It’s interesting to note that there are a couple of models
that can have different stamps on them.
The obvious model is #33 the Pub which in total has 6 different names. This is featured at the bottom of the ‘cottage collection’ page.
Here are a couple of others which have come to light.
#37 has ‘P.O.STORES’ and also ‘THE STORES’.
#42 has simply ‘BANK’ and also ‘National Westminster Bank’.
I wonder if my father had an agreement with his bank manager to only use this bank’s name as it would have been easy to use the same model for several of the U.K. high street banks of the day, Lloyds, Barclays, Midland etc.
Some models display stamps on their sides, some as advertisements and others to commemorate special occasions.
Below are a couple of examples of different stamps on the sides of the ”crooked house” #32.
I have received this photo of another #32 with a stamp from the Hill Lodge Hotel in Sudbury, Suffolk.
20/11/2023 This shot is of another stamp, previously unknown to me.
More than likely a Wedding memento.
Other examples of advertising stamps are on the Pub #33. Both of these green background photos are from the collection of David Mower and an explanation of the pub stamp can be read on the ”Guests Collections” page.
The picture below shows, once again, the Pub, #33, with a different stamp.
The Regency House Hotel is a hotel in Bury St. Edmunds and was a particular favourite place for our family to meet. We would go into town on a Wednesday or a Saturday ( Market days) and my father would deliver cottages to shops and other outlets, and take care of business, and my mother would drag us around shopping ! Then we would all meet up at the Regency and have what would usually turn out to be a rather long lunch, usually meeting up with other friends.
In December 2019 I was made aware of an auction in Suffolk with a small collection of cottages in one lot. The description stated that one of the models had marked on it “Open Day May 26th 1976”. I asked for some photos to clarify this. The following are the photos.
It seems unusual that this model (#9) would be used as to commemorate an Open Day as it is quite a standard model. The mystery is what was the Open Day that it alludes to. That particular day was a Wednesday, not the best for an Open Day. Maybe the stamp was not added by Mudlen End but by the hosts of the Open Day ! Perhaps we may never know, another mystery wanting an answer.
Update: May 2020. I have just seen another one of the same model with the same stamp on Ebay and the seller offers the following explanation:
“J. Bibby were based in Bury St Edmunds, Framlingham and Wolsingham and was an agricultural/ animal feed company.”
Another part of the puzzle solved !!
I came across these photos on an old laptop that I rarely use. I don’t even recall seeing them before, so it was a complete surprise! It’s a standard #13 with a stamp on the side. The stamp is of the company that produced the stamp! As always, if anyone has any information or knowledge regarding this item, please let me know.
