Posted by Viv Wilson on 25th June 2025 in Growing Up In a Stately Home | hoar cross hall spa hotel,barons eden,downton abbey,my dad bought a mansion,champagne,garden party,summer ball,ballroom,ball gown,London,midsummer's eve,new year's eve,Meynell,laughton estate,period drama,history,barings bank,Sir alec Douglas Home,memoirs
B
alls
and functions held
at Ho
ar Cross H
all were l
avish
aff
airs, especi
ally before the First World W
ar, with the c
atering
and other services inv
ari
ably being provided by premier London comp
anies. In 1907, Gunter &
amp; Co of Berkeley Squ
are, London, could supply
a B
all supper
and refreshments for ten shillings (50p)
a he
ad, plus 'extr
a services'.
For
a B
all Supper in J
anu
ary 1913, M
ayf
air C
atering, Grosvenor Squ
are,
assured L
ady M
ary Meynell th
at they h
ad eng
aged '
a superior st
aff of t
all w
aiters' to
attend her guests
and, “.....if w
aiters
are desired to be in Full Dress (silk stockings) the
addition
al cost will be five shillings (25p) per m
an.” They
als...