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Ghosts of Christmas Past #88
Posted by Viv Wilson on 13th December 2024 in Growing Up In a Stately Home | hoar cross hall spa hotel,barons eden,Haunted,ghost,christmas,attics,December,history,historic houses,stately home,Alice,Mince pies,Library,victorian,Downton abbey,the Aristocrats,the royal family,my dad bought a mansion
Welcome to another story based on true facts and things that went bump in the night at Hoar Cross Hall, to get you in the mood for all those Christmas ghost stories you'll be watching this season! Hope you don't get too scared!
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 pulli...
Celebrating VE Day #94
Posted by Viv Wilson on 8th May 2025 in Growing Up In a Stately Home | hoar cross hall,barons eden,hoar cross hall spa hotel,History,World War 2,World War 1,V E Day,D Day,Great Britain,TB,downton Abbey,Motor bike,RASC,Americans,Aeroplanes,period drama,V J Day,Victory,Meynell,wartime
As a way of commemorating V. E. Day I have re-posted my blog from November's Remembrance Day which tells of the sacrifice that the men of the Meynell family made during both world wars as well as the many thousands of others who took part. During the two World Wars the Meynell family of Hoar Cross Hall served their country alongside many others from all walks of life. After each war there was huge social upheaval, especially for women, who had been doing what was traditionally 'men's work' during the war and weren't prepared to go back to domestic roles. At the time of the First World War Frederick Meynell and Lady Mary Meynell were living at the Hall with...
Anyone for Tennis? #96
Posted by Viv Wilson on 25th June 2025 in Growing Up In a Stately Home | hoar cross hall spa hotel,barons eden,wimbledon,all england lawn tennis and croquet club,downton abbey,History,Period drama,Meynell,queen mother,tennis court,mediaval,Henry VIII,hampton court,Ballroom,Balls
With the summer season well and truly upon us and Wimbledon almost here, I thought a blog about tennis might be in order! the game of tennis first started in the Mediaeval days and involved hitting a ball with a bare hand and later with a glove. By the 16th century the glove had become a racquet and the game had moved to an enclosed playing area and the rules had stabilized. This was known as ‘real tennis’. the word tennis came into use in English in the mid-14th century from French, via the Anglo-Norman term Tenez, which can be translated as 'hold', 'receive' or 'take', a call from the server to his opponent indicating that he is about to serve....
RAGS TO RICHES! #15
Posted by Viv Wilson on 3rd June 1973 in Early Days | hoar cross hall,alabaster,sculpture,suits of armour,stately home,sex,drugs,pink floyd,derby,second world war,first world war,1920's
RAGS TO RICHES: My parents were married in Derby in July 1952. Mum was 19 and dad was 36 so quite a bit older. they both lived in Derby and were very arty; my dad went to the Derby Sketching Club in his free time and my mum attended art college. I’m not sure where they met but it was either at something art related or at a dance, as was usual in those days. My dad was a sculptor by trade; I think his interest was sparked by seeing all the beautiful alabaster in Italian churches during the war. After the war he set up his own business making alabaster lamps, bowls and candlesticks among other things (see header picture). He would go to the alabast...Rags to Riches #16
Posted by Viv Wilson on 3rd February 2019 in Growing Up In a Stately Home | Meynell,hoar cross hall,mediaeval banquets,suits of armour,first world war,Louis Martin,second world war,olympics
RAGS TO RICHES: My family originated from Derby and my parents were married there in July 1952. Mum was 19 and dad was 36 so quite a bit older. they both lived in Derby and were very arty; my dad went to the Derby Sketching Club in his free time and my mum attended art college. I’m not sure where they met but it was either at something art related or at a dance, as was usual in those days. My dad was a sculptor by trade; I think his interest was sparked by seeing all the beautiful alabaster in Italian churches during the war. After the war he set up his own business making alabaster lamps, bowls and candlesticks among other things (see hea...
Ghostbusters! #8
Posted by Viv Wilson on 13th October 2019 in Growing Up In a Stately Home | hoar cross hall,ghost,bat,dracula,Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen,midnight,gothic,Meynell,horror
GHOSTBUSTERS! People were always coming to Hoar Cross Hall to either hire the place or to have a look around. In 1973, because of all the media interest in our ghosts, we had a couple of professional ghost hunters asking to stay over one night to try and find the source of the noises. they brought cases full of recording equipment and set it all up in one of the attic rooms. Rather them than me I thought! then I had a brilliant idea and went off to tell my brother Gavin all about it. As mentioned in my first blog the attic and basement had a row of bells which the family used to summon the servants. Before the three men arrived we spent all...