The Family from One End Street

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The Family From One End Street, written by Eve Garnett, is a British children's book. Set in the Fens of England, it was published in 1937 by Frederick Muller and won a Carnegie Medal for best children's book that same year. At the time, it was regarded as innovative and groundbreaking for its portrayal of a working-class family in a genre dominated by middle-class stories. Recent reprints of the book have been published by the British publishers, Penguin Books, via their Puffin imprint; indeed, the book first appeared as a Puffin as far back as 1942, only one year after the very first Puffin books appeared.

[edit] Characters

• Mr. Josiah Ruggles, a dustman
• Mrs. Rosie Ruggles, a washerwoman; wife of Mr. Ruggles
• Their children: William, Margaret Rosie (aka Peggy), Jo (after his father), James and John (the twins), Kate and Lily Rose
• Reverend Theobald, the Vicar, who helps the Ruggles choose the names of their offspring.
• Mrs. Theobald, the Vicar's wife, who assists in the provision of clothes for the Ruggles' newborn.
• Mrs. Beaseley, a well-trusted client to Mrs. Ruggles' services.
• Miss Patricia Watkins, Kate's school friend.
• Mr. Watkins, Patricia's father, the owner of a nearby newspaper and tobacco shop.
• Mr. Sid Watkins, Patricia's uncle.
• Mrs. Watkins, Mr. Watkins' sister-in-law.
• Bill and Ted, two brothers from whose advice Kate tries to earn money from mushroom collecting.
• Mr. Henry Oates, the leader (and "Captain") of the Black Hand Gang.
• Mr. Henry Lawrence, the owner of the grey car that John hides in to shelter out hail.
• Mrs. Lawrence, his wife.
• Peter Lawrence, their son.
• The Fierce One, a guest at the birthday party to which John is invited.
• Mrs. Mullet, Mrs. Ruggles' friend.
• Mr. George Bird, Mr. Ruggles' working partner.
• Albert Bird, George's father.
• Mrs. Hare, the cleaner at the Majestic Cinema.
• Mr. Hare, her husband.
• Miss Clements, Jo Ruggles Jr.'s teacher.
• Charlie Ruggles, Mr. Ruggles' London brother.
• Mr. Short, the author whose money goes into the hands of Mr. Ruggles and Mr. Bird.
• Mr. Walter Wilkins, journalist for the Otwell Gazette.
• Mrs. "Nosey Parker" Smith, a neighbour of the Ruggles.
• Mrs. Charlie Ruggles (aka Auntie Ivy), Mr. Ruggles' sister-in-law.
• Mrs. Mabel Perkins, Auntie Ivy's sister.
• Leslie Perkins, a cabinet carpenter, and Mabel's husband.
• Their children: Anthony Perkins (aged 7) and Pamela Perkins (aged 9).
• Charlie Ruggles' children: May and Doris (twins, aged 10), Franklin (aged 9) and Elfred (aged 6).
• Mr. and Mrs. Buckle, Uncle Charlie's neighbours. Mr. Buckle is a retired coal-cart driver.

[edit] Plot

The Ruggles live at No. 1 One End Street in the heart of the fictional town of Otwell, located six miles from the Ouse river in England's Fens. Its other name, Otwell-on-the-Ouse, is misleading to its summer visitors from London, seeing the town's famous castle rise outside the Ouse's banks instead—unless the curve-in near the local railway station is taken into consideration.

The small, old Ruggles residence is busy on weekdays, but takes time out on weekends for cleaning. At the back of the house lies a small yard where Mr. Ruggles keeps a few hens and does some spare-time gardening, and Mrs. Ruggles hangs the laundry.

[edit] Lily Rose's ironing incident

Early in the book, Lily Rose comes home early from school after a pipe has burst and flooded her classroom. Meanwhile, Rosie, William and Peggy are out on this ironing day. Being a Girl Guide, Lily Rose decides on her good deed for the day: to help her mother by doing some of Mrs. Ruggles' work by finishing the ironing of her clients' clothes. Lily hopes to accomplish this before her mother returns.

Lily heads into trouble with a green petticoat of artificial silk. Using the wrong iron for the task, to her horror, she sees it shrink to the size of a doll's shirt. She breaks into tears before the three return. Her mother is angered at the sight of the green garment, which belongs to one of her most trusted customers, Mrs. Beaseley.

The next morning, a dreadful Saturday, Lily Rose goes with her mother to Beaesley's house to explain what happened to the petticoat. But as she does and the lady obtains it from her parcel, she is amused at the sight. She tells Lily of having similar experiences as a child, and also as a Girl Guide.

With snacks and the laundry basket in her hands, Lily Rose goes home happy along with her mother.

[edit] Kate’s summer

News of Kate’s recent successes with her end-of-year examinations has made her parents worry; this means that supplies for her secondary school career will cost them more than ever before.

Despite her achievements, Kate is denied by the Ruggles the chance for a scholarship, because they cannot afford it. But, some time after Mr. Ruggles fills in a scholarship application form, Mrs. Beaseley’s cook is quick to point out an important mistake: instead of seven children, he stated that he had an only child! With him signing another such form, the government promises his smartest child some much-needed clothes later on in the year.

The week before school opens, one of Kate’s school friends, Ms. Patricia Watkins, comes to her home. (Watkins’ father was the winner of a fashion contest three weeks earlier.) Patricia invites Kate to an outing at the Salthaven seaside; Mrs. Watkins (her mother), Uncle Sid and three other schoolgirls are coming as well. It is the farthest that Kate has gone in her lifetime, at least six miles away from Otwell.

Though Rosie disapproves of the ride, Kate goes along with the Watkins on such a fine day. The party spends their time on a stretch of rough beach a mile from Salthaven. During this time, Kate loses her hat.

Five days before school, Kate realizes that she has no hat for classes, nor does she have sufficient money to get it bought. In hopes of solving the problem, she finds an opportunity in selling mushrooms, through two local boys, Bill and his older brother Ted, for one shilling a pound.

Two days pass before she begins her job around town and beyond. But while trying to get some for herself, she trespasses on a farmer's field full of cultivated mushrooms. Asked whether she was the long-time thief here, Kate responds by reporting the brothers to him, and relates her struggle to get ready for the new school year. She then succeeds in getting enough mushrooms, and enough money from the young lady at the fruit shop, before leaving.

After Kate hops back home, a surprise awaits her in a parcel: the hat she had lost at sea during the Salthaven outing has been recovered by a friend of the Watkins! Instead of spending her six shilling offering on a new hat, she is planning on what else to do with it.

[edit] Jim and the Black Hands

Jim, the older and more ambitious of the Ruggles twins, decides on having an adventure of his own one Saturday afternoon after passing by a local river. He is then captured by nine or ten gang members, and hence he returns late for his supper at home.

Mornings later, his brother John wants to know why Jim made a kick after the family has found out about his nightmares. Jim cannot tell it to him, for that could break his oath of secrecy to the gang that he encountered earlier.

A twelve-year-old named Henry Oates heads this gang, whose members call themselves Black Hands; their meetings are held inside a lime kiln. The gang meets every Saturday, in the kiln or at the gasworks nearby, where Henry’s father, a foreman, is employed.

Though they consider him too young to join and accuse him of spying, Jim begs for his acceptance, and finally he is let into the gang. Some time later, even his brother is sworn in as such.

In memory of the gang’s founder, a school holiday will take place before their next meeting the coming Saturday. On that very day, Jim embarks on a real adventure. As a hailstorm begins, he follows a friendly little dog into a drain pipe around a wharf’s barge-loading area. He and the dog stay inside the pipe, until the dog, Toni, reunites with his owner.

The barge, whose pipes have Jim inside, travels far from Otwell and into Salthaven’s docks. There, its crew attaches the transport to a big ship bound for Le Havre, L’Oiseau-Mouche. Suddenly, a crane lifts the pipes up into the air (including Jim) and overlookers are more shocked than Jim himself to see the boy dangle out them!

It takes some time before the men at the docks rescue Jim down from above, and the boy relates his story to Mr. Watkins about being a stowaway. To Jim’s surprise, Watkins was also a gang member once, back when he was young.

Jim’s mother, astonished by the big bump he caught on his head while in the pipe, smears margarine on it upon his return home. She gives him a telegram telling about his brother.

[edit] John and the Lawrences

[edit] The parked car

John, the younger twin, is an automobile aficionado and is a regular visitor to Otwell Castle’s car park. His dream of inspecting one of them comes true one morning before ten, when he parts from his brother, Jim, with a three cigarette card reward.

Arriving at the deserted park, he is greeted in a shrill manner by an Alsatian inside an old Baby Austin. Then, as he stares at the sky, he turns his attention to a chauffeur-driven Packard filled with five American lady tourists, but sadly turns away from the sight. When the tourists have departed, two footballers in a racing car come by and park their vehicle before taking off for practice, and John takes care of things. It is not long before a couple called the Lawrences arrives at the castle side, and they warn the boy not to tamper with it during his inspection.

Very soon, rain explodes out of the sky, and it makes John get inside the back of the grey car. Finding a street map inside, he is able to recognize every part of the town on it.

Coming out of the rainy torment, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence are surprised to see John in the car, and he tells them why he went in. Before he can run back home, the two give him an invitation to their son’s birthday party. That son, Peter by name, will today share the same age with John—nine.

[edit] The tour

The Lawrences’ house is bigger than anything Otwell has to offer. As they arrive here, the couple gives John a tour of their luxurious residence. Introduced by the birthday boy, John is curious to find out what a bathroom shower is. When he does so, it leads to the bathroom inundated in water.

Before the party guests arrive, Mr. Lawrence assures John that he will keep him safe at his home, if only to send John’s parents a telegram of his whereabouts.

[edit] The party

At the start of the party, a humongous coffee and chocolate cake is presented before Peter and the rest, with Peter’s name and “Many Happy Returns” written on it, surrounded by nine candles.

Then John gets into a chat with his eleven-year-old girl neighbour, and both discuss misunderstood concepts such as Third Form, Standard class, and Otwell Central (Kate’s school).

At the big garden nearby, John loses in a sack race organised by Mr. Lawrence, but takes first place in an egg and spoon competition. Later on, he and the others take part in a fun treasure hunt that ends rather hilariously for all involved.

[edit] Returning home

Minutes before nine o’clock in the night, Mrs. Lawrence offers John several parcels of goodies from the day’s festivities, before his bus drives him back to Otwell. Waken up from his sleep by the bus conductor, he steps up some time later, but his father Jo is not amused.

When both return inside, John spends up till midnight telling his father what happened today. Three days later at the kiln, none of the Black Hand Gang can even believe all the real fun he has had.

[edit] The Baby Show

Days before William, the youngest Ruggles child, takes part in the annual Baby Show, his mother and her friend, Mrs. Mullet, are arguing on his participation as such. On the day of the show, the other Ruggles are so worried about this situation too, because William is toothless.

With the other children at school, and Mr. Ruggles at work, Peg and William and their mother remain. At two o'clock, they set off for the venue of the show: Otwell Priory, a sixteenth century building located just outside the town.

At five o'clock, when all is over, a large crowd awaits the results of the show, in front of the tent where the babies have been judged. The rest of the Ruggles join in among the many spectators.

Fifteen minutes later, the announcement is made that William is the winner in his category (6-12 months), yet a slightly older competitor wins the Grand Challenge Cup for being best in show. To their amazement, the Ruggles discover that their youngest one has grown a tooth!

[edit] Jo and the Majestic

Jo Ruggles Jr., a Mickey Mouse fan, goes to the local Majestic Cinema every Saturday, as long as he achieves getting his fourpenny allowance, despite his mother's objection about the place. One Monday, whils going to school, he sees a poster for an upcoming Silly Symphony and strongly wants to see it, but he is out of money at present. As a result, his desperation gets him into trouble at class, at the tea shop, and while looking after William all week long.

As Saturday arrives, his luck is still running out: the next Symphony is due in a fortnight, says Mrs. Hare the cinema cleaner, but Jo Jr. cannot wait for this week's attraction, however penniless he is. While she is still cleaning, he sneaks inside the empty building and hides behind the screen, where he soon falls asleep.

It is almost four hours before three orchestra musicians—a cellist, a pianist and a violinist—find him inside a small box here. Jo explains to them his purpose for sneaking in, and the men pardon him by giving him sixpence for the show, and a warning not to do again what he did this morning.

[edit] Mr. Ruggles' discovery

Mr. Ruggles has always wanted to take his family to London for the great Cart-Horse Parade in Regent's Park, but the expenses for the trip never come their way. This is because Charlie, Mr. Ruggles' brother, has lost in this year's competition, and Mr. Ruggles thus thinks of getting a good pig for next year's trip, much to the family's disapproval.

Almost a week later, on a Tuesday, while Jo Sr. and his friend Mr. Bird are emptying dustbins around the town, they both find an envelope with ₤41 inside. He is late for dinner that way after turning the cash over at the Station. For the next three days, the Ruggles are held in susupense as to what will become of the stash, but it really belongs to an author named Mr. Short.

After those three days, the family gets photographed by a journalist named Walter Wilkins, from the local Gazette, for an article on the amazing discovery. The following Tuesday, he gets a reward of ₤2 from the author, who is left disturbed by Jo's words of thanks.

[edit] At Regent's Park

On Whit Sunday, the young Ruggles attend Sunday School in their regular clothes, a rare occurrence that Mrs. Smith, their neighbour, takes note of. Smith notices something stranger at No. 1 that afternoon, much to her chagrin: Jo and Rosie in less-than-normal attire!

The family wakes up at five o'clock the next morning—an hour earlier than normal—and starts preparing for the trip to London, but Jo Jr. complains of his jersey being too tight.

With a diverse bundle of goods, the Ruggles embark on an hour-and-a-half journey to London on train, arriving hence at Victoria Station, where they meet Auntie Ivy. The continue via the Inner Circle in the city's Underground, and end at a crowded Baker Street Station.

Once the Ruggles and Auntie Ivy enter Regent's Park, the venue for the Cart Horse Parade, they are greeted by a wide assortment of competitor horses and accompanying carts of all kinds. The family gets acquainted with Bernard Shaw, the horse, and his owner, Uncle Charlie. They are also introduced to Mrs. Perkins and her children, Anthony and Pamela. Uncle Charlie's children—May, Doris, Franklin, and little Elfred—are present as well.

While Mr. Ruggles hangs around with his brother in the distance, his wife and sisters-in-law allow their children, but with some precautions, to spend some time in the nearby Play Park, setting a two-hour waiting period in the process.

When those two hours are over, Jo Sr. announces his brother's First Prize win to the three sisters-in-law, and asks them where his children are. All of them are in for a big little-expected surprise: they find the youngsters out of order, untidy as ever. Even a policeman tells the parents of Peg picking roses—a no-no in Public Parks. Jo Jr.'s mother is angry at him for giving away his jersey to a lady and putting on Jim's own instead, and plans to punish him upon returning to Otwell. But he cheers up when she makes mention of the procession, and despite her anger, she forgets about it while starving for sandwiches.

The Parade starts later than expected, at half past one; Bernard Shaw leads the procession, and it takes a long time before the Ruggles come to the Judges' Stand. As they do so, Shaw bolts before frightened onlookers after Uncle Charlie receives his prize. Because of the hot weather, long waiting and the aforementioned incident, Uncle Charlie insists his Otwell kin go home early, and vows to pay more attention to his horse from now on.

[edit] A Perfect Day ends

The Ruggles and the rest—along with the Buckles' son, a doctor's chauffeur—pass the remaining time at a "Posh" tea shop while Charlie is stabling his horse. As they delight themselves with ice cream, sundaes and orchestra music, they realise how late it is. Their train back home, Uncle Charlie reminds them, is about to leave. Encouraged by the cart driver, and saying their good-byes to the Perkins and Auntie Ivy, they head off by bus to their station of departure, but they are late—or so it seems when the Ruggles are offered another train, almost out of space.

As the Family from One End Street part ways with their London relative, Rosie hears him play The End of a Perfect Day on his mouth organ. Asked about this tune, the washerwoman responds to her husband, and kisses him on the nose as they start to head back to Otwell.

[edit] Trivia

• One of the book's competitors vying for the Carnegie Medal was, surprisingly enough, The Hobbit, the J. R. R. Tolkien prelude to The Lord of the Rings.
• Two sequels were published in 1956 (Further Adventures of the Family from One End Street [1]) and 1962 (Holiday at the Dew Drop Inn).

[edit] Editions

• ISBN 0-14-030007-4 (Puffin, UK, late 1980s reprint)