Whimbrel House serves as a character in the novel, through its animation via the spirit of wizard Owein Mansel, and also as a setting, the locale that brings the characters together. Whimbrel House further illustrates what magic signifies in this magical world and the reasons why people like Hulda and Myra want to preserve it. On their own, enchanted houses in this world function as resources: They can embed spells that can be transferred to or used by people, thus delaying the dilution of magic that happens over generations and preserving a precious gift. Hulda also suggests that enchanted houses serve as cultural heritage, sites of wonder or beauty that are valuable for their own sake.

Whimbrel House symbolizes Merritt’s specific family heritage and his personal future. Owein’s mischief, accomplished through altering the house, first parallels the chaos of Merritt’s own changing circumstances as he tries to find his feet and navigate the possibilities of his inheritance. Gradually, Whimbrel House awakens Merritt’s own magic, putting him in touch with the bloodline he shares with Owein, an inheritance that belongs to him as much as the house does. By the end of the novel, the house also evokes the future that he might share with Hulda.