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Mediaeval Mayhem! #12
Posted by Viv Wilson on 6th January 2019 in Growing Up In a Stately Home | hoar cross hall,banquets,chinese,daggar,silver armour,ballroom
MEDIAEVAL MAYHEM! It was the end of the summer season at the hall in 1973 and rehearsals had started for the new venture of Mediaeval Banquets. All the cast would come round to the house each week for rehearsals and my mum and one or two other ladies were busy making the skirts and blouses for the wenches. My mum also made about 200 bibs which the guests were going to be wearing as eating five courses with a dagger can be quite messy! We had a King, a Jester, a Fire-eater, a Halberdier, an organist and various wenches and serving ladies. To launch the banquets my parents decided to hold a Press Reception about a month before and so we al...
The Kitchen Maid's Story #35
Posted by Viv Wilson on 16th June 2019 in Growing Up In a Stately Home | hoar cross hall,Meynell,first world war,second world war,London,Parliament,Glasgow,butler
THE KITCHEN MAID’S STORY: If you were young, free and single – oh, and very well-to-do – the 1920s was the decade to live in! The upper classes had lots of time on their hands and enjoyed post-First World War delights such as the theatre and jazz clubs.
Not so for the lower classes, in particular a young girl who was to become the kitchen maid at Hoar Cross hall in the 1920s. The ‘depression’ after the First World War brought stark poverty to her home and many like her. Her name was Jean Rennie, and she was extremely intelligent having won a scholarship to Glasgow University to study French and music. However, the £5 bursary she g...
The Kitchen Maid's Story #34
Posted by Viv Wilson on 27th April 2020 in Growing Up In a Stately Home | meynell,hoar cross hall,University of East Anglia,spa hotel,second world war,London season,Cook,Parliament
THE KITCHEN MAID’S STORY: If you were young, free and single – oh, and very well-to-do – the 1920s were the decade to be a part of. The upper classes had lots of time on their hands and enjoyed post-First World War delights such as the theatre and jazz clubs.
Not so for the lower classes, in particular a young girl who was to become the kitchen maid at Hoar Cross hall in the 1920s. The ‘depression’ after the First World War brought stark poverty to her home and many like her. Her name was Jean Rennie, and she was extremely intelligent having won a scholarship to Glasgow University to study French and music. However, the £5 bursary she got (equ...
Huntin', Shootin' and Fishin' #6
Posted by Viv Wilson on 13th July 2020 in Growing Up In a Stately Home | Meynell,hoar cross hall,Laughton Estate,bats,meynell arms,pheasants,hounds,fishing,gun
HUNTIN’, SHOOTIN’ AND FISHIN’: Most stately homes have the obligatory hunting, shooting and fishing and Hoar Cross hall was no exception during the Meynell family’s time there. We participated in none of these but the Meynell and South Staffs Hunt used to meet locally to do a spot of fox hunting. They would all gather at different venues around the area and enjoy a drink before setting off. One of their usual places was the Meynell Ingram Arms Public House at the bottom of the village. In February 1972 they had their ‘meet’ at the hall. We, as the host family, got all dressed up to meet and greet them and local helpers served drinks, usually s...
Calendar Girls and Front Covers #6
Posted by Viv Wilson on 19th July 2020 in Growing Up In a Stately Home | hoar cross hall,models,gentlemen,glamour photography,ghostbusters,Staffordshire Magazine
CALENDAR GIRLS AND FRONT COVERS: During our time at Hoar Cross hall people would occasionally hire the house for a day’s filming or whatever. During the summer of 1973 a photographer from London hired the place for a day and he brought two models with him, one English and one German, and they were taking photos for a glamour calendar. We were told to keep right out of the way as they were taking photos in the gardens as well as the house. Naturally we wanted to see everything that was going on and my younger brother Gavin especially was very keen to watch – so much so that he found a pair of binoculars to follow all the proceedings! We managed to find...
Eat, drink and be merry! #10
Posted by Viv Wilson on 15th August 2020 in Growing Up In a Stately Home | hoar cross hall,radio interview,King,Jester,mediaeval banquets,mead,wine,armour,apples
EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY! It was the end of the summer season at Hoar Cross hall in 1973 and rehearsals had started for the new venture of Mediaeval Banquets when the cast would come round to the house each week to practice their routines. My mum and one or two other ladies were busy making the skirts and blouses for the wenches; my mum also made about 200 bibs which the guests were going to be wearing as eating five courses with a dagger can be quite messy! We had a King, a Jester, a Fire-eater, a Halberdier, an organist and various wenches and serving ladies. To launch the banquets my parents decided to hold a Press Reception about a month before and...