Nordy Bank (novel)
Encyclopedia
Nordy Bank is a children's novel by Sheena Porter
, published in 1964. It was awarded the Carnegie Medal
for that year.
as it is out of the way of summer visitors. They set up camp on the top of the hill, which turns out to be the site of an Iron Age
hill fort
, Nordy Bank
. Bronwen is particularly susceptible to the atmosphere of the place, and shows unexpected knowledge about its construction. Her personality begins to change, as from a quiet good-natured girl she becomes argumentative, then increasingly withdrawn and sullen. Bron is aware of the change and frightened by it. Her friend Margery believes she is possessed by the spirit of an Iron Age woman.
Meanwhile an Alsatian dog of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps
escapes while on his way to retraining by the National Canine Defence League after being retired due to partial deafness. Being muzzled, he is unable to hunt and becomes increasingly hungry. When the dog appears lurking round the camp, the dog-loving Bron reacts with fear and hostility, calling him a wolf. However, his forlorn state eventually rouses her true self and she befriends him.
calls it Sheena Porter's finest book. While he describes the camping scenes as beautifully done, conveying a sense of adventure and good companionship, he regards the novel as primarily concerned with the development of personality. "In Nordy Bank Sheena Porter shows how self-discovery can go hand-in-hand with the discovery of society. It is an effective lesson, the more so because the lesson is contained in an absorbing and dramatic story and the inner and outer themes are inseparable."
Sheena Porter
Sheena Porter is a British children's novelist. She received the 1964 Carnegie Medal for Nordy Bank.Sheena Porter has worked as a librarian in Leicester, Nottingham and Shropshire, and currently lives in Ludlow....
, published in 1964. It was awarded the Carnegie Medal
Carnegie Medal
The Carnegie Medal is a literary award established in 1936 in honour of Scottish philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and given annually to an outstanding book for children and young adults. It is awarded by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals...
for that year.
Plot summary
Six children plan a camping trip in the Easter holidays, deciding on Brown Clee HillBrown Clee Hill
Brown Clee Hill is the highest hill in the rural English county of Shropshire, at 540 metres above sea level. It is one of the Clee Hills, and is in the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.-Geography:...
as it is out of the way of summer visitors. They set up camp on the top of the hill, which turns out to be the site of an Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
hill fort
Hill fort
A hill fort is a type of earthworks used as a fortified refuge or defended settlement, located to exploit a rise in elevation for defensive advantage. They are typically European and of the Bronze and Iron Ages. Some were used in the post-Roman period...
, Nordy Bank
Nordy Bank
For the children's novel by Sheena Porter, please see Nordy Bank .Nordy Bank is an Iron Age hill fort on Brown Clee Hill in the Shropshire Hills AONB in South Shropshire, England.- Location :The nearest village is Clee St...
. Bronwen is particularly susceptible to the atmosphere of the place, and shows unexpected knowledge about its construction. Her personality begins to change, as from a quiet good-natured girl she becomes argumentative, then increasingly withdrawn and sullen. Bron is aware of the change and frightened by it. Her friend Margery believes she is possessed by the spirit of an Iron Age woman.
Meanwhile an Alsatian dog of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps
Royal Army Veterinary Corps
The Royal Army Veterinary Corps is an administrative and operational branch of the British Army responsible for the provision, training and care of animals. It is a small but technically competent corps forming part of the Army Medical Services...
escapes while on his way to retraining by the National Canine Defence League after being retired due to partial deafness. Being muzzled, he is unable to hunt and becomes increasingly hungry. When the dog appears lurking round the camp, the dog-loving Bron reacts with fear and hostility, calling him a wolf. However, his forlorn state eventually rouses her true self and she befriends him.
The campers
- Peter Furness, a 15-year-old boy, clever, a natural leader and inclined to be sarcastic
- Margery Furness, Peter's younger sister, kind-hearted and a peace-maker
- Robin Furness, their 10-year-old brother, keen on fossils
- Anne Turner, their cousin, visiting from Bristol, a good cook but scared of dogs and worms
- Bronwen Owen (Bron), Margery's friend, an only child, a shy but sensible girl, who loves animals
- Joe Catlin, Peter's friend, a 15-year-old farmer's son, very competent and an experienced camper
The adults
- Dr. Furness, a busy GPGeneral practitionerA general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
- Mrs. Furness, who breeds DalmatianDalmatian (dog)The Dalmatian is a breed of dog whose roots are often said to trace back to Dalmatia, a region of Croatia where the first illustrations of the dog have been found. The Dalmatian is noted for its unique black- or brown-spotted coat and was mainly used as a carriage dog in its early days...
s - Mr. Owen, Bron's father, whose work forces his family to move frequently
- Mrs. Owen, Bron's over-protective mother
- Mr. Catlin, Joe's father, a farmer
- Arthur and Edward, farming brothers who give permission for the camp and supply the campers with milk and water
- Mrs. Pritchard, shopkeeper and postmistress of Clee St. Margaret
- Corporal Smythe of the RAVC, the Alsatian's handler
- Mr. Kirby of the National Canine Defence League
The animals
- Lucy, Margery's Dalmatian, who has puppies during the course of the book
- Spotted Dick, the smallest of Lucy's litter
- Griff (as named by Bron), an Alsatian, a former army dog
Literary significance
Nordy Bank received the Carnegie Medal for excellence in children's literature. In The Nesbit Tradition, Marcus CrouchMarcus Crouch
Marcus Crouch was a British librarian and an influential reviewer of, and commentator on, children's books.- Life and works :...
calls it Sheena Porter's finest book. While he describes the camping scenes as beautifully done, conveying a sense of adventure and good companionship, he regards the novel as primarily concerned with the development of personality. "In Nordy Bank Sheena Porter shows how self-discovery can go hand-in-hand with the discovery of society. It is an effective lesson, the more so because the lesson is contained in an absorbing and dramatic story and the inner and outer themes are inseparable."