When we were in England recently, my husband kindly let me dress him up for the Jane Austen Festival in B
ath, as I wrote about in my last post. So when he asked to take a day or two to visit a place he was interested in, I of course agreed. Poor guy had it coming!
He wanted to go to a town called Witney in Oxfordshire. He is interested in the history of the “point blankets” once made there, which were traded for beaver pelts during the fur trade of the 18th and 19th centuries. Those pelts became gentlemen’s top hats—rather like the one he wore that very week.
Capote (coats made from point blankets). I’m the one on the right.
Then, lo and behold, I stumbled across a reminder that Witney and its neighbor, Wood Green, inspired a series of novels I’ve long enjoyed: The Thrush Green novels by Miss Read, the pen name of Dora Saint, who once lived there. (Thrush Green was loosely based on the village of Wood Green, while Witney played the larger town of Lulling in the books.) Suddenly I was as eager to visit the area as my husband was!
After visiting the museums of Witney, Brian and I drove up the winding hill to the nearby village of Wood Green: a church, pub, and cluster of homes built of golden Cotswold stone around a tree-lined green. Upon the grassy expanse, a father and his young son played cricket. How perfect. Wood Green is still a peaceful, lovely place all these years later, though no doubt the roads are busier than when Dora Saint lived there, and some newer houses have been built among the old.
While I posed for a photo in front of The Three Pigeons (The Two Pheasants in the books), I was photo-bombed by a man from inside the pub. We shared a laugh and then he urged us to come inside.
We were warmly welcomed by a half dozen folks—regulars, the owner (who reminded me very much of curmudgeonly Albert Piggot from the series), and an older woman (and her parrot) who had known Dora Saint.
We 
enjoyed talking with them all for half an hour or so, accepted some good-natured teasing and gave some in return. It reminded me all over again of why I love English villages and why I decided to write my own series set in one, TALES FROM IVY HILL. Book One, The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill, releases December 1st.
In the meantime, you might want to give the Thrush Green series a try (they’re especially enjoyable in audio versions). I should warn you, however, that these are not action-packed page-turners by today’s standards. But as they transport you to life in a charming English village, they are thoroughly enjoyable anyway.
I was glad to find the birthplace of a favorite series that day. Have you read any of Miss Read’s novels?
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I have always loved reading your blogs, especially the ones based on your love of Jane Austen. She is a favorite of mine, too. Then when this blog held so much about Miss Read’s books, I really perked up. I have all of her books. First found her in the local library, fell in love with her style, and, because I lived in Scotland for 4 years as a teenager, and went to a Scottish school, I loved all the references to school life over there. I have 3 Kindles now, and am only buying ebooks, but have determined to keep Miss Read’s books as they are. When I was on the hunt for her books, I read them as I found them, and then realized they would be so much better read chronologically, that I started re-reading them so I could do just that. By keeping them in order on my bookcase, I can start the process all over without having to look up publishing dates. It’s good to find another Miss Read fan. Thank you.
How wonderful that you have them all!
Yes! I have read several of Miss Read’s books, and have enjoyed some of the audio books as well. I think I remember that Jan Karon enjoyed these books, which maybe had some influence on her Mitford novels.
Thanks for sharing, Julie! Looking forward to your new series! Our book club has enjoyed several of your books, and, as our church’s librarian, I have bought almost every one!
I read that Jan Karon’s books were partly inspired by Thrush Green, too. Makes sense to me. Thanks, Karen.
What lovely pictures, Julie. It reminds me of the first time my husband and I went to England. Our friend there stopped off in a village (I wish I could recall the name) for us to explore the church there. As we were enjoying the churchyard our friend mentioned to the people in the pub across the road that we were Americans. Upon hearing this one of the patrons called out “Our pub is older than your country!” We laughed and agreed and we later found out that particular pub used to be a witches coven! I’m so glad you mentioned the Miss Read novels. I’ve seen them when I’m shelving at the library but I never really knew anything about them. Now that I have a recommendation I will definitely give Miss Read a try. 😊
Fun story, Jen. Thanks for sharing!
Such a lovely find, Julie! How wonderful that you met someone who actually remembered Dora Saint. 🙂
I’ve never read the Thrush Green books, but the brief description of them reminds me a lot of the Larkrise to Candleford television series. I’ve been watching episodes sporadically for several years and recently picked up again when Amazon brought it back to their Prime listings. I’m in Season 3 and really enjoy the escape to simpler times.
I love Larkrise to Candleford, too, Karen!
Hi Julie, it sounds like a wonderful trip for you and your husband. We had a similar pub experience in a village near Blenheim Palace. We struck up a conversation with some very friendly local people, and they told us about a hidden public gate to the Palace grounds. We took their advice and had a lovely walking tour of the grounds, the palace exterior, and then visited the spacious gift shop all for free. Fun memories. I will look for Thrush Green. Thanks for the recommendation!
Oh, fun, Carrie. A beautiful place.
I have not read any of Miss Read’s novels. Now, I want to read them. 🙂
If you do, let me know what you think!
Was you ‘point blanket’ coat purchased on the trip? Why are the blankets called ‘point blankets’and how did your husband become interested in them?
p.s. I’m loving your posts about England. 🙂
Hi Becky. No, we didn’t buy one, as stylish as they are. They just had one to try on at the Witney Blanket Hall museum. I’m no expert, but my understanding is that the blankets had varying lines or points woven on one edge that indicated its size and therefore its trade value. My husband loves history and is intrigued by the fur trading past of Northern Minnesota, not far from where we live.
I have and love all of Miss Read’s novels. So wonderful that you met someone who knew Dora Saint. Looking forward to your new book.
You have them all, Fay? That’s great. Thanks!
I loved this post! Your reminder of the Miss Read books was a joy. I got hooked on them about 10 years ago when we were at our cottage in northern Indiana. The tiny library there had several of those stories and I so enjoyed reading them that summer and the summer following. Maybe my library here has them so I can read them again.
Your trip sounds like a wonderful adventure. Thanks for sharing!
Love meeting fellow Miss Read fans!
I’ve read all the Miss Read books, and have most of them! They are nice and relaxing to read, compared to some books that leave you exhausted at the end 🙂 Thanks for the pictures!
I agree, Margaret. Not much happens, but they are sure soothing and the characters endearing.
I have not read them yet. I do look forward to looking into them. You look like you had such a wonderful trip.
Thanks, Cynthia.
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