Story Search Results

A Bit Of Background #1

...ichfield, Needwood, etc.  It was fascinating stuff – there was also a West Wing and an East Wing to the house; the East Wing had been the nursery rooms for the younger members of the Meynell family and their nursemaids.  Back down in the basement were all the old kitchens including the Boot Boy’s room, laundry room, pantries and sculleries.  Along the wall of the passageway was a row of bells and the names of the rooms to which they belonged – these were here so that the servants could be summoned to do their master’s bidding – they were also used in a prank by myself and my brother when we were visited by a team of professional ghost hunters - but...

Hoar Cross Hall - a bit of history #14

...Hoar Cross was part of Needwood Forest, the 11th century lands of Henry de Ferrers. The land was passed down to Henry’s son and subsequent various people over the course of 500 years ending with the Webb family, around the 1730s, who bought the land and house known as the Manor of the Cross. This was quite a large house built on a hill near Yoxall (which is the village next to Hoar Cross). In 1740 the manor house was demolished and later the Hon. Charles Talbot bought the estate for £17,000. Eventually it was sold to Hugo Meynell, who already owned huge amounts of property all over the county. This branch of the Meynell family originated from Leicestershire,...

Hoar Cross Hall - a bit of history #17

...If you love to read up on the history of old houses then you'll love to hear about all the generations of people that lived at Hoar Cross Hall.  Hoar Cross was part of Needwood Forest, the 11th century lands of Henry de Ferrers. The land was passed down to Henry’s son and subsequent various people over the course of 500 years ending with the Webb family, around the 1730s, who bought the land and house known as the Manor of the Cross. This was quite a large house built on a hill near Yoxall (which is the village next to Hoar Cross). In 1740 the manor house was demolished and later the Hon. Charles Talbot bought the estate for £17,000. Eventually it was sold t...

Hoar Cross Hall - A bit of History #54

...Hoar Cross was part of Needwood Forest, the 11th century lands of Henry de Ferrers. The land was passed down to Henry’s son and subsequent various people over the course of 500 years ending with the Webb family, around the 1730s, who bought the land and house known as the Manor of the Cross. This was quite a large house built on a hill near Yoxall (which is the village next to Hoar Cross). In 1740 the manor house was demolished and later the Hon. Charles Talbot bought the estate for £17,000. Eventually it was sold to Hugo Meynell, who already owned huge amounts of property all over the county and was now about to add another one to his portfolio. This branch...

My Dad Bought A Mansion! #1

...ichfield, Needwood, etc.  It was fascinating stuff!  There was also a West Wing and an East Wing to the house; the West Wing had been the nursery rooms for the younger members of the Meynell family and their nursemaids.  In one of the corridors we found an old ‘sit and ride’ toy, which was a horse on wheels with pedals; this must have belonged to the Meynell children and had been sadly left behind.  However, we had a lot of fun on it and my mum kept it when she left so her grand-children could have fun on it too!  So it had plenty of use! Also in the nursery wing was a huge snooker table complete with balls and cues.  My dad decided to sell this as we...

My Dad Bought a Mansion #1

...ichfield, Needwood, etc. It was fascinating stuff! There was also a West Wing and an East Wing to the house; the West Wing had been the nursery rooms for the younger members of the Meynell family and their nursemaids. In one of the corridors we found an old ‘sit and ride’ toy, which was a horse on wheels with pedals; this must have belonged to the Meynell children and had been sadly left behind. However, we had a lot of fun on it and my mum kept it when she left so her grand-children could have fun on it too! So it had plenty of use!   My son Lee on the Victorian horse in the 90s   Also in the nursery wing was a huge snooker table complete with bal...