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a New Year Calamity! #35

The New Year’s Eve Balls at Hoar Cross Hall were usually the highlight of the year. after twelve months of hard work, especially running the Mediaeval Banquets twice a week through the winter, we were always ready to see out the year in style with a big new year party. In those days it was always black tie for the men and long dresses for the ladies – usually around 500 people an class='highlight'>boughtan> tickets for an evening of entertainment with a dance band, disco and a meal. at midnight a man dressed in traditional Scottish regalia, including a kilt and sporran, would pipe in the new year with his bagpipes. Down the Long Gallery he would slowly walk and into the Ballroom wi...

Moving on - the end of an era #33

MOVING ON - THE END OF aN ERa:          and so I come to the end of an class='highlight'>Myan> story.  after ten years of living in a stately home,  an class='highlight'>Myan> parents’ divorce agreement meant that an class='highlight'>Myan> an class='highlight'>dadan> had to be an class='highlight'>boughtan> out by an class='highlight'>Myan> mum and he had to leave his dream home forever.  He and Gavin moved out to live in Burton-on-Trent and an class='highlight'>Myan> mum carried on running Mediaeval Banquets for a few more years.  She and the singer eventually got together much to an class='highlight'>Myan> an class='highlight'>dadan>’s chagrin.  The singer spent a lot more time at the Hall helping an class='highlight'>Myan> mum run the banquets; however, Piers didn’t really get on with him.  When he was about 14 years old an class='highlight'>Myan> an class='highlight'>dadan> received a phone call from Piers – he had run...

Moving On - the end of an era #32

MOVING ON – THE END OF aN ERa:       and so, after ten years of growing up and living in a stately home, I have come to the end of an class='highlight'>Myan> story. after an class='highlight'>Myan> parents’ divorce it was agreed that an class='highlight'>Myan> mum an class='highlight'>boughtan> out an class='highlight'>Myan> an class='highlight'>dadan>'s half of the house and he had to leave his dream home forever. He and Gavin moved out to live in Burton-on-Trent and an class='highlight'>Myan> mum carried on running Mediaeval Banquets for a few more years. She and the singer eventually got together much to an class='highlight'>Myan> an class='highlight'>dadan>’s chagrin. The singer spent a lot more time at the Hall helping an class='highlight'>Myan> mum run the banquets; however, Piers didn’t really get on with him. When he was about 14 years old an class='highlight'>Myan> an class='highlight'>dadan> received a phone call from Pier...

Skools out for Summer #98

When Hugo and Emily Meynell built Hoar Cross Hall it included a whole estate with it, namely kitchen gardens, greenhouses, stables, a farm and cottages.  This was quite common in those days as the estate supported the house with food etc and also gave employment to local people. Old Hall (their original home) was also on the estate and was accessed via a private road, which ran from the main road.  By the time the 1970s came along the stable block and Old Hall were private houses and another part of Old Hall had been made into a children’s home.  Emily Meynell had started this home in the Victorian days, calling it ‘The Home of the Good Shepherd’ but it...

Hallowe'en Hauntings #100

Going to sleep in a big old house is quite scary when you’re young but going to sleep in a big old house that’s haunted is even more scary!!  as we approach Hallowe'en an class='highlight'>Myan> mind has gone back to that first winter at Hoar Cross Hall and all the scary things that happened - and that was without any trick or treaters in those days!  We quickly realised that we weren’t the only inhabitants of the house when we moved there in the 1970s.  Every time there was a windy night I could hear a window banging in the attic – all night long it kept me awake.  The next day I would go upstairs to the attics to close it but there would be no windows open or even loose.�...

The War Years and Beyond #39

During the Second World War, life in country houses changed dramatically. It was no different at Hoar Cross Hall. The flower borders on the main lawns were turfed over to reduce maintenance and vegetables were grown in areas formerly restricted to flowers. Evacuees from Birmingham came to stay for the duration of the war and they lived in the basement, as it was considered to be the safest place. I imagine that they must have been in the care of the servants as they were living amongst them but it must also have been quite exciting for them to move from a bombed out city to the relative safety of the countryside, although they must have missed their parents of c...