In 1982 Yorkshireman David Tate expanded on a childhood hobby of making models of buildings he loved by founding Lilliput Lane - with the aim of creating a business in making miniature houses more realistic and with more accurate architectural details than he had ever seen before. He opened up workshops and studios in Skirsgill, near Penrith within the Lake District in Cumbria. Lilliput Lane cottages continue to be handmade there to this day.

Each Lilliput Lane features a miniature cottage or historic building, based on an already existing building or a type of property common to a chosen location. Each model comes with a set of deeds and a card explaining which property or area the model is based on, as well as information detailing how that property or area can be found.

The accuracy of the models which based on already existing properties is renowned across the country and internationally - Lilliput Lane houses are now sold in more than 50 countries. The popularity of the Lilliput Lanes models grew so rapidly that just four years from setting up business, a Collectors Club was established. Thousands of people are now members of the Lilliput Lane Collectors Club.