to and as we left at 7am there was no traffic on the M25. Whelan’s is open from 9 – 5, 7 days a week. We bought five things and it came to £56 in all. If you are ever in Kent it is well worth a visit. Certainly a lot easier than making them yourself and probably cheaper than the materials too. They paint up well with acrylics and I have spayed all mine with exterior varnish to make them last longer.
They are very helpful and they have trollies or will help you to the car with heavy items. Here’s their link if you need it: http://www.whelansgardenornaments.com/ they have loads of other concrete ornaments for the garden and there is a garden centre right opposite too so you can take the wife I am sure she’d love it too!
Last Saturday I went, via the bullet train from St Pancras and Sittingbourne, to Sheerness to see if I could find them and I did. Amazing!
They have lots of different building all about the right size and the prices range from £8 for the chip shop to £15 for the castle which is the most expensive item they had. What a saving. I have been paying between £40 and £65 for them at a local garden centre. I actually think they are more detailed than the old Tuxcraft buildings. There is a church, pub, cottage, bridge, antique shop, oust house, school, vets and stables and although some are a touch smaller than 16mm they all look fine when painted and in the garden.
Anyway on bank holiday Monday I returned in the car. It’s really easy to get to and as we left at 7am there was no traffic on the M25. Whelan’s is open from 9 – 5, 7 days a week. We bought five things and it came to £56 in all. If you are ever in Kent it is well worth a visit. Certainly a lot easier than making them yourself and probably cheaper than the materials too. They paint up well with acrylics and I have spayed all mine with exterior varnish to make them last longer.
They are very helpful and they have trollies or will help you to the car with heavy items. Here’s their link if you need it: http://www.whelansgardenornaments.com/ they have loads of other concrete ornaments for the garden and there is a garden centre right opposite too so you can take the wife I am sure she’d love it too!
(Only joking, I'm sure they are quite happy making gnomes and all the other stuff they do!).
:'(
