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The War Years and Beyond #40

...it into a Christian Community. Incredibly they were allowed full access to the house while they were fund raising – the total required to purchase, equip and furnish the property was estimated at around £350,000. The plan was that they would accommodate 100 guests plus staff, and be equipped with a gymnasium, swimming pool and facilities for drama, music, films, crafts, conferences and other activities. A bold plan indeed! The monks lived in the Lodge and Gatehouse having full use of the Hall and its surroundings for four years while they appealed for money. They even demolished the kitchens and laundry block at one end of the house in readiness for the swimm...

Hoar Cross Hall - a bit of history #14

...it into a Christian Community Centre and started a development plan for raising the required monies. The monks had full use of the Hall and lived in the Lodge and Gatehouse. Before they received the funding they started their building work, demolishing the kitchens and laundry rooms at one end of the house as this was going to be a swimming pool. However, the funding never transpired and they were asked to leave in 1969, leaving the house unfinished and the gardens in sad neglect. The monks' plans for the Hall   In 1970 my parents, William and Gwynyth Bickerton-Jones bought the Hall and we settled there for nearly 20 years until it was sold and became th...

The War Years and Beyond #39

...it into a Christian Community. Incredibly they were allowed full access to the house while they were fund raising – the total required to purchase, equip and furnish the property was estimated at around £350,000. The plan was that they would accommodate 100 guests plus staff, and be equipped with a gymnasium, swimming pool and facilities for drama, music, films, crafts, conferences and other activities. A bold plan indeed! The monks lived in the Lodge and Gatehouse having full use of the Hall and its surroundings for four years while they appealed for money. They even demolished the kitchens and laundry block at one end of the house in readiness for the swimm...

Queen Alexandra - my family #50

...Queen Alexandra was the daughter-in-law of Queen Victoria as she was married to her eldest son and heir, Edward VII. Her family were from Denmark and although of royal blood they were a distant branch of the royal house of Oldenburg and apparently lived very modestly on her father's army commission. However, in 1852 her father, Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glucksburg, was chosen to succeed his second cousin Frederick VII as King of Denmark thus the family's status rose and they moved into a new official residence, Bernstorff Palace. Alexandra, or 'Alix' as she was known was born on 1st December 1844, her full name being Alexandra Caroline M...

The Schoolroom Maid's Story #33

...sumes her Christian name originated. There was little choice but to go into service in those days (her sister, Beatrice, was also a nursery maid with the Earl and Countess of Lichfield), and she was engaged on a salary of £18 per annum. Her mother made her uniform, which comprised of a morning dress and an afternoon dress, and Lady Dorothy Meynell supplied her cap. She was the personal maid to Lady Dorothy’s eldest daughter, Dorothy, who was just four years younger than Inez. She also looked after Dorothy’s younger sister, Rachael. The schoolroom at this time was situated just off the main Entrance Hall, and immediately below the nursery. Inez worked unde...

Hoar Cross Hall - A bit of History #54

...it into a Christian Community Centre and started a development plan for raising the required monies. The monks had full use of the Hall and lived in the Lodge and Gatehouse. Before they received the funding they started their building work, demolishing the kitchens and laundry rooms at one end of the house as this was going to be a swimming pool. However, the funding never transpired and they were asked to leave in 1969, leaving the house unfinished and the gardens in sad neglect.In 1970 my parents, William and Gwynyth Bickerton-Jones bought the Hall and we settled there for nearly 20 years until it was sold and became the Spa Hotel that you see today. Don’t...