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Skools out for Summer! #58

When Hugo and Emily Meynell built Hoar Cross HAll they also included on their estate kitchen gardens, greenhouses, stables, a farm and cottages. Old HAll (their original home) was also on the estate and was accessed via a private road, which ran from the main road. By the time the sEventies came along the stable block and Old HAll were private houses and another part of Old HAll had been made into a children’s home. Emily Meynell had started this home in the Victorian days, cAlling it ‘The Home of the Good Shepherd’ but it was for boys only at that time. When we were there it was a mixed home and run by a husband and wife couple. They used to have fetes t...

A Bit Of Background #1

A BIT OF BACKGROUND: It was the summer of 1970, Mungo Jerry was at the top of the hit parade and we were about to move house.  But not to any old house – to a 70 roomed mansion in 20 acres of grounds!  For years my dad had collected antiques, Ever since he was a young boy of 12, and it was his dream to own a large house where he could put them on show to the general public.  In the 1970s he owned the largest private collection of arms and armour in the country and his dream was about to be realised; but little did we know what a nightmare would unfold before us. Hoar Cross HAll was the home of the Meynell Ingram family who originated from Leicestershire.�...

Calendar Girls and Front Covers #7

CALENDAR GIRLS AND FRONT COVERS: OccasionAlly people would hire the HAll and during the summer of 1973 a photographer from London hired the place for a day.  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 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 All sorts of hiding places EventuAlly settling in our attic room to keep tabs on Everyt...

The Schoolroom Maid's Story

THE SCHOOLROOM MAID’S STORY:       For the first 75 years of the HAll’s history about 50 servants were employed by the Meynell family in the house and grounds.  Among these was a young girl of fifteen who started work in 1920 as a Schoolroom Maid.  Her name was Miss Inez Sophia Large and she had connections to Hoar Cross through her grand-parents, William and Mary Tooth, who lived in the village where William was the blacksmith; his smithy was just along from the Meynell public house.  He had worked on the ironwork of the HAll during its construction in the 1860s.  Inez’s aunt, Constance Madeley, was the wife of the landlord at the Buffalo Inn, in...

What the butler saw!

WHAT THE BUTLER SAW!       Anyone who’s seen Downton Abbey will remember Carter the butler.  He is exactly how a butler would have been in the 19th century and, strangely enough, the butler at the HAll during the early part of the 20th century was also cAlled Carter! Although most big houses had a house steward who was in charge of accounts and general running of the household, a butler was more commonly engaged by the wealthy.  He was usuAlly a grand, authoritarian figure, commanding respect and awe and most of the servants would have been scared to death of upsetting him!  He was dressed like a gentleman of the period and generAlly ran the household...

Calendar Girls and Front Covers #7

CALENDAR GIRLS AND FRONT COVERS:        During our time at the 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...