A year of small occasions
The work, gatherings and journeys that give the year its shape.
Spring brings new tallow up from the river to Amberwick Passage. At Little Tallowmere, the Mere Candle auction lets the grazing of the Mere Mead: the last bid before a pin falls from the candle takes the grass for the year.
After harvest supper comes Ockham Hollow’s Turnout, when the working horses wear ribbons. In October, Brindlecombe’s teasel market stretches over three days, with buyers down from the Yorkshire mills. Bartholomew has his autumn week at Dorothea’s inn.
Winter gathers people indoors and sometimes changes their travel plans. There are Christmas parcels, familiar crockery and the sleeper home. The year gives the same places different things to do.
Places to visit
Customs & details
Look closer at the illustration ↗The local year
Spring
New tallow
Amberwick PassageOnce a year
The Mere Candle
Little TallowmereAfter harvest supper
The Turnout
The Glebe field beside the church.
Ockham HollowOctober
The teasel market
BrindlecombeAutumn
Bartholomew’s week at the inn
The Copper DormouseWinter
The sleeper home
Winter settles over Little Tallowmere.
Little Tallowmere
Stories
The Finest Horses at Ockham Hollow
Spend a country day with Reuben and Martha Tapp as the working horses of Ockham Hollow have their Turnout.
With Reuben Tapp, Martha Tapp
The Sleeper Train to Brindlecombe
Leave the toyshop with Bartholomew Bellweather and take the overnight sleeper towards his sister’s inn.
With Bartholomew Bellweather, Tobias Tallowick, Dorothea
The Winter Sleeper Home from Brindlecombe
Say goodnight to Dorothea, then travel home through the winter with Bartholomew and Henry Bellweather.
With Bartholomew Bellweather, Dorothea, Tobias Tallowick, Edward Bellweather, Henry Bellweather, Lucy Bellweather
Snowed In at the Copper Dormouse
Dorothea means to close the inn for a week and paint. The snow has other plans for her household.
With Dorothea, Beatrice Thistleby, Louisa Thistleby, Tobias Tallowick