See also Kim for similar moments of eye-brow-raising. And for that matter Stalkey & Co. He was of a generation that believed that children can comprehend (and are interested in) more than many adults admit.

I think an adaptation would have to be episodic, either that or focusing only two or three threads of the linked stories, ones where someone from the past reappears in successive stories. Contenders include Sir Richard and Parnesius -- which, hmm, are among the first couple introduced -- plus of course woven through with the fairy lore ending with "Dymchurch Flit".