Local model car museum on the move
The Cloverlands Model Car Museum is moving home, leaving its long standing location at the Montgomery Institute for a new home in Llanfair Caereinion at the terminus of the Light Railway.
The move comes following the sad death of Gillian Rogers-Tomlinson over Christmas and the need to find larger premises for the growing collection. She had built up the collection for over 60 years as a motoring enthusiast and model maker.
She drove a Singer Le Mans for 40 years to racing events in Europe and was also a motoring writer, publishing her personal motoring history entitled 'Driving Through The Decades”.
The collection consists of over 5,000 model cars from several collections, including one from Canada, 1,000 Grand Prix and touring cars and a fine collection of American cars.
“We are moving to the terminus of the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway with our 14 collections, some 5,000 models, in time for Easter,” said a spokesperson for the collection.
“We intend to be open on Saturdays from 10.30am-4.30pm until October as well as special train days.
“We welcome all including school and classic and other car clubs with helpful and knowledgeable guides to show you round our great exhibits. Admission is free but a donation is expected.”
Cloverlands attracted around 2,000 visitors every year to its Montgomery site, but the move to such a busy tourist hub will see that number incase significantly.
The need for a more accessible home was another reason behind the move which will start today (Tuesday) with the packing of the cars ready for moving.
Montgomery Mayor, Jill Kibble, said: “We will miss you in Montgomery but there will doubtless be many more visitors at your new home. Thank you for being with us for many years and all the best for the new venture!”
Cloverlands Museum was originally founded in a barn at the home of Gillian in Llansantffraid, who had accumulated a private collection of some 1,500 model cars, some dating back to the 1940s. Many of these had been made by Gillian herself including the original prototype of the car that would star in the children’s TV series Brum.
As officers of the Montgomery Institute, Bruce Lawson and his friend Roy Marthews, who also sadly died over Christmas, offered to display the collection. Miss Rogers agreed and the models were moved to Montgomery in May 2015.
Further acquisitions since then have developed the collection into the largest public collection in Wales, and the second largest in the United Kingdom.
Whilst the Cloverlands museum is not directly railway related, W&LLR trustees felt there could be many advantages in having this added attraction, and a scheme to accommodate it alongside Llanfair Connections is being developed.
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