Five on Finniston Farm
 Original 1960 first edition cover | |
| Author | Enid Blyton |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Eileen A. Soper |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Famous Five series |
| Genre | Mystery, Adventure novel |
| Publisher | Hodder & Stoughton |
Publication date | 1960 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover and paperback) |
| Preceded by | Five Get into a Fix |
| Followed by | Five Go to Demon's Rocks |
Five on Finniston Farm is the eighteenth novel in the Famous Five series by Enid Blyton. It was first published in 1960.
Plot
This summer the Famous Five are all set to spend their holidays at Finniston Farm as paying guests. Having arrived there, the five are greeted by a pleasant Mrs Philpot and her unfriendly twin children Henry and Harriet often referred to as the Harries who look alike, talk alike and seem to take an instant dislike to the five. The five also get to meet their fellow pair of paying guests an American Mr Henning and his son who is addressed as Junior. They learn that Mr Henning plans to buy antique pieces from the farm and sell them in America. Mr and Mrs Philpot agree to sell their farm treasures as they are extremely in short of money. However their great grand dad feels that their antique treasures shouldn't be sold.
Mr Henning and Junior prove themselves a nuisance to the household by slaving around Mrs Philpot. The five feel sorry for her and offer help with the farm jobs. George plans to teach a lesson to Junior who demands breakfast in bed. She takes Timmy along with her and throws Junior of his nerve making him agree to not slave Mrs Philpot thereafter. This trick wins the heart of the Harries and they make friends with the five.
Anne and George visit an antique shop near the farm and get to know from its owner Mr Finniston about the mystery of Finniston Castle who also tells them about a secret passage from the castle to an old chapel and cellars where royal treasure might be hidden. The girls excitedly reveal the news to the boys and the twins and together they all plan to hunt for the cellars on the farm site. While on their search, they come across the kitchen midden of the castle and realise they are very close to finding the treasure.
However Junior spies on them and rushes to break the news to his father and his friend Mr Durleston who decide to excavate the castle site, find the fortune and sell the goods in America. Mr and Mrs Philpot consent for the excavation much to the dismay of the children who realise Junior must have been spying on them. The children also decide to dig around the site hoping to beat the men in finding the treasure. Initially they are unsuccessful but the twin's dog Snippet and their jackdaw Nosey lead them to a borrow under which the secret passage stretches out.
The children discover the cellars and the treasure only to discover that they are trapped inside the tunnel as the earth has fallen blocking the entrance to the burrow. They take another way and reach a trap door under the old chapel which is now used as a storehouse. The farm hands Bill and Jamie hear their shouts and let them out. The children get back to the farm and tell their exciting story to the astonished adults. The next day the Mr Henning and Mr Durleston try to trick the Philpots into believing that the site has no treasure and offer them some meagre amount as a manner of being fair. However Mr Philpot backed up by his grand dad and Mr Finniston decline the offer of the Americans making it clear that they plan to excavate the site themselves and chuck them out. The adventure ends with Julian, Dick, Anne and George along with Timmy planning to stay at the farm and watch the real excavation of treasure take place.
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