Wheels of Grace

by Crosse, Tania

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  My most sincere gratitude will always go to the late Dr Marshall Barr, international authority on medical history, who contributed so much to the medical information in so many of my novels. He taught me so much, and I will never forget his clarity, his patience and his generosity.

  Huge thanks go also to my wonderful agent without whom my career would not have flourished as it has.

  I must also thank the following for their contribution to this particular novel: Peter Shapcott for sharing his knowledge of Walkhampton Mill’s history and its machinery; historical wheelwright, Greg Rowland, for teaching me about the construction of both agricultural and military wheels; Mary Lillicrap, born and bred in Walkhampton, for sharing her lifelong memories of the village; the staff of Mount House School, formerly the First World War Mount Tavy Hospital; Tavistock historian Gerry Woodcock; last but not least, Dartmoor Guide and historian Paul Rendell for his continued support.

  AUTHOR’S NOTES

  A century after the Great War, Walkhampton remains a quiet, tranquil village but one which retains a strong community spirit. You are welcome to visit, to stand on the bridge and see the launder that once fed the waterwheel, identify the buildings in my story and visit the inn – which I describe as it was at the period and not as it is now. I would ask you, though, to respect the privacy of the village’s residents, and note in particular that the workshop is now a private dwelling. Although the waterwheel is still there, it stands on private land and cannot be visited.

  It is commonly believed that guncarriage wheels were made at the mill during the Great War, but I could not find any records of this. Greg Rowland suggested that, with its strong reputation, it is quite possible that Walkhampton’s wheelwrights were on occasion sub-contracted to do so, that is the line I have taken in the book. What is now Mount House School on the edge of Tavistock, however, was most definitely Mount Tavy Hospital which specialized in shellshock and was renowned for its concerts.

  By the Same Author

  Morwellham’s Child

  The River Girl

  Cherrybrook Rose

  A Bouquet of Thorns

  Lily’s Journey

  A Dream Rides By

  Hope at Holly Cottage

  The Wrong Side of Happiness

  Copyright

  © Tania Crosse 2013

  First published in Great Britain 2013

  This edition 2013

  ISBN 978 0 7198 1193 7 (epub)

  ISBN 978 0 7198 1194 4 (mobi)

  ISBN 978 0 7198 1195 1 (pdf)

  ISBN 978 0 7198 0856 2 (print)

  Robert Hale Limited

  Clerkenwell House

  Clerkenwell Green

  London EC1R 0HT

  www.halebooks.com

  The right of Tania Crosse to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988