From Time to Time

A curious and resourceful teenager who can travel between present-day Green Knowe and the early 19th-century manor. He navigates Christmas at a country estate under wartime strain while uncovering his family’s hidden history. His empathy and persistence help him connect with Susan and unlock a long-buried treasure.

The aging grandmother and guardian of Green Knowe, wary of selling the estate and protective of its legacy. She reveals the family’s past flaws, including a cruel letter that condemned the wife of her son. Her knowledge of the estate’s history guides Tolly through time and danger.

The stern patriarch whose presence echoes through time. A figure of authority and legacy, he anchors the family’s long history and stirs tensions between duty and desire. His past actions influence the events that unfold in both centuries.

The loyal, wary man who first brings Tolly to Green Knowe from the rail station. He holds old concerns about the estate’s future and the people connected to it. His practical nature contrasts with the magical happenings within the manor.

A ghostly young girl who can speak with Tolly across time. She acts as a bridge between the present and the past, guiding him through the manor’s secrets. Susan’s presence reveals the human stories behind centuries of history.

An ancestral boy from the early 19th century whose memory lingers in Green Knowe. A spur found by Tolly ties Sefton to the estate’s history, and his spirit participates in the unfolding adventure. Sefton represents the tangible links between generations.

The cautious butler who remains wary of outsider presence, including Jacob the African boy. His role highlights the social tensions of the era and the complexities of loyalty within the house. He watches over the staff and the estate with a protective eye.

An African boy brought to the Oldknow household as a companion, who stowed away to escape sale. His presence introduces themes of otherness and complicates the family dynamics. Jacob's position within the manor reveals the era’s social boundaries.

Thomas Oldknow’s wife, whose reckless spending and gambling nearly ruin the family in the 1800s. Her legacy is felt through the estate’s fortunes and the letters that haunt successive generations. Maria’s story helps explain the family’s long-standing tensions.

Tolly’s soldier father, whose absence is felt deeply during the war. His fate and memory motivate the family’s actions and Tolly’s quest to understand his lineage. The ghostly acknowledgment of his death offers comfort to the boy.