Story Search Results

Skools out for Summer! #58

When Hugo and Emily Meynell built Hoar Cross Hall They also included on Their estate kitchen gardens, greenhouses, stables, a farm and cottages. 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 seventies 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 was for boys only at that time. When we were There it was a mixed home and run by a husband and wife couple. They used to have fetes t...

The ghost of Christmas past #73

AnoTher Christmas story in The run up to The festive season - it may send a shiver down your spine! (Based on true stories) The typewriter keys clattered away as Viv wrote her story.  It was coming along nicely and she was feeling pleased with herself.  The attic room that she and her broThers had made into Their ‘den’ was ideal for getting away from everybody and having some peace and quiet and she quite forgot about The time as she lost herself in The plot.  Suddenly she looked up and realized how dark it was getting; The December nights were pulling in and it was already quite dusky by 3.30pm.  Quickly she packed her books and folders away and prepar...

Christmas High Jinks #87

Here's a true story to get you in The mood for Christmas!  My broTher and I were definitely not good children and we were always amazed that Santa still left us gifts on Christmas Eve!  We were like 'elves behaving badly'!  Hope you enjoy it! The sounds of "La Golondrina" floated through The air as Viv sat at The grand piano.  How pleased she was that someone had asked Them to look after this fine musical instrument for a few months.  Having learned to play when she was younger, this gave Viv The opportunity to brush up on her skills as a pianist and she was thoroughly enjoying it.  The piano was in The Library and suited The room perfectly.  She could h...

The Schoolroom Maid's Story #34

The SCHOOLROOM MAID'S STORY:       For The first 75 years of The Hall’s history about 50 servants were employed by The Meynell family in The house and grounds.  Among These was a young girl of fifteen who started work in 1920 as a Schoolroom Maid.  Her name was Miss Inez Sophia Large and she had connections to Hoar Cross through her grand-parents, William and Mary Tooth, who lived in The village where William was The blacksmith; his smithy was just along from The Meynell public house.  He had worked on The ironwork of The Hall during its construction in The 1860s.  Inez’s aunt, Constance Madeley, was The wife of The landlord at The Buffalo Inn, in ne...

The Schoolroom Maid's Story #33

The SCHOOLROOM MAID’S STORY:      For The first 75 years of The Hall’s history about 50 servants were employed by The Meynell family in The house and grounds. Among These was a young girl of fifteen who started work in 1920 as a Schoolroom Maid. Her name was Miss Inez Sophia Large and she had connections to Hoar Cross through her grand-parents, William and Mary Tooth, who lived in The village where William was The blacksmith; his smithy was just along from The Meynell public house. He had worked on The ironwork of The Hall during its construction in The 1860s. Inez’s aunt, Constance Madeley, was The wife of The landlord at The Buffalo Inn, in nearby New...

The Tax Man Cometh! #26

...n.   The Meynell Arms c.1920s  - where we had so much fun!    Meanwhile, we carried on with our social life in The local Meynell Arms to keep our spirits up. During The summer months There were always a few barn dances to go to and we even put a few on ourselves. These were usually in a local farmer’s barn with a disco and lots of real ales – They were good fun and always went on until The early hours. All The neighbouring land around Hoar Cross was owned by The Duchy of Cornwall estate (Prince Charles’ land) and after one of These barn dances someone set off for home down a dark lane and crashed into a garage next to someone’s house. The car...