In pictures: Dolls house collection seeks new home

The collection was gathered over decades by Ginny Needham's mother

A unique set of dolls houses, gathered over decades in southern Scotland, is seeking a new home.

The collection was put together in Auchencairn by Ginny Needham's mother Moira Innes - with a lot of help from her father Raymond.

Due to family circumstances, Ginny is now hoping to find a new owner for the houses.

The attention to detail involved in each one of the little homes and shops is remarkable.

The artist's house - a tribute to Charles Rennie Mackintosh - is part of the collection

The house features a recreation of the artist himself

They include a recreation of their own home and Charles Rennie Mackintosh's Hill House - complete with the artist himself.

"The collection started with one house that my dad and mum put together from a kit," Ginny explained.

"My dad did the graphics and painted it all and made some furniture and mum collected little bits and pieces to furnish it, researched from books on the period that she wanted to cover.

"She visited shops and dolls house fairs to get all the bits and pieces - all pre-internet times so it was a case of going out and finding the bits that you wanted which she really enjoyed."

The collection was built up over many years

Great attention to detail has been paid to the interior of the shops and houses

"The collection has grown from there - they purchased some one-off pieces from local craftspeople," she said.

"The final part of the collection were the two Mackintosh houses - we've got a building called the artist's house based on Hill House and we have got tea rooms which are based on the tea rooms in Comrie in Perthshire."

The couple worked together on the houses and shops

Ginny hopes the whole collection can be kept together

A lot of time and effort went into building up the collection, including visiting places they hoped to recreate or get inspiration from.

They also pay homage to a particular era in British history.

"My mum was very interested in Victorian times and the shops are based around that period," said Ginny.

She is now in the process of trying to find a new owner for the houses.

The collection started with one kit and carried on from there

Pieces to go inside the tiny shops and homes were gathered from numerous locations

"It would be lovely for the whole collection to go somewhere where people could enjoy it," said Ginny.

"I went with mum to visit places where people's collections were on display and it would be really nice for that to happen as well.

"You would need a lot of space - so I think it may be split up into individual pieces."

The Victorian era was a favourite inspiration

Each house opens up to reveal a detailed interior

However, there is one property she intends to keep hold of.

"My favourite is a toy shop which is full of beautiful little toys," said Ginny.

"It is a piece that I am going to keep for my family so that if we have grandchildren they can enjoy all the bits in it as well."

A fishmonger and a seaside scene are part of the collection

Many of the houses were inspired by places the family had visited

Ginny remembers going to see other people's dolls house collections with her mother

A toy shop is among the many premises recreated

Any prospective buyer would need a lot of space to keep the collection

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