AN ICONIC Lake District landmark featured on countless holiday photos, postcards and even an oil painting by influential artist Kurt Schwitters – has been miniaturised in Honister green slate.

Standing eight feet high, the minutely detailed model of Ambleside’s world-famous Bridge House is the work of craftsman Edward Robinson, the builder behind Flookburgh’s Lakeland Miniature Village attraction.

Edward, 69, has long been fascinated by the 18th century apple store-cum-bridge, which straddles Stock Beck. Once home to a family of eight, the National Trust property is described by Armitt museum curator Deborah Walsh as “a quirky yet peculiarly adaptable building” and "a little tourist mecca" that “symbolises Ambleside”.

Edward started work on his potted version of the curiosity back in April, around the time of his birthday, using hand tools such as hammers, trowels and a spirit level.

And this week the logistics of lifting and transporting the weighty, yet delicate, masterpiece to Honister, England’s last working slate mine and a popular visitor attraction, was put into action.

Joe Weir, whose late brother Mark rescued the centuries-old mine, supplied the slate to Edward and said: “I was just delighted that he was willing to make something and we can put it on display.”

The Flookburgh builder memorised every feature of picturesque Bridge House before embarking upon the “very, very enjoyable” project.

Apart from “one or two pieces” of Hodge Close slate, the model is made entirely from the renowned, olive-green slabs extracted from Fleetwith Pike, at Honister.

“It’s a beautiful colour,” said Edward. “It’s lovely to work with and it splits easily.”

He told the Gazette: “A lot of it was done by studying Bridge House and then it stuck in my mind after that.

“I just wonder, how would anybody have thought of building something like that? It’s unique.”

Meanwhile, Edward is continuing to add to his miniature village, which he started 23 years ago at Flookburgh in response to the extreme tiredness caused by ME. The attraction is home to lovingly crafted models of Lakeland gems such as Beatrix Potter’s Hill Top, at Near Sawrey, and Townend farmhouse, at Troutbeck.