The Turning of the Tide

Ref: LBB-03

Supplied by Letterbox Books.

Devon, 1871.

Young and vulnerable Selina Burman from Clovelly and her two young children are confined in the harsh environment of Bideford Workhouse. She can only observe them from a distance and despairs of a better future.

Her prospects improve when she meets Dr Ackland, a popular G.P. committed to social change. He employs her as a servant in his own household, despite the doubts of his wife and the Bideford community, for whom any connection with the Workhouse is a source of fear and shame.

Selina's work gives satisfaction, but her search for love and security does not conform to the expectations of a middle class Victorian family and threatens to damage both her own future and Dr Ackland's career.

Set in Bideford and Clovelly, this novel draws on newspaper articles, letters and census returns, and powerfully brings to life the factual origins of the story.

Of interest to family historians:

Surnames included in The Turning of the Tide:-
Ackland, Bale, Barry, Bazeley, Beer, Bowden, Boyle, Braddon, Buck, Burman, Burns-Gibson, Burrow, Champion, Ching, Chope, Christie, Coles, Cooler, Daniel, Eastman, Elwes, Evans, Fane, Gosset, Green, Grimes, Harding, Hatherley, Heard, Heaven, Hockridge, Holman, Holmes, Hookaway, How, Hoyle, Hutchinson, Jeffery, Joce, Jones, Kingsley, Lee, Lott, Mock, Murphy, Paddon, Parkhouse, Pedler, Pollard, Portsmouth, Powe, Pridham, Pynsent, Rooker, Squire, Stribling, Taylor, Thompson, Tuplin, Venning, Vinson, Whitefield.

Place names included in The Turning of the Tide:-
Abbotsham, Barnstaple, Bideford, Clovelly, Compton Gifford, East-the-Water, Eggesford, Hallsannery, Hobby Drive, Honiton, Instow, Landcross, Lundy, Lyme Regis, Mannamead, Northam, Parkham, St Dominick, Torrington, Walland Carey, Wellesbourne, Westleigh, Westward Ho!, Winsworthy, Woolsery.

Streets in Bideford: Abbotsham Road, Allhalland Street, Bridge Street, Bridgeland Street, Chapel Street, Coldharbour, Grenville Street, High Street, Hyfield Place, Limers Lane, Meddon Street, Mignonette Walk, Mill Street, North Road, the Quay, Rope Walk, Sentry Corner, Strand, Torrington Lane, Torrington Street.

352 pages. 37 b/w illustrations
ISBN 9780951687925

£9.99