Story Search Results

Ventures New! #10

...y mum’s birthday present once, saying it was better to spend their money on an investment rather than flowers that would wither and die! I don’t think my mum was very impressed! Another time he bought an ancient Japanese funeral urn to put on display in the Chinese Room – to make it seem more authentic he filled it with ashes from the fireplace and placed a few animal bones in for good measure! The display sign read that it was the remains of a Samurai Warrior from the Far East! One Easter we decided to hire a small steam train to give rides to the families that came. It was set up on the lower terrace and ran from one end to the other. It was a real hit...

The Kitchen Maid's Story #36

...her 21st birthday – a lot of money in those days! On her return to the Hall she found that a new temporary cook had started. For the next four months her days were dominated by nagging and persecution, aided and abetted by the butler who joined in the game of baiting her. Cooks like this were typical of her kind – ‘trained with the whip’ – and Jenny found the working conditions difficult. However, leaving wasn’t easy as she lived at the Hall, all her belongings were there, her mother and sisters were all living and working a long way off and she also sent money home to her grandparents. She was also determined not to be beaten by the cook! Duck...

Eat, Drink & Be Merry #11

...y mum’s birthday present once, saying it was better to spend their money on an investment rather than flowers that would wither and die! I don’t think my mum was very impressed! Another time he bought an ancient Japanese funeral urn to put on display in the Chinese Room – to make it seem more authentic he filled it with ashes from the fireplace and placed a few chicken bones in for good measure! The display sign read that it was the 'Remains of a Samurai Warrior from the Far East'! One Easter we decided to hire a small steam train to give rides to the families that came. It was set up on the lower terrace and ran from one end to the other. It was a real h...

The Kitchen Maid's Tale #41

...her 21st birthday – a lot of money in those days! The Laughton estate duck shoot   On her return to the Hall she found that a new temporary cook had started. For the next four months her days were dominated by nagging and persecution, aided and abetted by the butler who joined in the game of baiting her. Cooks like this were typical of her kind – ‘trained with the whip’ – and Jenny found the working conditions difficult. However, leaving wasn’t easy as she lived at the Hall, all her belongings were there, her mother and sisters were all living and working a long way off and she also sent money home to her grandparents. She was also determine...

Hallowe'en Hauntings #100

...t my 18th birthday was celebrated as we had become friends with the people that lived there. As everyone had heard about the ghost stories at the Hall, we made an ouija board and tried to contact the spirits.  Most people had had a few spirits of a different kind by then and we sat around the table watching the glass move around the board, wondering who was pushing it.  Afterwards no-one admitted that they did and then we’d all be wondering and worrying!  Once, while playing this game, a curtain fell down from the window and freaked us all out!  One or two people were really into all this stuff and so the 'dark arts' arrived at the Hall – as if we didn�...

VENTURES NEW #10

...y mum’s birthday present once, saying it was better to spend their money on an investment rather than flowers that would wither and die!  I don’t think my mum was very impressed!  Another time he bought an ancient Japanese funeral urn to put on display in the Chinese Room – to make it seem more authentic he filled it with ashes from the fireplace and placed a few animal bones in for good measure!  The display sign read that it was the remains of a Samurai Warrior from the Far East! One Easter we decided to hire a small steam train to give rides to the families that came.  It was set up on the lower terrace and ran from one end to the other.  It was a...