When the Thames flooded Old Thatch

[Enikyoga]

That letter describes one flood in 1929, but apparently wintertime floods were quite common in the days when Enid Blyton lived at Old Thatch.

I strongly believe that, the tree's crashing into Kirrin Cottage in Five Go To Smuggler's Top was inspired by the Thames flooding of the Old Thatch that Enid Blyton may have either once witnessed or may have witnessed several times while she was still residing there.
Stephen I.

[Wayne Pyer]

That's the first time I can remember you offering an opinion without quoting it as fact. A refreshing change. And ironically, one of your more believable ideas.

[Anita Bensoussane]

I strongly believe that, the tree's crashing into Kirrin Cottage in Five Go To Smuggler's Top was inspired by the Thames flooding of the Old Thatch that Enid Blyton may have either once witnessed or may have witnessed several times while she was still residing there.

Perhaps you missed seeing the Teachers World letter that Tony put up very recently. Enid Blyton described how she saw an ash tree blown down at Old Thatch. Like the ash tree at Kirrin Cottage, it came down in a gale.

[Julie2owlsdene]

I strongly believe that, the tree's crashing into Kirrin Cottage in Five Go To Smuggler's Top was inspired by the Thames flooding of the Old Thatch that Enid Blyton may have either once witnessed or may have witnessed several times while she was still residing there.
Stephen I.

I'm always slightly annoyed at your expression of ' I strongly believe' Stephen. It doesn't mean it's actual facts. I'm glad to see Anita has explained about the tree falling down at Old Thatch. Even if this hadn't have happened, I'm sure Enid's own imagination was quite capable of still having a tree fall onto the roof of Kirrin Cottage. Why does there always have to be some sort of connections with!!!!! Why can't you ever accept Enid had a wonderful imagination!

[Wolfgang]

Actually there's a short story in which the same theme was used - a tree was growing in the shadow of the ash complaining the ash was keeping the light away. It also talked about the usefulness of roots going deep into soil while the ash is scornful about it. In the end a gale blew down that ash as well.

[Enikyoga]

I strongly believe that, the tree's crashing into Kirrin Cottage in Five Go To Smuggler's Top was inspired by the Thames flooding of the Old Thatch that Enid Blyton may have either once witnessed or may have witnessed several times while she was still residing there.
Stephen I.

I'm always slightly annoyed at your expression of ' I strongly believe' Stephen. It doesn't mean it's actual facts. I'm glad to see Anita has explained about the tree falling down at Old Thatch. Even if this hadn't have happened, I'm sure Enid's own imagination was quite capable of still having a tree fall onto the roof of Kirrin Cottage. Why does there always have to be some sort of connections with!!!!! Why can't you ever accept Enid had a wonderful imagination!

Yes, it is true that Enid had a very vivid imagination and could have just as well have described the ash tree falling without having experienced this aspect. However, the reality was that she based tese observations from personal experience. probably, if she had not experienced the ash tree falling firshand, her description of it falling in Five Go To Smuggler's Top would not have been as spectacular as she had described it. In other words, her empirical observation of the ash tree falling combined with her charismatic way of writing after having observed the tree fall in very simple and uncomplicated language was one of the cornerstone's of her success as a writer. If you are familiar with the writings of several authors on Enid Blyton, including Barbara Stoney, Robert Druce, and others are supportive of the fact that several milestones, though not all of them, in Enid Blyton's writings were based on her empirical observations of several situations.
Stephen I.

[Julie2owlsdene]

Have to say that's the first sensible post of reply I have heard from you, Stephen. You wasn't plugging your stupid theories, or your book and explained what you thought very well, that Enid did indeed explain the falling of the ash tree as spectaclar because she'd witnessed such a thing herself.

[Tony Summerfield]

I think you could safely say that the poem 'The Fallen Tree' was inspired by the demise of the ash tree, but if you read Enid's letter carefully there is no indication that she was worried that it would fall on the house, so I am not necessarily convinced that this inspired the scene in Smuggler's Top.

http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/blyt ... &perid=655" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

In strong gales trees do fall on houses and who knows what other things Enid may have read about - or perhaps it was just her imagination in action!

[Moonraker]

Tony, Enid din't have any imagination. Everything - event or location - was inspired by other writers or happenings. She didn't write anything that came solely from her own mind. Haven't you realised that yet?

Julie: highly unlikely = might be = strongly believed = widely believed = gospel truth

[pete9012S]

It looks like the floods certainly reached the Spade Oak...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAPM15xJjhA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;