PaPart 2--The Village

The village gatehouse is still open, let's enter. . .

Just inside the gatehouse stands the Falstaff Inn. This new structure dates from the early 1800's and still provides a cheap night's lodging for travelers on the London Coach.

GGuests staying at the inn may send messages back to London via carrier pigeon. Their coop is right on the grounds. I note that the pigeon keeper is slacking his thirst with the fresh ale kept in the yard keg.

DirDirectly ahead of the gatehouse stands the Melancholy Tavern where one can still get the best meal in town, along with a pint of Heathmoore's finest ale.

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It may be Christmas time and things are picking up as evening approaches, but I see the village landlord has taken time to share some Holiday cheer with his misses. Married for 38 years, it is still good to take time to share the moment. Imported champagne seems to be the order of the evening.t

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AcrAcross the street from the Melancholy, and beneath the castle stands the Old Curiosity Shop. Here you can still purchase many rare treasures and finely made goods crafted by the local tradesmen. One guest from the coach is heading in right now.

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The village market sells some of the finest and freshest produce from the region. Market master Will Hampton oversees the sales and also provides some of his own products for sale. If it is a Christmas Goose you are seeking, the poultry shop seems to have some the Cobbs' large birds for sale this year.

Old Town is just up the stairs behind the market. The leading resident of old town is "Old Man" Scrooge. He has been running his counting house for years.

His over worked empolyee, Bob seems to have decided to take some time off to take his little son to the town square for tonight's festivities. The rest of Scrooge's employees can still be seen hard at work.

SeveraSeveral of the original buildings in town (the oldest structures by far) stand in this section of town. Old Fezziwig still maintains his warehouse here. The money lender Sir Edward George generously financed the construction of the other two old structures, the Dickens House and Hawkin's Toy Shop. They are testimony to the power of life long friends.

We still have some time before the evening activities begin---so let's head "up" town.

Before heading up the stairs we might stop at the Biffin's Bakery for some fresh muffins, or even drop in at W.M. Wheat Cakes and Puddings for some refreshment.

Wait, I can smell some chestnuts roasting on an open fire. . .

It seems every English village has erected a church on the highest point in town. Heathmoore is no different. Although it took over a century, the Duke of Somerset's gift to the village was finally finished in 1601. It is a magestic ediface towering above everything in the shire. The good Duke's crypt prominately stands in the forefront of the church's graveyard. Adhearing to the terms of the original grant, the church fathers still offer food to the poor and needy throughout the year.

At the top of the stairs and to the right is a rare book store. The shop contains volumes covering the history of the shire, family histories of the shire residents along with other early writings from the period for those who want to take the time to drop in. There is always a welcome for budding young scholars as well as those doing period research.

NNext door stands the Murphy's Wine and Spirit Shop. John Tipler manages the shop for the Murphy's.

A sure sign of progress is the new Timbers Hotel. Many of the "nouvo riche " travelers don't want the old "comforts" of the Falstaff Inn and are willing to make the long climb for the latest in amenities and , of course, the view offered by the Timbers. The hotel was limited to three stories so that the high church would remain the tallest building in the village. Old traditions die hard.

Well, here we stand. It is Christmas Eve. At midnight the villagers will have their annual treelighting in the village square. It is is almost time, if we hurry, we can just make it back down in time for the moonlight lighting.

It came upon a midnight clear. . .

MeMerry Christmas everyone.

ManMany of my friends and relatives from far and wide have inspired parts of this village and story. If you read carefully, you will find a tribute to many of you tucked within this story. My thanks to each of you for what you have meant to me over the years.

QQuick, look! Father Christmas is down from the hills, making his rounds

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