Posted by Robert Hill on June 06, 2014 at 14:44:28 user eclrh.
In Reply to: Re: Ransome's Sketch - Re: Beckfoot Layout posted by Duncan on June 06, 2014 at 13:22:06:
It would seem surprising that Holly Howe had electricity and Beckfoot didn't (an electric light is switched on and off in Holly Howe in Winter Holiday, isn't it?)
I don't remember that. Early in chapter 18 of WH, while apparently in the main downstairs room, there's a reference to Susan turning down the [oil] lamp. Later in the chapter, there are references to a candlestick and matches in (John and) Roger's bedroom.
But assuming for the sake of argument that you're correct, Holly Howe is quite close to Rio and on what I think of as a fairly main road, so could have got the mains at the same time as the village, whereas the west side of the lake is much more isolated.