Story Search Results

The Schoolroom Maid's Story #36

THE SCHOOLROOM MAID’S STORY:    For the first 75 years of Hoar Cross 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...

The Kitchen Maid's Story #37

...terature, history, philosophy, and drama. She graduated in 1984. In 1991, she paid a visit to Hoar Cross, spending a pleasurable week as a guest in the Spa Hotel, above stairs! What a strange experience that must have been for her, albeit enjoyable! Her life had now come full circle which just goes to show that you should never give up on your dreams and you’re never too old to do something new!   Don’t miss next week’s instalment: “What the Butler Saw!” If you would like to follow my story from the beginning, click here and please feel free to share with your friends....

My Dad Bought a Mansion #1

...h all its history and tragedies in the summer of 1970. My family consisted of my mum,  Gwynyth and dad, William (or Bill as he was known) and two younger brothers Gavin and Piers - and the five of us were about to take on a stately home in the middle of nowhere, or so it seemed to me! It was actually in the middle of Staffordshire but in an incredibly small village, more like a hamlet, with a church, a school, a few cottages and a village pub. The local bus service had just come to an end the month we moved in so there was no public transport either or a village shop! Of course, to us three kids it seemed really exciting moving to this huge house with lots of...

The Schoolroom Maid's Story #36

...For the first 75 years of Hoar Cross 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 Newborough, and it was through her...

The origins of the stately home #43

...So why are stately homes so called? Stately home actually means 'a large impressive old house with interesting history and usually visited by the public.' Well, I suppose they do look very 'stately' for a start but these houses were also a status symbol for the great families of England, who competed with each other to provide hospitality for the royal household who would travel around England meeting their subjects. Stately homes were huge mansions which were always beautiful and the epitome of perfect architecture, often designed by famous architects of the day. The gardens too would be perfectly landscaped to show balance, variety, sequence and colour. One o...

Lest We Forget #28

..."  Wow - history in the making and my father was there hearing it first hand - and hoping that the war was coming to an end soon.  Sadly, he had to wait another year or so before he got his wish. Diary entries in 1944   Unfortunately, not everyone got to come home and carry on with their lives.  Although my dad did, he contracted tuberculosis (TB) after the war and had to spend two years in a sanatorium losing half a lung.  He also ended his romance with Winnie as he didn't feel it was fair for her to wait for him or be landed with an invalid, as he thought he would be.  However, he did make a success of his life motor racing and buying Hoar Cross H...