THREE friends have painstakingly created a perfect scale model of a traditional Tudor inn.
Richard Williams, Lou Sharkie and Robert Rowlands have been working on the oak-built masterpiece for more than four years.
Having carefully researched authentic construction techniques, the friends set to work on the model with them each spending two days a week in the workshop.
Based on the black and white Tudor buildings lining the streets of Chester, the model features 3,800 roof tiles, 4,000 bricks, 4,500 cobbles, more than 5,000 pins and six chimneys.
Now on public display at Chester Cathedral, the intricate creation is believed to be the only one of its kind.
Named “The Oaks Coaching Inn”, it contains more than 30 hand-crafted pieces of furniture including a working grandfather clock, four-poster bed and banqueting table.
The friends – who call themselves The Hawarden Shed Club – were asked to build a play house by Richard’s brother.
“We started out but after about a month we got serious and it has been a real tour de force,” said Richard.
“We are all retired now but none of us were carpenters. It is just our hobby.
“It has all been made by hand in our workshop and we are over the moon.”
Retired teacher Richard, ex-RAF technician Lou and former draughtsman Robert, who all live in Hawarden, are delighted their handiwork is now being enjoyed by the public.
“People we’re coming to see it on the first day and they were blown away,” said Richard, 70.
“That’s what we wanted and we think it epitomises all the buildings you can see in Chester.
“The whole thing is made out of little bits of oak we have begged and scrounged from people. We researched traditional techniques and picked out the best and put it all together.”
The friends have previously built a scale windmill based on the Moulin Rouge, which now sits proudly on Mostyn Street in Llandudno. Once the public display has ended, the friends hope to find a good home for the model inn.
“We don’t have a clue what it’s worth but it is special and it is unique,” he said.
“We aren’t quite sure what will happen to the model but we really want people to see it in person because the photographs don’t do it justice.”
The model will be on display in the Chapter House at Chester Cathedral until February 15.