On a warm spring day in the 1920s, a craftsman takes a step back and gazes proudly at the result of months of hard labour, a grand house, built to the finest specifications. On his arm leans his beautiful, frail wife. Together they look up and admire the home they have created together.

But it is not to be. Shirley does not live long enough to make the dream a reality. And so it is that the house takes her name and a new family, and the first of four, moves in.

Within walls that really do talk are witnessed passions of love and hate, great joy and personal tragedy, all-consuming adultery and ruthless murder. And whilst the families appear to come and go, there is a lasting message, sometimes the past can never truly be laid to rest.