Beaconsfield: Enid Blyton
Many readers of my generation grew up on a diet of Enid Blyton books. Although these books had been in print for many years by the time I came to read them, I can vividly remember saving all my pocket money to buy the next Famous Five adventure or Malory Towers instalment, perhaps costing 17 and a half or even 20p! Today, of course, many of her books make unacceptable reading and there has been much criticism of her writing style, but her books were read- and continue to be read- by children all around the world.
Enid Blyton moved to Green Hedges in Beaconsfield from Old Thatch near Bourne End in 1938. At the peak of her writing she was publishing up to 50 books a year, completing 6,000 – 10,000 words a day. She remained living at Green Hedges until shortly before her death in 1968. The house was then demolished to make way for a development of new houses named Blyton Close.
For such a well-known (if controversial) author, there is surprisingly little evidence of Enid Blyton’s presence in the town. The road sign offers no explanation for the name and there is nothing to see apart from modern houses yet it was during her years at Green Hedges that she wrote all 21 Famous Five books as well as all the Secret Seven books and the Adventure series. In the 1950s, she created her most successful character, Noddy, who was born in Beaconsfield, with over 20 million copies of these books being sold. ‘Tales from Green Hedges’, published in 1946, is a collection of 24 stories, two for each month of the year.
In 1997, on the centenary of Enid Blyton’s birth, a scale model of Green Hedges was unveiled at Bekonscot by her daughter, Gillian, so it is still possible to get an impression of the house she lived in. Beckonscot is a model village, well worth a visit in its own right, a short walk from Blyton Close, with its own parking.
Meandering paths weave round the site with many joys to see at every turn. Small trains clatter along the tracks, pulling into and out of stations and the miniature inhabitants are frozen in their lives. Little jokes are evident everywhere, making it fun for adults and children alike.
The model includes a figure sitting on a garden chair with a typewriter on her knees as well as Noddy and Big Ears in their little yellow and red car by the door. However, apart from a small plaque indicating that this is a model of Green Hedges, there is no real information about Enid Blyton here either!
A commemorative plaque, commissioned by the Beaconsfield Society and paid for by Beaconsfield Town Council, can be found in the Town Hall garden. Here, other notable people and events are also commemorated and it is a lovely quiet spot to sit and reflect on all the books written by Enid Blyton which formed a huge part of my childhood!
