ABANDONED. Childrens book pre-2000 about three siblings who move to England after their mother dies. Main character is youngest sibling, Ben.

[Vicky]

I must have read this book when I was about 10, so 2007 or so, but it must have been published long before that. Its set in the r0s or 50s, and is about three siblings qho move to england, I think London, after their mother dies. They lived in africa, and when their mother gets sick their family friend drives her to hospital in his land drover but the house is surrounded by a mudslide. After she dies, they are taken to england by their uncle. The elder two deal with it as best they can, but the protagonist, Ben, hates it, and thinks that it is "grey sky, grey buildings and men in grey suits". He makes friends with their neighbourgh, a girl his age called Victoria, who is introduced in a chapter called "a face at the window" or something along those lines. She is described as very thin andd sullen, and plays the piano. He also meets an old lady who has a room full of victorian treasure that she says she got from her father. She gives him a bag of gold sovereigns which he tries to buy sweets with, but the owner assumes that he must have stolen them, and then the other lady takes pity on him and lets him have them anyway. She asks where he got the coins and they go to see the lady, and I think it turns out that she is either famous or well-known, and I think it ends with her giving him them as an inheritance as she has no family. I have no idea who the author or publishers are, and I would think its probably out of print. I've tried googling every detail I can remember and come up with nothing.

[Toto]

Hi Vicky, some strong similarities with The Butterfly Lion by Michael Morpurgo.
A boy who lived in Africa and had to move to London to a boarding school. Gets to know an old lady who helps him. Similar time period. Boys name is Bertie not Ben.
Hope this helps you!

[Vicky]

Hi Toto, thanks for your suggestion. The Butterfly Lion was one of my favourite books as a child, so I know it's not that. I really appreciate it though!

[Toto]

Ah yes, that "children who left Africa to live in grey, rainy, drab London where they befriend old ladies" genre. Once it says "the memories of the sunsets in Africa" and "cold, damp London" you know you're getting the really good stuff and can kick back and transport yourself away from the world of doing school homework!!
😊

[Knits Reads Games Sings]

Could it be The Secret Passage by Nina Bawden? Released as The House of Secrets in the UK. I found it mentioned on Loganberry books with the description:

"John, Mary and Ben have lived in Africa all their lives but then their mom dies and their father has a nervous breakdown and sends them to live with crotchety old Aunt Mabel in London. There is indeed a secret passage, a mysterious old lady, strange treasures, and questions about the ownership of the home."

Looking through the reviews here on GR there is at least one mention of a face in an attic window, too. ETA: from the table of contents in the kindle version, this really sounds like what you're looking for. Fingers crossed.

It's available in kindle format, so you can read the first few pages on Amazon.

[Kris]

No response, moving to Abandoned folder.

Vicky (OP) was last active on the site in December 2019.