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Moving on - the end of an era #33

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

Mediaeval Mayhem! #11

It was the end of the summer season at Hoar Cross Hall in 1973 and rehearsals had started for the new venture of Mediaeval Banquets. All the cast would come round to the house each week for rehearsals and my mum and one or two other ladies were busy making the skirts and blouses for the wenches. My mum also made about 200 bibs which the guests were going to be wearing as eating five courses with a dagger can be quite messy! We had a King, a Jester, a Fire-eater, a Halberdier, an organist and various wenches and serving ladies. To launch the banquets my parents decided to hold a Press Reception about a month before and so we all gathered at the Hall one day in ea...

Hickleton Hall and the Meynells #43

This lovely Grade II listed Georgian house in South Yorkshire was once the childhood home of The Honourable Emily Charlotte Meynell who married Hugo Meynell of Hoar Cross and who, together with Hugo, built Hoar Cross Hall to be their family home in 1873. The original house was called Hickleton Palace and had been built for Judge Francis Rodes in the 16th century but in 1745 Hickleton Hall was built just to the south of this house after the estate was bought by Godfrey Wentworth in about 1730. Thirty years later he extended the house and added two low wings, one either side, and a servants wing. Emily's father, Charles Wood, 3rd Baronet, inherited the house in...

The Origins of the Stately Home #39

...entury as manor houses in the heart of an agricultural estate, so effectively they were like farms with a farmhouse albeit a bit grander! The Lords that owned the manor houses would then provide employment for large numbers of indoor and outdoor staff in the rural community. It also provided the owner with income from rents and produce. When the Industrial Revolution came along it meant more houses were being built for the newly rich industrialists which often mimicked stately homes whilst the poor continued to live in squalid, overcrowded slums.  By the 1850s the economy was booming - however, increased taxes and wars led to the downfall of a lot of these larg...

See you in Court #27

...t a small manor house in those days!The Judge also ruled that Sotheby’s Auction house were to visit the Hall and value my dad’s antique collection. Shortly after the hearing the valuers came to the house; they walked in and took one look at the collection and asked what all the fuss was about. My mum’s face was a picture as they informed her that it was all reproduction and of little value! As mentioned in previous blogs the original items were safely tucked away in Kev’s attic! Well, if nothing else, at least my dad had the last laugh!   Don't miss next week's instalment:    'Lest we forget' If you’d like to follow my story from the beginning,...

See you in Court #28

...t a small manor house in those days! The Judge also ruled that Sotheby’s Auction house were to visit the Hall and value my dad’s antique collection.  Shortly after the hearing the valuers came to the house; they walked in and took one look at the collection and asked what all the fuss was about.  My mum’s face was a picture as they informed her that it was all reproduction and of little value!  As mentioned in previous blogs the original items were safely tucked away in Kev’s attic! Well, if nothing else, at least my dad had the last laugh!   Next week:  The tax man cometh If you’d like to follow my story from the beginning, click here and pl...