LAUNCESTON author Jane Nancarrow’s latest novel The Ticking of Time at Tredidon has been published, exploring the history of two families that lived at Tredidon House from 1833 to 1918.

Jane said of her new novel: “It’s quite poignant to finish it this time of year. I really wanted it to coincide with Remembrance if possible because my novel takes us to the end of the First World War. It just seemed right. I felt that was a sense of completion.”

Jane’s fascination with Tredidon began as a child when she was taken to see the tomb of James Bucknell, known as Squire Bucknell. This listed mausoleum was in Tredidon land — now Hidden Valley land, since Tredidon House and the site of Hidden Valley Discovery Park have been split and have different owners.

Jane said: “The Squire had it built and he used to whitewash the inside and keep it all tidy, which I think was amazing. There’s a little wall around it, it’s all amongst the trees. He had this idea of wanting to be buried in the place he loved best.

“At the time it caused a bit of a furore with the St Thomas vicar, as it was not consecrated ground.” But Squire Bucknell was buried in the tomb, and no one else was given subsequent permission.

Jane added: “It was inevitable that one day I would write about Tredidon because it’s such a special place — a magical place with a connection to my family, and I think it was as a child, seeing that unusual tomb that started it all off.

“I grew up in Tredydan Road. It was my family home — my mum lived there for 62 years. One of the things I put in my author’s notes was, my mum used to say ‘why do we live in Tredydan Road, yet the house is named Tredidon’ — and I have to say, I don’t really know why there’s a difference!

“There was a prior, Stephen Tredydan — the house is linked, you see. It’s all linked. It’s land given to the prior. It’s a fascinating house. It’s a private residence but it’s got such a lot of history to it.”

Although Jane’s love of history is clear from her latest novel, she stressed: “It is a novel. Yes there is a lot of fact in it, but a lot of it is fiction.”

Jane explained the Squire came to live at Tredidon around 1833, adding: “When he first arrived, he couldn’t come all the way in the family coach because of the potholes in the roads! His father had bought Tredidon for him really so he was the new owner.” Jane’s book begins with nervous talk among the servants — what was the new owner going to be like?

Jane added: “Having never known the gentleman I created a character, I hope it’s a kindly character — that’s how I view him.”

It explores the family’s time and tragedy at Tredidon before the Squire’s eldest son, the heir to Tredidon, ended up on the other side of the world, never returning to the house.

After that, Jane’s story picks up when a farming family, a very different type of family, came to live at Tredidon.

Jane said: “I wanted to emphasise the difference. The Bucknells had money — he was clever, a clockmaker, silversmith — and there was money in the background. The last part of the novel is very much about a local, down to earth farming family.”

Jane takes the story through to the First World War starting, and how it began to affect people in Launceston, with her story finishing at the end of the war.

“I weave in a lot of history, lots of local history, so if people like reading about what Launceston was like in the 1800s — I have been able to use information that the museum have in their booklets and so on. It’s been interesting research. It’s incredible — there are all sorts of little stories that you can find.

“It’s interesting to see how people were in the Great War. There were meetings because some people were hoarding food. One of my favourite chapters as I was writing is about hearing the horses being taken away, and how it affected the farming families and their children.”

Jane will be on hand to sign copies of her new novel, The Ticking of Time at Tredidon, this Saturday, November 10 at the market in Launceston Town Square.