Mollie Walton The Orphan of Ironbridge, The Secrets of Ironbridge, The Daughters of Ironbridge

The Orphan of Ironbridge, The Daughters of Ironbridge and The Secrets of Ironbridge by Mollie Walton unite three connected stories set in Ironbridge. Each book follows a young woman navigating family bonds, working life and the social divisions that shape everyday choices, with questions of belonging and opportunity running throughout.

From the coal mine and ironworks to the local brickworks, the collection traces relationships tested by class and circumstance. Across the three narratives, personal decisions sit alongside the weight of complicated histories, as characters confront differences between rich and poor and the tensions that can exist within families.

Included titles

• The Orphan of Ironbridge
• The Daughters of Ironbridge
• The Secrets of Ironbridge

Key details

• Three-book collection
• By Mollie Walton
• All stories are set in Ironbridge

Synopses

The Orphan of Ironbridge

Hettie Jones grows up in Ironbridge without knowing her father. After her mother dies, she is brought up by the Malone family, who accept her as one of their own. Working as a pit girl at the local coal mine, she is alongside her childhood friend Evan as their relationship begins to shift. Hettie must consider how to use her new position, and whether she can help narrow the divide between rich and poor.

The Daughters of Ironbridge

Anny Woodvine is from a family with a long connection to the ironworks. Known as the brightest child in her road, she wants more from life, and takes an opportunity when she is asked to run messages for the King family. The story explores whether they can remain true to each other and escape repeating the past.

The Secrets of Ironbridge

At eighteen, Beatrice returns to her mother’s birthplace and meets relatives she barely knows. Her great-grandmother Queenie is devoted to her, but Beatrice becomes unsettled by her family’s privileged role as masters of the local brickworks. She tries to overcome differences in background while attempting to make amends for her family’s past.