Oakhaven has a vague story line but it has no village character who will dominate. The story really is about the village and how it reacts to new houses and the rehabilitating soldier families. I had thought of having the sergeant and his wife, who will be in charge of the manor house as the main people but they are not the village. The one person who will be involved in everything in some way is Elaine, nee Jackson, now Colonel Cunninghame's wife. It is her cottage that the builders will use and build on, it is her old mansion that she and the colonel will renovate and it is her husband's manor house. In Ducks, Elaine took a bit of a back seat but she must now come out of her comfort zone and face certain challenges, including Mrs Boniface's interference. I like this better. It has a heroine.
The picture is how I imagine the back entrance to the manor house would have looked. It is now in disrepair and will need attention but could become flats

www.sullatober dalton.com