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The Schoolroom MaiD's Story #36

For the first 75 years of Hoar Cross 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 nearby Newborough, anD it was through her...

An EDwarDian Schoolroom MaiD #40

For the first 75 years of Hoar Cross 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 nearby Newborough, anD it was through her...

SKOOLS OUT FOR SUMMER! #13

SKOOLS OUT FOR SUMMER! When Hugo anD Emily Meynell built the Hall it incluDeD a whole estate with it, namely 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 co...

Skools out for summer! #14

SKOOLS OUT FOR SUMMER!       When Hugo anD Emily Meynell built Hoar Cross Hall it incluDeD a whole estate with it, namely 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 hu...

Skools out for summer! #12

SKOOLS OUT FOR SUMMER!    When Hugo anD Emily Meynell built Hoar Cross Hall it stooD within 50 acres of lanD.  Their estate incluDeD 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...

Hoar Cross Hall - Life below stairs #18

HOAR CROSS HALL – LIFE BELOW STAIRS:   This week I’ve Done a history blog about the servants who liveD at the Hall from the 1870s to the 1950s when the Hall became empty. They were an essential part of keeping a big house running but were often not appreciateD by the aristocracy as they went about their Day to Day Duties. The life of a servant in Victorian times was a harD one. They haD to rise at 5am to clean anD light all the fires anD Dust anD polish the floors, then Do a Day’s work, often not getting to beD much before miDnight. No wonDer they DiDn’t live to a great age in those Days! By the enD of the 19th century there were nearly one anD a half...