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1950s knitted Norfolk village characters raise £15,000

Penny Evans and Margaret Brown Knitted family in 1950s sitting roomPenny Evans and Margaret Brown

Buyers have snapped up hundreds of handmade items and vintage props used to recreate life in a 1953 village.

A group of crafters spent 20 months knitting everything from a cast of 60 characters to tiny jam tarts and bunting to transform Caston, Norfolk.

A butcher's, baker's, greengrocer's and family sitting room - complete with wireless playing the Queen's coronation - formed part of a nostalgia weekend.

"We lived and breathed the 1950s," said creative director Lois Gill.

Knitted greengrocer
Browns the grocer featured knitted cauliflowers, cabbages and pineapples
Penny Evans and Margaret Brown Grocery boxes made by craftersPenny Evans and Margaret Brown
Authentic packaging was recreated for the grocer's shop
Knitted Queen Elizabeth II
The Queen could be hired out for events to raise further funds, the group said

The crafters met for regular knitting and sewing sessions and scoured auction sites and charity shops for authentic props.

They used a lifesize model of the Queen - designed, knitted and embroidered by the group - as a centrepiece in the village church at the weekend.

Hundreds of people also visited 12 gardens featuring a knitted street party, beach scene, children playing and a 1950s kitchen.

Penny Evans and Margaret Brown Knitted Coronation street partyPenny Evans and Margaret Brown
A street party for the Queen's coronation featured in a village garden

While the Queen and some figures will be kept for future events, about 600 items have already been sold for prices ranging from 50p to £50, raising £15,000 for the village hall, church and community projects.

"As we were preparing for the event I had knitted people all lined up on my sofa, watching TV, and piles of knitted children waiting to be clothed," said Ms Gill.

"It's been a mammoth task."

Penny Evans said: "I had the beach scene in my garden and lots of people said 'I can remember knitted swimming costumes'.

"Frank Brown's grocer's shop was full of vintage packaging, which sparked some memories.

"So many people in the village got involved. It was a real community effort."