The Children of Green Knowe

The Manor at Hemingford Grey is a fascinating place to visit. We lived in the next village for nearly 30 years and often took visitors there for Diana Boston’s guided tours. Lucy Boston (her mother-in-law, I think) led an interesting life - she was thought by many to be a German spy when she moved in to the house - and she was multi-talented. There were exquisite examples of her quilting in the house. Do go and visit if you or your children are Green Knowe fans and are spending time in Cambridgeshire.

Livey

You need to post this on a new thread under ‘Health’ to generate some advice on this.

I first encountered Toms Midnight Garden on radio. Children's Hour, many years ago. The ending had me in tears, ass it did when the series was repeated and when I bought the book! Every time I read it I well up at the end... I think it is very similar to the ending of The Railway Children, which I defy anyone to see without sobbing...

Children's Hour was a brilliant programme which introduced me to a number of authors. Masefield's earlier book 'The Midnight Folk' was one, which I think is actually better than the 'Box of Delights'.

Heliotrope

I live near Hemmingford Grey where Diana Boston lives in a lovely part medieval Manor House, she is a delightful lady and at certain times the house and garden are open to the public.
My grandchildren read the books and were thrilled to go round the house in which the stories were based

It was one of my favourite gardens to visit when I lived near Ely.

Hello, hoping someone can advise.
For years I have been taking prescription water tablets.
I was then told by cardiologist that tablets I take for heart problems would deal with water retention. And the other tablet was stopped
It doesn’t work very well, and legs and feet ache and swell.
Going back to doctors is not really an option- cardiologist has left for pastures new, and to get appointments here is probably like the rest of the country ( even though I am in Wales) an impossible task.
I am hoping that you ladies may take something that can be bought over the counter that may help me.
Tried Dandelion but no good I am afraid.

I’ve just discovered a podcast called Hypnogoria. He talks about horror stories but also loves children’s fantasy. He did a podcast in which he did a commentary for The Box of Delights so last night I rewatched it and had the commentary on. It was so informative and funny. They used so many locations. They went to Scotland because they needed snow but got 4 feet of it…they still had to carry on filming, though. They damaged one castle with the pyrotechnics and the castle haven’t allowed any filming there since. You can go on group trips to visit the locations! I then realised he’d done a podcast about The Children of Green Knowe so I fell asleep listening to it last night. When Lucy Boston bought the manor she’d seen a house that was up for sale and went to see it. She turned up at the manor thinking it was the one advertised but it wasn’t. However, that very morning, the owners of the manor had decided to sell it so she bought it and renovated it. I’d love to see it. I didn’t realise how many people watched both series on the run up to Christmas each year. It’s certainly made my Christmas.

skate

Could never see why Brief Encounter is so highly thought of. Those two characters are just annoying with their silly sentimental mooning around. Get a grip!

Happy new year to you too. Fun Sponge. 😖

I read The Dark Is Rising sequence as an adult, having bought them for one of my children. I thought they were magical, particularly The Dark Is Rising itself and The Grey King. I bought the books recently for my 11 year old granddaughter but I don't think she has read them yet. I listened to the production on BBC Sounds when I was ill and confined to bed. It was done well.

I remember watching The Children Of Green Knowe with my eldest daughter when she was little. Magical without being frightening. I don't think I have seen The Box Of Delights.

Do any of you remember the radio version of ‘The Box of Delights’? It was aired in the weeks running up to Christmas in the 1950s. Even today, after all these years, if I hear the music that introduced it, ‘Carol Symphony’ by Victor Hely-Hutchinson I can feel the excitement and anticipation of the joy of Christmas. As a child I found it the most magical story with wonderful strange, scary characters, Cole Hawkins, the Punch and Judy man and the horrid Abner Brown. I have not read the book for a few years, I must hunt it out, I have it somewhere. The language is probably too archaic for today’s children but as an adult, it adds to the period charm.

My son bought me the DVD but I have never watched it or seen it on TV as it might spoil the magic it has in my imagination.

Could never see why Brief Encounter is so highly thought of. Those two characters are just annoying with their silly sentimental mooning around. Get a grip!

I live near Hemmingford Grey where Diana Boston lives in a lovely part medieval Manor House, she is a delightful lady and at certain times the house and garden are open to the public.
My grandchildren read the books and were thrilled to go round the house in which the stories were based

I still love reading many treasured books both adult and childrens books. Was a very early reader and still have books by my bed and chair and everywhere. I read Jane Eyre when I was about 8 and frightened myself with the mad woman and the fire scene. Loved the touch of a book my mother won as a prize with the most beautiful blue binding, thin pages and beautiful illusrations on almost tissue paper. You had to have clean hands and sit still to look at it. For films my husband and I always enjoyed watching Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard in Brief Encounters, and Humphrey Bogart and Katherine ? in the African Queen and of course the Railway Children which suited all the family at christmas. I am a widow now but remember lots of happy times when these films come on. I used to be silly and take the mickey from celia johnsons accent for half the day!! Enjoy your books and films and favourite music too

The Narnia we watched was the TV series. I know there is a later film, with James McAvoy as the Faun, Mr Tumnis, but I loved the older TV version. Good luck finding a copy.

I’m now watching the extras. I always love watching the extras on DVD’s. Interviews on Blue Peter with Janet Ellis. They used real wolves: there were only two acting wolves at the time, Queenie and Quentin, who were used in several films and series. When they needed lots of wolves they used made up malinoise. It’s bitter sweet seeing Patrick Troughton being interviewed. And the boy did all of the bare back riding except when he had to jump anything.It’s strange listening to them talk about the state of the art special effects that were used. I think I’m going to have to buy the Narnia dvd!

The Dark Is Rising is a children's book. It's quite dark with a lot of references to the Old Religion and some very scary situations. But it's really good if you like that sort of thing.

I’ve just watched the whole of The Box of Delights and, unlike The Children of Green Knowe, don’t remember it at all. So it’s like watching it for the first time. It was wonderful. I was on the edge of my seat sometimes. All those people being scrobbled! I don’t know The Dark is Rising although I did notice that it was on BBC Sounds a while back.

MayBee70 thank you for mentioning the DVD of The Children Of Greene Knowe. My son and I were looking for a DVD of it about 20 years ago and found that it had never been released. My son searched the internet and managed to find a copy that someone had recorded. It was very poor quality but we used to watch it every year. Somehow it disappeared and I had given up hope of getting another copy, but thanks to you, I've just ordered it from eBay.

I watch The Box Of Delights every Christmas - such a pleasure to see Patrick Troughtan again - and I usually reread The Dark Is Rising to really get me in the mood.

I've bought her Tom's Midnight Garden, too. I went to Ely Cathedral a few years ago purely because of the book. My cousin introduced me to the book and my ex even bought me a clock that chimed for my 40th birthday! I saw a wonderful theatre adaptation of Tom's Midnight Garden a few years ago. I think the tv series was quite good but it never stuck in my mind the way that The Children of Green Knowe did. It was beautifully made and reading up on the history of the production it took a long time for the producer to get it made. Of course, last night I cried when Tolly finally got to see Feste. I've always been obsessed with dolls houses and rocking horses and now I know why!

When I first read your post this morning I was going to say I love Tom's Midnight Garden.
I also love the Green Knowe books and the tv film.

I hope children today still read them. My daughters loved them. In their 40s now!

Maybee70 you are a kindred spirit, loved watching Box of Delights last Christmas, oh that haunting magical theme tune
Isn't it wonderful revisiting these stories that have become such treasured friends, thanks for reminding me about Green Knowe, will look out for it now.

I’ve never read the books but I bought the first one for my granddaughter but asked her if I could read it first. I was wondering if the ghostly theme would scare her though, even though I never found it scary. My all time favourite children’s book ( one that I was introduced to as an adult) is Tom’s Midnight Garden so I guess it’s a subject matter that captivates me.

I loved reading the Green Knowe books, and was introduced to them by DS2, many years ago.
I wrote to Lucy Boston, and she sent me a post card. Unfortunately it has disappeared, along with a couple of books that we treasured!

I loved watching both of those programmes with my children. I think it's the special effects in Box of Delights that are very dated now. The other one was the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, although our sound quality on that was poor.
Happy days. Enjoy.