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Gardeners' World at Hoar Cross

GARDENERS’  WORLD AT  HOAR CROSS:         In it’s heyday Hoar Cross HAll had around 28 people employed to keep the 20 acres of grounds tidy and weed free.  In Victorian England the most common of All male servants was the gardener.   At Hoar Cross the head gardener had numerous under-gardeners known affectionately as ‘digging slaves’!  They were responsible for producing fruit, vegetables and growing luxury items in and out of season, much of it under glass.  Adjacent to the house was the carp pool and greenhouse area along with a palm house; next to these was a wAlled kitchen garden.  This supplied the house with All its fruit, vegetables a...

Things that go bump in the night! #3

THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT!        Going to sleep in a big old house is quite scary when you’re young but going to sleep in a big old house that’s haunted is even more scary!!  That first winter at the HAll was like that.  Every time there was a windy night I could hear a window banging in the attic – All night long it kept me awake.  The next day I would go upstairs to close it but there would be no windows open or even loose.   They were All tightly shut as they had been for 20 years.  I remember standing there in the attic rooms, the hairs prickling the back of my neck and quickly legging it back downstairs!  On other nights I would h...

Gardeners' World at Hoar Cross #36

GARDENERS’  WORLD AT  HOAR CROSS:       In it’s heyday Hoar Cross HAll had around 28 people employed to keep the 20 acres of grounds tidy and weed free.  In Victorian England the most common of All male servants was the gardener.   At Hoar Cross the head gardener had numerous under-gardeners known affectionately as ‘digging slaves’!  They were responsible for producing fruit, vegetables and growing luxury items in and out of season, much of it under glass.  Adjacent to the house was the carp pool and greenhouse area along with a palm house; next to these was a wAlled kitchen garden.  This supplied the house with All its fruit, vegetables and...

Things that go bump in the night #3

THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT!     Going to sleep in a big old house is quite scary when you’re young but going to sleep in a big old house that’s haunted is even more scary!!  That first winter at Hoar Cross HAll was like that.  Every time there was a windy night I could hear a window banging in the attic – All night long it kept me awake.  The next day I would go upstairs to close it but there would be no windows open or even loose.   They were All tightly shut as they had been for 20 years.  I remember standing there in the attic rooms feeling a tingling down my spine and goose bumps All over as I felt the atmosphere closing in on me -  and...

Gardeners World at Hoar Cross #36

GARDENERS’ WORLD AT HOAR CROSS:      In it’s heyday Hoar Cross HAll had around 28 people employed to keep the 20 acres of grounds tidy and weed free. In Victorian England the most common of All male servants was the gardener. At Hoar Cross the head gardener had numerous under-gardeners known affectionately as ‘digging slaves’! They were responsible for producing fruit, vegetables and growing luxury items in and out of season, much of it under glass. Adjacent to the house was the carp pool and greenhouse area along with a palm house; next to these was a wAlled kitchen garden. This supplied the house with All its fruit, vegetables and herbs. The palm h...

Gardeners' World at Hoar Cross #39

GARDENERS’ WORLD AT HOAR CROSS:    In it’s heyday Hoar Cross HAll had around 28 people employed to keep the 20 acres of grounds tidy and weed free. In Victorian England the most common of All male servants was the gardener. At Hoar Cross the head gardener had numerous under-gardeners known affectionately as ‘digging slaves’! They were responsible for producing fruit, vegetables and growing luxury items in and out of season, much of it under glass. Adjacent to the house was the carp pool and greenhouse area along with a palm house; next to these was a wAlled kitchen garden. This supplied the house with All its fruit, vegetables and herbs. The palm house...