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Gardeners' World #38

In it’s heyday Hoar Cross Hall had around 28 people employed to keep The 20 acres of grounds tidy and weed free. In Victorian England The most common of all male servants was The gardener. At Hoar Cross The head gardener had numerous under-gardeners known affectionately as ‘digging slaves’! They were responsible for producing fruit, vegetables and growing luxury items in and out of season, much of it under glass. Adjacent to The house was The carp pool and greenhouse area along with a palm house; next to These was a walled kitchen garden (see header picture). This supplied The house with all its fruit, vegetables and herbs. The palm house produced palms an...

Temple Newsam and The Meynells #40

Hoar Cross Hall was built by Hugo and Emily Meynell Ingram in 1871 and this week I am delving into The family background of Hugo to explain how Emily came to own The Temple Newsam estate after his death. In 1782, Hugo's grandfaTher, Hugo Meynell of Quorndon, The 'faTher of fox hunting', married The Hon. Elizabeth Ingram Shepheard.  She was The daughter of Charles Ingram, 9th Viscount Irwin and Lord Ingram.  The family seat was Temple Newsam in Yorkshire and this was how The Meynell family became associated with this great house.  Through this marriage of Hugo and Elizabeth, The Meynell family also inherited The Ingram estates in Lincolnshire, acquired by Sir...

Huntin', Shootin' and Fishin' #6

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 didn't participate in any of These but, however, 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 sherry. I had no interest in h...

Behind The Green Baize Door #41

 “The green baize door - dividing line betwix servant and master.” All stately homes had at least one green baize door and Hoar Cross Hall was no different. This was The door used by The servants to access The main part of The house unobtrusively and silently so They could go about Their work without disturbing The family. The Hall had a spiral staircase at each end of The house for The servants to use and The green baize door on The ground floor opened onto The Garden corridor which led to The Chapel and The main house, as well as The garden. The green baize door on The first floor opened onto The east wing corridor and guest bedrooms and from this corrid...

Ghostbusters #8

People were always coming to Hoar Cross Hall to eiTher hire The house or to have a look around. In 1973, because of all The media interest in our ghosts, we had a couple of professional ghost hunters asking to stay over one night to try and find The source of The noises. They brought cases full of recording equipment and set it all up in one of The attic rooms. RaTher Them than me I thought! Then I had a brilliant idea and went off to tell my broTher Gavin all about it. As mentioned in my first blog The attic and basement had a row of bells which The family used to summon The servants. Before The three men arrived we spent all day trying out all The bells to see...

Royal visitors at Hoar Cross Hall #10

From earliest times The king's court has traveled around The kingdom so The king could see first hand what was going on in his realm. When The king showed up, The local subjects were expected to provide food, entertainment, and accommodations usually in The form of mediaeval banquets.  For The King or Queen's subjects this could be very expensive and not all royalty was welcome! However, this was The only way that people could see Their King or Queen and know that They were real. Fast forward from The twelve century to The 21st century and royals are still touring The country so Their subjects can 'see Them and believe in Them'. The Queen's grandparents, King...