Did anyone else read the Lorna Hill '... at the Wells' books as a child?

[JessiCake]

These flashed into my mind this morning, having not even thought about them for 30+ years!

I was talking about books I'd loved as a child to my DD and obviously I remembered the Noel Streatfields straight away, and then right out of the darkest recesses of my brain came the Lorna Hill books.

I LOVED them, re-read every single one at least 15 times.

I'm kind of hoping my parents still have them in the attic as I'm not sure they're still in print?

Anyone else remember these? I was definitely the only one of my friends who read them so maybe they were a bit niche?

Oh I remember the Lorna Hill "Wells" books!

I only read the first few though, all that the travelling library held. I had a crush on Sebastian too, I was torn between him and Marcus from Eagle of the Ninth!

Lorna only died in 1990, I wish I'd known she was still alive, I would have written to thank her.

Yes! My mum had some of them and I recently completed the collection by finding second hand copies of all the missing ones.
I love those books.

I was an avid reader of these too - I loved all the ballet talk and also the descriptions of life in Northumberland and the north east. I live in the NE now and I always remember the description of the train journey from London to Newcastle in A Dream of Sadlers Wells whenever I go on the East Coast main line, and the view of Durham from the train window.

I wish I could work out exactly where Bracken Hall was supposed to be- I think LH fictionalised most of the place names.

Ah, Sebastian and his piano, and the ponies and the moth eaten ‘Molyneux’ swimming costumes, then the day when Sebastian goes to watch Veronica finally dance Swan Lake at Covent Garden...

I still yearn to try a “singing hinny, fair dripping with butter”. And to dance barefoot in the bracken.

I loved them too, remember them when I go to see ballet performances at Sadler's Wells as they started my interest in ballet.

I was bought them by a lot of eel meaning adults and I'm afraid I thought they were wank.

That scene when Fiona throws Veronica's dress (handmade by Mrs Craper with wonky stitches and mismatched patterned due to her eyesight) in the bath and the colours run as the material isn't 'fast. Made me so cross.

I was just coming on to say I enjoyed them but preferred the Drina books! I may still have a couple of the later ones in fact...

I loved them! Unfortunately mine got lost somewhere, and it’s really hard to track them down now.

Sorrell didn't she also draw a face on her ballet shoe too?

AnneOfCleavage Yes she did. Fiona was horrible. Sebastian made her send them to the dry cleaners. IIRC the shoes had belonged to 'Madame' her ballet teacher in London.

I adored these books! I re read them all a few years ago as my mum dug them out of her loft. I have a few doubles if anyone needs to complete their collection, happy to post for postage costs!

Ooh what do you have available NotANotman

I loved them all as a ballet mad teenager and bought a couple for my ballerina granddaughter. She didn't like them, but I got to re-read them. 😊
And yes to Sebastian of the the dark floppy hair and piercing blue eyes. Didn't he leap on stage from the orchestra pit and carry Veronica off when she fainted because she was pregnant with Vicky?

I had completely forgotten about Lorna Hill and having read this thread I've just bought one cheaply on amazon.
I will be very interested to see how it reads several decades later.
I used to have quite a few but goodness knows what happened to them after my parents died and the house was sold.

Veronica at the wells
No castanets at the wells
Masquerade at the wells
Rosanna joins the wells

Also the little dancer (Annette dancy)

Wow, thank you for reminding me of these! I loved them.

So excited by this thread. My absolute favourites and also a little bit in love with Sebastian. Between us my mum and I have them all in hardback, including 'the secret' which is never heard of until recently. I re-read them every so often and still love them (and other Lorna Hill series). So glad others share the love

Minimoll, your bookcase makes me want to sit in for a weekend and binge read.

I remember getting the Drina books from the library.

Love your collection Minnie I have friend for Frances and the other one too, and Exile for Anni's

Oh, this has brought back some lovely memories!
Minnie - I covet your bookcase. How I wish I'd kept all my childhood books.

I only had Ella at the Wells. I had no idea till I was much older it was one of a series! But I read that one countless times.

Many years later I moved to London and used to walk past the Wells once a week. Made me smile everytime.

Is it Masquerade where the horse-mad cousin and ballet-mad cousin in Northumberland swap places? Great book.

Yes, that's Masquerade.