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Caldicott Place
A warm family story beginning when Tim inherits a big house. Due to his father's accident, this become providential for the family's survival. They move into the house so his father can recover gradually, his mother takes in three affluent child boarders, with ultimate success.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1967
11 people are currently reading
207 people want to read
About the author
Noel Streatfeild
161 books613 followersMary Noel Streatfeild, known as Noel Streatfeild, was an author best known and loved for her children's books, including Ballet Shoes and Circus Shoes. She also wrote romances under the pseudonym
Susan Scarlett
.
She was born on Christmas Eve, 1895, the daughter of William Champion Streatfeild and Janet Venn and the second of six children to be born to the couple. Sister Ruth was the oldest, after Noel came Barbara, William ('Bill'), Joyce (who died of TB prior to her second birthday) and Richenda. Ruth and Noel attended Hastings and St. Leonard's Ladies' College in 1910. As an adult, she began theater work, and spent approximately 10 years in the theater.
During the Great War, in 1915 Noel worked first as a volunteer in a soldier's hospital kitchen near Eastbourne Vicarage and later produced two plays with her sister Ruth. When things took a turn for the worse on the Front in 1916 she moved to London and obtained a job making munitions in Woolwich Arsenal. At the end of the war in January 1919, Noel enrolled at the Academy of Dramatic Art (later Royal Academy) in London.
In 1930, she began writing her first adult novel, The Whicharts, published in 1931. In June 1932, she was elected to membership of PEN. Early in 1936, Mabel Carey, children's editor of J. M. Dent and Sons, asks Noel to write a children's story about the theatre, which led to Noel completing Ballet Shoes in mid-1936. In 28 September 1936, when Ballet Shoes was published, it became an immediate best seller.
According to Angela Bull, Ballet Shoes was a reworked version of The Whicharts. Elder sister Ruth Gervis illustrated the book, which was published on the 28th September, 1936. At the time, the plot and general 'attitude' of the book was highly original, and destined to provide an outline for countless other ballet books down the years until this day. The first known book to be set at a stage school, the first ballet story to be set in London, the first to feature upper middle class society, the first to show the limits of amateurism and possibly the first to show children as self-reliant, able to survive without running to grownups when things went wrong.
In 1937, Noel traveled with Bertram Mills Circus to research The Circus is Coming (also known as Circus Shoes). She won the Carnegie gold medal in February 1939 for this book. In 1940, World War II began, and Noel began war-related work from 1940-1945. During this time, she wrote four adult novels, five children's books, nine romances, and innumerable articles and short stories. On May 10th, 1941, her flat was destroyed by a bomb. Shortly after WWII is over, in 1947, Noel traveled to America to research film studios for her book The Painted Garden. In 1949, she began delivering lectures on children's books. Between 1949 and 1953, her plays, The Bell Family radio serials played on the Children's Hour and were frequently voted top play of the year.
Early in 1960s, she decided to stop writing adult novels, but did write some autobiographical novels, such as A Vicarage Family in 1963. She also had written 12 romance novels under the pen name "Susan Scarlett." Her children's books number at least 58 titles. From July to December 1979, she suffered a series of small strokes and moved into a nursing home. In 1983, she received the honor Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). On 11 September 1986, she passed away in a nursing home.
She was born on Christmas Eve, 1895, the daughter of William Champion Streatfeild and Janet Venn and the second of six children to be born to the couple. Sister Ruth was the oldest, after Noel came Barbara, William ('Bill'), Joyce (who died of TB prior to her second birthday) and Richenda. Ruth and Noel attended Hastings and St. Leonard's Ladies' College in 1910. As an adult, she began theater work, and spent approximately 10 years in the theater.
During the Great War, in 1915 Noel worked first as a volunteer in a soldier's hospital kitchen near Eastbourne Vicarage and later produced two plays with her sister Ruth. When things took a turn for the worse on the Front in 1916 she moved to London and obtained a job making munitions in Woolwich Arsenal. At the end of the war in January 1919, Noel enrolled at the Academy of Dramatic Art (later Royal Academy) in London.
In 1930, she began writing her first adult novel, The Whicharts, published in 1931. In June 1932, she was elected to membership of PEN. Early in 1936, Mabel Carey, children's editor of J. M. Dent and Sons, asks Noel to write a children's story about the theatre, which led to Noel completing Ballet Shoes in mid-1936. In 28 September 1936, when Ballet Shoes was published, it became an immediate best seller.
According to Angela Bull, Ballet Shoes was a reworked version of The Whicharts. Elder sister Ruth Gervis illustrated the book, which was published on the 28th September, 1936. At the time, the plot and general 'attitude' of the book was highly original, and destined to provide an outline for countless other ballet books down the years until this day. The first known book to be set at a stage school, the first ballet story to be set in London, the first to feature upper middle class society, the first to show the limits of amateurism and possibly the first to show children as self-reliant, able to survive without running to grownups when things went wrong.
In 1937, Noel traveled with Bertram Mills Circus to research The Circus is Coming (also known as Circus Shoes). She won the Carnegie gold medal in February 1939 for this book. In 1940, World War II began, and Noel began war-related work from 1940-1945. During this time, she wrote four adult novels, five children's books, nine romances, and innumerable articles and short stories. On May 10th, 1941, her flat was destroyed by a bomb. Shortly after WWII is over, in 1947, Noel traveled to America to research film studios for her book The Painted Garden. In 1949, she began delivering lectures on children's books. Between 1949 and 1953, her plays, The Bell Family radio serials played on the Children's Hour and were frequently voted top play of the year.
Early in 1960s, she decided to stop writing adult novels, but did write some autobiographical novels, such as A Vicarage Family in 1963. She also had written 12 romance novels under the pen name "Susan Scarlett." Her children's books number at least 58 titles. From July to December 1979, she suffered a series of small strokes and moved into a nursing home. In 1983, she received the honor Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). On 11 September 1986, she passed away in a nursing home.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
June 6, 2022
This seemed like it had the makings of a wonderful story but it felt like it needed a bit more consideration. We find out at the beginning that the father of the family has an accident, the main interest of the story is when Tim
Cutting the first part and extending the part involving Caldicot Place could have improved this. The ending felt rushed and tied up too neatly but we did enjoy parts of this book.
Cutting the first part and extending the part involving Caldicot Place could have improved this. The ending felt rushed and tied up too neatly but we did enjoy parts of this book.
April 4, 2018
Sometimes I suspect that, along with 'Duvet Days', there should be 'Streatfeild Days' where those people who feel a peculiar ache at their soul that they cannot quite identify should be allowed to take a day off to read a Streatfeild of their choice. I picked this one up from a charity shop recently, delighting in that front cover and its peculiar potent sense of time and place, and it's a joy. It's perhaps not her strident and raw best but when you consider what her best could be, you realise that those books which are simply 'good' are rather transcendent in themselves.
Tim's family isn't having a great time of it; his father has been hurt in a car crash, and money is proving immensely tight. Circumstances conspire to see Tim and his family relocate to the countryside with an old house and several new additions to take care of, whilst the father slowly recuperates from his injuries. It ties everything up appropriately, as stories of this nature ought to do, and there's a few sudden moments of breathless beauty in it; particularly in the rehabilitation of Tim's dad.
What Streatfeild manages to achieve here, and always, is this sense of the children stepping up and playing their part - in ways that, perhaps, the adult figures of the book do not realise. She had such a wonderful eye for letting children participate and own the movement of their lives that Caldicott Place sings with this sort of increasing childish strength and power and weight the more that the book develops. Streatfeild also had an eye for the adults in her books, rendering them as flawed and realistic characters full of worries and concerns of their own, whilst never, not once, allowing them to be unsympathetic. I think what I'm trying to say is that she understands people, and her books taste like buttered crumpets on a cold, sharp winter's morning. They make everything alright again.
Tim's family isn't having a great time of it; his father has been hurt in a car crash, and money is proving immensely tight. Circumstances conspire to see Tim and his family relocate to the countryside with an old house and several new additions to take care of, whilst the father slowly recuperates from his injuries. It ties everything up appropriately, as stories of this nature ought to do, and there's a few sudden moments of breathless beauty in it; particularly in the rehabilitation of Tim's dad.
What Streatfeild manages to achieve here, and always, is this sense of the children stepping up and playing their part - in ways that, perhaps, the adult figures of the book do not realise. She had such a wonderful eye for letting children participate and own the movement of their lives that Caldicott Place sings with this sort of increasing childish strength and power and weight the more that the book develops. Streatfeild also had an eye for the adults in her books, rendering them as flawed and realistic characters full of worries and concerns of their own, whilst never, not once, allowing them to be unsympathetic. I think what I'm trying to say is that she understands people, and her books taste like buttered crumpets on a cold, sharp winter's morning. They make everything alright again.
February 14, 2016
I enjoy searching out books by favourite authors from my childhood, and Noel Streatfeild was absolutely one of my favourites. I'd not heard of this one before. It's about a suburban family whose world is turned upside down after the dad is left with a head injury in a car crash. There were many familiar elements from her other novels (and I thought she did a lovely job fleshing out the parents' characters and challenges, not just those of the children). Just the ticket.
July 23, 2023
I’d have loved this one as a child but it’s one which slipped though the net! A really lovely story.
February 3, 2019
It's many years since I last read this book, another of my childhood favourites. I'd pretty much forgotten the plot. Three children don't realise how happy they are until their father is in a nasty car accident. He recovers, physically, but remains in an emotional fog for many months. Struggling financially, the family move to a small flat, which really doesn't work out.. then a totally unexpected event thrusts them into a completely new lifestyle in the countryside, with some temporary additions to the family.
Great characterisation, some very moving moments, and while part of the plot is a little unlikely, the story works well. Officially recommended for children of eight and over, but I found it very enjoyable as an adult; ideal to read aloud to any child who's ready for chapter books.
Four and a half stars, really.
Great characterisation, some very moving moments, and while part of the plot is a little unlikely, the story works well. Officially recommended for children of eight and over, but I found it very enjoyable as an adult; ideal to read aloud to any child who's ready for chapter books.
Four and a half stars, really.
July 7, 2024
Charming story about a happy family, the Johnstones, whose lives are changed drastically when their father is seriously injured in a car crash (not his fault) and unable to work, probably for a long time. Life seems bleak when they have to leave their beloved family home and go and live in a small, cramped flat, while their mother goes to work as a secretary. Worst of all, their beloved dog, Jelly, has to stay with the family who are renting their home. Then the youngest Johnstone, Tim, inherits a big old house in the country, and the prospect of a new life.opens up. To make ends meet, the Johnstones
agree to take in some rich children who have nowhere to.stay in the school holidays. Naturally there are problems, and not everything goes smoothly, but life in the country is full of plenty of excitement. There are some good characters, particularly Sophie, the most difficult of the rich children, and Edup, a local woman who.will help out 'when pressed'. And there is Mr Johnstone, who has clearly suffered serious psychological damage as a result of his.accident, and may never be quite right again. An enjoyable and satisfying family story.
agree to take in some rich children who have nowhere to.stay in the school holidays. Naturally there are problems, and not everything goes smoothly, but life in the country is full of plenty of excitement. There are some good characters, particularly Sophie, the most difficult of the rich children, and Edup, a local woman who.will help out 'when pressed'. And there is Mr Johnstone, who has clearly suffered serious psychological damage as a result of his.accident, and may never be quite right again. An enjoyable and satisfying family story.
April 29, 2019
I didn't like this one so much. The arc of the story seemed lopsided. We got too much stuff in the beginning before we were on course for the real story. Then the ending was loaded with all kinds of quick-fixes that seemed too far-fetched. There wasn't enough real meat to the book.
There are some similarities to Miracles on Maple Hill. And Streatfeild once again returns to the ideas of orphans (or nearly so) and dancing/stage schools. I'd rather read her other books on these topics.
Again, the Americans felt the misguided need to change the book's title. Caldicott Place by itself is better. The American book even has a spoiler blurb on the front cover - "An engaging story of an English family and three rich children who became its paying guests." Well, that shoots nearly all of the development.
There are some similarities to Miracles on Maple Hill. And Streatfeild once again returns to the ideas of orphans (or nearly so) and dancing/stage schools. I'd rather read her other books on these topics.
Again, the Americans felt the misguided need to change the book's title. Caldicott Place by itself is better. The American book even has a spoiler blurb on the front cover - "An engaging story of an English family and three rich children who became its paying guests." Well, that shoots nearly all of the development.
March 21, 2015
I don't know how I read this book so out of order, I must have gotten it mixed up with The House on Primrose Lane, or something, but suddenly they mentioned pop music, and I was like, what happened to the War? This is one of the non-Shoes books, not even one of the ones whose titles were changed later, I'm assuming because they couldn't think of a title. Brain Damage Shoes? It's not one of the best things that Streatfeild ever wrote, but even a lesser Streatfeild is still pretty great.
July 22, 2014
reviews.metaphorosis.com
3 stars
When Tim's father is injured in an accident, the family has to cut back. Then Tim inherits a large house, and the family takes in boarders - including his father, now back from the hospital, but not back to himself.
I first read this many years back, as the child the book was intended for. I liked it (partly because Tim has a dog that he fights to keep), but didn't fall in love with it. As an adult, my reaction was not much different. It's a pleasant, well written book, but not one that will really grip you. The concept of a big inheritance being problematic was new to me, but I think it's mainly the dog that I liked.
Toward the end, the book does deal nicely with the relation between Tim and his father - with Tim unaware of the extent of his father's injury. It also has some pointed but not too pushy lessons about good behaviour. The ending is quick and a bit slapdash, but overall the book is pleasant and harmless.
September 16, 2021
An enjoyable read, but not my favorite of the Noel Streatfeild books I’ve read this year. The characters were likable, just not lovable, and this situation they were in was sad, but also frustrating for some reason. I liked how the kids learned to work together and the ending was satisfying. Not sure if I would reread this book.
February 11, 2013
I unearthed some of the Streatfeild books I didn't read growing up and interlibrary loaned them, since they are TRAGICALLY hard to find. (Someone make e-books of her books, pleeeease?) This one is sweet, although the characters aren't quite as well developed as some of Streatfeild's.
August 2, 2007
aka The Family at Caldecott Place
April 18, 2015
Read this on the recommendation of my 10 year old who loved the book. Good read. Wish I could live someplace like Caldicott Place.
July 28, 2022
This was always one of my favourites as a child, but it didn't hold up quite as well as some others. I love Tim, the youngest member of the family, but the older children are rather annoying and Sophie, the obnoxious unwanted child who is one of the "wards" who goes to live with the family is... well, tiresome at best. It has its moments. I like the echoes of The Secret Garden as Tim and his ill father work together to restore a garden to its old glory and the father comes back to life.
April 1, 2024
one of my favorite bedtime reads; big old house and garden ftw
February 4, 2015
Enjoyed re-reading this childhood favorite. I do agree, though, with one of the reviewers that said the characters in this book "aren't quite as well developed as some of Streatfeild's" other characters. (Grade: "B-".)
May 14, 2020
I adored this! I’ll take 50 more sequels please!
June 30, 2021
I thought this one was a standalone, looking at the reviews it looks like it may not be. Regardless, I didn’t find it stilted or lacking an introduction, the story was pretty much what it says on the tin. Written for an audience much younger than myself, and although there have been other children’s books that I have read and really enjoyed as an adult, this was unfortunately not one of them. That being said, it was fun as a light read that I finished in just 2 short sessions.
The premise was nice – a family having to give up their house as they need to downsize to economise when their father meets with an accident, only to find that the youngest child has become the unlikely beneficiary of a will change that sees him inherit a large property. Unlike their original home, which was just the right size for them, this new property is far too big and therefore to make up for things, the family take in several affluent student boarders. Given the very drawn-out description of how different the environments were that the children were brought up in, I thought there was relatively little conflict between the boarders and the children of the family, which seemed like a lost opportunity for the story. The niggles that they did find themselves in I thought were menial and not very interesting. What I did like though was that the author was very to-the-point, each of the individual issues were resolved quickly and the plot moved on to the next thing. And the boy's devotion to his dog was cute to read about.
2.5 stars, rounded up as it was a little too good to be a 2 star.
The premise was nice – a family having to give up their house as they need to downsize to economise when their father meets with an accident, only to find that the youngest child has become the unlikely beneficiary of a will change that sees him inherit a large property. Unlike their original home, which was just the right size for them, this new property is far too big and therefore to make up for things, the family take in several affluent student boarders. Given the very drawn-out description of how different the environments were that the children were brought up in, I thought there was relatively little conflict between the boarders and the children of the family, which seemed like a lost opportunity for the story. The niggles that they did find themselves in I thought were menial and not very interesting. What I did like though was that the author was very to-the-point, each of the individual issues were resolved quickly and the plot moved on to the next thing. And the boy's devotion to his dog was cute to read about.
2.5 stars, rounded up as it was a little too good to be a 2 star.
April 30, 2024
As Streatfeilds go, this isn't really four star material, but I found it on a day when I really needed a comfort read, so four it is. The "gotta dance" character is merely a side-bar story, and I found it less than believable that I have to agree with other reviewers who say the start was too long and detailed, the actual story of the house and its purpose too rushed, and the ending a bit too neat. I found it amusing that the big old house might as well have been a much smaller house, since they only occupy the servants' quarters!
The main message seems to be that helping out can be fun, if there's a supportive family network and maybe a charlady or two, when pressed.
The main message seems to be that helping out can be fun, if there's a supportive family network and maybe a charlady or two, when pressed.
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April 10, 2020Not my favorite Streatfeild, but still cozy and uplifting.
May 25, 2024
A mostly enjoyable story. I'm not a fan of kid's bad behavior yielding good results (even when there are some legitimate reasons for the bad behavior), but otherwise a fairly enjoyable story.
October 3, 2024
Really interesting to see Noel Streatfeild adapting to the norms of the late 60s, whilst still being very much her own style and characters.
January 31, 2025
Warm and fuzzy
A definite feel good read, no matter how many times I’ve read it I still love it, five stars for sure
A definite feel good read, no matter how many times I’ve read it I still love it, five stars for sure
February 19, 2016
When their father is injured in an automobile accident, life changes for the Johnstone family. While Mr. Johnstone remains in hospital, his wife and three children move from their suburban house to a small London flat. Most upset is the youngest, Tim, who must leave his beloved dog behind. Carol, the middle child, changes dancing schools; while Bill becomes the man of the house and his mother's confidante. No one is particularly happy with the changes, so when an opportunity arises to move to a big old house in the country, even if it means taking in additional children, it seems too good to resist. An excellent family story that will show children that having money doesn't necessarily make you happy.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews