Please help me identify this book!

[Jinsei]

I was sneaking a peek at dd's copy of "White Boots" by Noel Streatfield earlier, and for some reason, it brought back a powerful memory of another children's book which I would love to identify.

I can barely remember anything about it, other than the fact that a number of children were sent to live with a rather eccentric ? aunt in a big house, possibly in Ireland (but not sure about the last bit). I think the house was quite dusty and full of cobwebs. The aunt was quite mad, and swept around the house like a bat.

I also have a vague notion that one of the main characters (maybe the aunt?) had a name beginning with "p", but not sure where that came from!

Can anyone help me, please?!

I expect it's Noel Streatfeild's The Growing Summer -- Alex, Penny, Robin and Naomi go to stay with their Great-Aunt Dymphna in a large house in Ireland.

Here

YY, that's it! I really wasn't expecting anyone to know what I was talking about, let alone get an answer so quickly - thanks Casey.

I did wonder if it was another Streatfield book but couldn't find it on google. Oddly, I have no recollection of the title whatsoever, but it was a book that I absolutely loved as a child!

Will have to hunt it down to read it again so that dd can read it. :)