"Hope for Charity"- The Places

Welcome! This is the second episode of my blog series The Life and Times of Hope for Charity. In this episode, we’ll take a brief look at the places in which Hope for Charity, my debut novel, is set. It’s the first of a three-book Christian Historical Romance novel series. Now join me for another glance at The Life and Times of Hope for Charity.

Hope for Charity--The Places

First of all, I must tell you that this will be a broad view lest I give away too much of the story. Therefore, we'll look at the counties you'll visit in Hope for Charity instead of specific villages, towns, or cities.

Yorkshire-

"Known by the locals as 'God's own county', it is celebrated for its varied landscape, which is host to... the North York Moors, with its spectacular heritage coastline... the Yorkshire Dales with its high peaks, low valleys, flowing rivers, and patchwork fields ribboned with dry stone walling..."

In December 2019 my husband and I went on a trip to the British Isles and England from North Yorkshire down to London, England. Since Hope for Charity begins in North Yorkshire the bus and train rides through the countryside and visits to several of the towns were especially special to me.

The miles and miles of rolling hills, low stone walls separating fields, and white sheep dotting the hillsides were mesmerizing and all this was interspersed with woodlands. It was my research come to life.

Interesting tidbit...

"Yorkshire's breathtaking countryside has inspired many novels such as, Emily Bronte's 'Wuthering Heights' and James Herriot's 'All creatures great and small'. The dramatic scenery has also provided the backdrop for countless films, from Robin Hood Prince of Thieves to Dracula and Calendar Girls."

Lincolnshire-

The east boundary of Lincolnshire is the North Sea. However, we shall travel west which is known for its marshes and rich farmland.

"Many of Lincoln’s famous buildings are medieval. Lincoln Castle, standing on the Lincoln Edge opposite the cathedral, dates from 1068 and contains Norman fragments. The castle keep dates from the 12th century. The cathedral, also Norman, stands on an elevated site overlooking the city."

This castle and cathedral are mentioned in Hope for Charity. The history is fascinating, and I enjoyed making them part of my story.

Norfolk-

"The...county comprises seven districts: Breckland, Broadland, North Norfolk, and South Norfolk; the boroughs of Great Yarmouth and King’s Lynn and West Norfolk; and the city of Norwich. Norfolk is low-lying...the northwest corner of the county is drained by the River Ouse into The Wash, a shallow North Sea inlet."

"King’s Lynn was one of England’s foremost ports as early as the 12th century... Aptly described as ‘The Warehouse on the Wash’ it maintained its prominence as a port until the railways robbed it of much of its traffic in the mid 19th century."

During Hope for Charity's era King's Lynn was still a vibrant trading port to Europe. Though we will discuss King's Lynn in regard to the port and trade in HFC, the time we spend in Norfolk will be spent further inland.

I tremendously enjoyed researching the beauty, scenic variety, and history of each of these areas. The few descriptions I gave here are a drop in the bucket.

Still, I hope this glimpse at the counties where Hope for Charity comes to life has made you more excited about the Life and Times of Hope for Charity. Next time we'll plan to take a look at daily life in the mid-18th century.

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