SOLVED. Children's Story About a Granfather Clock That Chimes 13 times and opens a garden to a little boy [s]

[Literary Chanteuse]

It was sometime in the early 80's that I read this story in school and had watched I believe a BBC production of it in school as well.

It is set in England and a boy is sent to stay (not quite sure why) with some relatives could be aunt/uncle or grandparents for a short time perhaps over the summer...there is a grandfather clock which at midnight chimes 13 times and when this happens the boy goes outside into a kind of garden. I think he makes some kind of friend in the garden as well. He goes back every night and Towards the end of his stay the clock for some reason is fixed and he can no longer get into the garden. It ceases to exist and he is no longer able to see this friend.

Any suggestion is welcome! Thanks!

[Wayne Baxter]

Tom's Midnight Garden
by: Philippa Pearce Illustrated by: Susan Einzig

http://www.amazon.com/Toms-Midnight-G...

The synapsis sound similare to what you've described.

[Cathy]

Yes, it must be Tom's Midnight Garden. A lovely book. The garden he visits belongs to the same house where he's staying, but in the past, and he makes friends with a young girl there.

[Wayne Baxter]

Glad to help out. Don't forget to put this in the found file.

Happy reading

[Literary Chanteuse]

Wayne wrote: "Tom's Midnight Garden
by: Philippa Pearce Illustrated by: Susan Einzig

http://www.amazon.com/Toms-Midnight-G...

The synapsis sound similare to what you..."



Thank you to both Wayne and Cathy. I'm so glad to finally know the title and author.

[Paul]

Hi,i just dreamt about this story.and am pleased to have found its name here.thkyou. In my dream ,I couldn't find the door to the garden ,the number to the door which I forget now was always missing from the countless doors in the dream,it was hidden behind the wall, accessed by another door.when I found it in the dream I was met by a girl and I new I was in the place I had so long searched for.i became emotional and walked in the garden,I noticed I was alone and found some old and discarded diaries,phones and cameras.i wanted to find out some info on the owners so I looked at them,suddenly a man appeared with some young children,I was embarassed at being caught looking at the items but the man smiled at me.i asked why was he here,he replied that he had died,.i was surprised,I asked him when, and he said today.,and when did you die?.i was stunned and promptly awoke from the dream.strange huh?

[Kris]

Tom's Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce for the GR link.