Barbara Taylor Bradford - Secrets of Cavendon - A gripping historical saga full of intrigue and drama

Lady Dulcie Ingham, youngest sister of the Earl, aged 41. She lives in London and at Skelldale Manor at Cavendon. She is married to Sir James Brentwood, 56, one of England’s greatest actors, who was knighted by King George VI. They have three children: twins Rosalind and Juliet, 20, and a son, Henry, 17.

The three sisters of the Earl are now referred to affectionately as the Three Dees by the staff.

The Swann family has been in service to the Ingham family for almost two hundred years. Consequently, their lives have been intertwined in many different ways. Generations of Swanns have lived in Little Skell village, adjoining Cavendon Park, and still do. The present-day Swanns are as devoted and loyal to the Inghams as their forebears were, and would defend any member of the family with their lives. The Inghams trust them implicitly, and vice versa.

Walter Swann, aged 71; father of Cecily and Harry. Head of the Swann family, and in charge of security at Cavendon Hall.

Alice Swann, his wife, aged 68, the mother of Cecily and Harry. Alice runs most of the village events and helps to run the Women’s Institute alongside the Dowager Countess.

Harry, son, aged 51, a former apprentice landscape gardener at Cavendon Hall. He is now running the estate. He has also created beautiful gardens which draw the public.

Cecily, daughter, aged 48. She is married to Miles and is a world-renowned fashion designer.

Paloma Swann, 38, wife of Harry, and mother of their children: Edward, 10; Patricia, 8; and Charles, 6. She is a well-known photographer.

Percy, younger brother of Walter, aged 68. Head gamekeeper at Cavendon.

Edna, wife of Percy, aged 69. Does occasional work at Cavendon.

Joe, their son, aged 48. Works with his father as assistant head gamekeeper.

Bill, first cousin of Walter, aged 63. Head landscape gardener at Cavendon. He is widowed.

Ted, first cousin of Walter, aged 74. Head of interior maintenance and carpentry at Cavendon. Widowed.

Paul, son of Ted, aged 50, working with his father as an interior designer and carpenter at Cavendon. Single.

Eric, brother of Ted, first cousin of Walter, aged 69. Head butler at Cavendon Hall. Single.

Charlotte, aunt of Walter and Percy, aged 81. Now Dowager Countess of Mowbray. Charlotte is the matriarch of the Swann and Ingham families. She is treated with great love and respect by everyone. Charlotte was the secretary and personal assistant to David Ingham, the 5th Earl, until his death. She married the 6th Earl in 1926, who predeceased her during World War II.

Dorothy Pinkerton, née Swann, aged 66, cousin of Charlotte. She lives in London and is married to Howard Pinkerton, 66, a Scotland Yard detective. She works with Cecily at Cecily Swann Couture in London.

Mr Eric Swann, Head butler

Mrs Peggy Swift Lane, Housekeeper

Mrs Lois Waters, Cook

Miss Mary Lowden, Head housemaid

Miss Vera Gower, Second housemaid

Mr Philip Carlton, Chauffeur

Miss Angela Chambers, nanny for Cecily’s daughter Gwen, addressed as Nanny or Nan.

A stately home such as Cavendon Hall, with thousands of acres of land, and a huge grouse moor, employs local people. This is its purpose for being, as well as providing a private home for a great family. It offers employment to the local villagers, and also land for local tenant farmers. The villages surrounding Cavendon were built by various earls of Mowbray to provide housing for their workers; churches and schools were also built, as well as post offices and small shops at later dates. The villages around Cavendon are Little Skell, Mowbray and High Clough.

There are a number of outside workers: a head gamekeeper and five additional gamekeepers; beaters and flankers who work when the grouse season starts and the Guns arrive at Cavendon to shoot. Other outdoor workers include woodsmen, who take care of the surrounding woods for shooting in the lowlands at certain times of the year. The gardens are cared for by a head landscape gardener, and five other gardeners working under him.

The grouse season starts in August, on the Glorious Twelfth, as it is called. It finishes in December. The partridge season begins in September. Duck and wild fowl are shot at this time. Pheasant shooting starts on the 1 November and goes on until December. The men who come to shoot, usually aristocrats, are always referred to as the Guns, i.e., the men using the gun.

Yesterday’s weaving is as irrevocable

as yesterday.

I may not draw out the threads, but I

may change my shuttle.

Muriel Strode-Lieberman,

My Little Book of Life