Story Search Results

The Haunting of Hoar Cross Hall #27

...into the Ballroom Alice was nowhere to be seen. “Hey, are you hiding Alice? Do you want to play hide and seek?” called Viv. She looked at all the Victorian costumes that were on display in the Ballroom and wondered if she was hiding behind one of the large dresses, but a quick look round revealed nothing. All of a sudden Viv realized that Alice’s dress was very old fashioned, not unlike the costumes on display with their ribbons and bows. The familiar prickle went down her spine and she was glad that it was day time as she went back into the Library. As she wandered over to the mirror she looked again at the face so clearly seen in the bottom corner. A c...

The Grand Opening #5

...And so we move into 1971 and the preparation of Hoar Cross Hall so we could open it to the public by Easter. During the run up to buying the house my dad had been buying furniture, carpets and paintings like crazy and I remember our previous home being jam packed with chaise longues, sideboards and carved chests as well as all the suits of armour that he already had. This furniture was now set out in all the rooms. My mum’s collection of Victorian costumes were on display in the Ballroom as well as my dad’s collection of silver plated ‘display’ armour, which hung around the panelled walls; the suits of armour and the many paintings they had lined the Lon...

Mediaeval Mayhem! #13

...Room and Ballroom had been removed and put into storage elsewhere in the house. A local carpenter had made long tables and benches to seat about 200 guests in the Ballroom, which was now known as the Banqueting Hall. We had employed caterers to do the food and the Chinese Room was used as a food preparation area next to the kitchen/café. A bar had been built in the middle of the Long Gallery. I had to sew numbers onto the coat hangers for the cloakroom – it took all day to do 100 hangers! The afternoon was spent laying the tables with mugs, daggers and serviettes. Before 7pm we went to get changed into our mediaeval dresses; Myra (the fire-eaters wife) and m...

The ghost of Christmas past #73

...into the Ballroom Alice was nowhere to be seen.  “Hey, are you hiding Alice?  Do you want to play hide and seek?” called Viv.  She looked at all the Victorian costumes that were on display in the Ballroom and wondered if she was hiding behind one of the large dresses, but a quick look round revealed nothing.  All of a sudden Viv realized that Alice’s dress was very old fashioned, not unlike the costumes on display with their ribbons and bows.  The familiar prickle went down her spine and she was glad that it was day time as she went back into the Library.  As she wandered over to the mirror she looked again at the face so clearly seen in the bottom...

A New Year Calamity! #75

...The New Year’s Eve Ball at Hoar Cross Hall was 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 bought 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 Ballr...

Mediaeval Mayhem!

...Room and Ballroom had been removed and put into storage elsewhere in the house.   A local carpenter had made long tables and benches to seat about 200 guests in the Ballroom, which was now known as the Banqueting Hall.  We had employed caterers to do the food and the Chinese Room was used as a food preparation area next to the kitchen/café.   A bar had been built in the middle of the Long Gallery.   I had to sew numbers onto the coat hangers for the cloakroom – it took all day to do 100 hangers!  The afternoon was spent laying the tables with mugs, daggers and serviettes.  Before 7pm we went to get changed into our mediaeval dresses; Myra (the fire-...