[MOC] Medieval River Town Book Nook – Alternate Build Of 31120 Medieval Castle

[Wurger49]

I had a blast designing and playing around with the Medieval Town Book Nook, and I’ve enjoyed it so much that it’s earned a permanent spot on my work desk. I wanted to expand on the idea and managed to get two copies of 31120 Medieval Castle from some mates who had them spare in their collections.

From a design point of view, 31120 offers more wattle-and-daub buildings compared to 31168, making it perfect for creating a full streetscape along one side of the book nook. On top of that, my son and I both loved the set’s watermill, so I knew it had to be worked into the design. That led me to create a river town scene.

Structural Design
·         Gate and Walls – Built completely solid for strength and easy handling.
·         Three-Storey Tower – Brick built on 3 sides for both play and stability.
·         Base – A sturdy foundation patterned in dark and light gray for visual texture.

Scene Details
·         Left Side – Entering through the gate you’ll find a food stall, well, and blacksmith tucked beneath two wattle-and-daub houses, with a treasure and throne room hidden within.
·         Center – The three-storey tower with its watermill sits proudly on an island, the waterways powering its wheel. A barred door at the base is partly concealed by foliage.
·         Right Side – A wooden staircase leads down to ground level where chickens scratch and a mouse scurries about, while a small chapel is nestled just behind the main gate.

The Atmosphere
This build captures a slice-of-life medieval scene: a river town bustling with homes, a market, a watermill, and townsfolk, all contained within fortified walls and gates. It’s meant to feel like just one part of a larger medieval town or castle complex, packed with little details to discover.
 
And of course, the green dragon fits right in with this setting—almost like Smaug swooping down on Lake-town from The Hobbit. Whether displayed on its own or slotted neatly between your books, I hope you enjoy building and displaying this medieval book nook as much as I do!

 

Instructions are on Rebrickable: https://reb.li/m/235387