Story Search Results

Hoar Cross Hall - Life below stairs #19

...nt by the footman. Young maids were well protected in those times as the family were always worried about ‘undesirable’ friendships starting up, either within or outside the household. But it seems that there was generally a good atmosphere in the house for most of the time. The children mixed freely with the servants and Lady Mary forbid them to call the servants by their surname only, as was usual in those days. She said it was disrespectful although the butler was always called by his surname, something still practised by today’s aristocracy. The basement rooms were where most of the staff spent much of their time. The large kitchen with its open firep...

Hoar Cross Hall - Life Below Stairs #35

...nt by the footman. Young maids were well protected in those times as the family were always worried about ‘undesirable’ friendships starting up, either within or outside the household. But it seems that there was generally a good atmosphere in the house for most of the time. The children mixed freely with the servants and Lady Mary forbid them to call the servants by their surname only, as was usual in those days. She said it was disrespectful although the butler was always called by his surname, something still practised by today’s aristocracy. The basement rooms were where most of the staff spent much of their time. The large kitchen with its open firep...

Moving Day Arrives #2

...utler and footman would go over to the pumping station to pump water into the tanks which were situated in the two towers at each end of the house. This provided the house with fresh water each day. The ponds were also there in case the house ever caught fire and they had a ready supply of water! In another part of the woods we found a shed with an old fashioned fire engine in it from the Victorian days – still there after all those years! Clearing the woods - a huge task!   One day whilst on baby sitting duties my little brother went missing in the woods and we were terrified that he might have fallen into the ponds that we’d recently found – a hu...

Hoar Cross Hall - Life below stairs #45

...nt by the footman. Young maids were well protected in those times as the family were always worried about ‘undesirable’ friendships starting up, either within or outside the household. But it seems that there was generally a good atmosphere in the house for most of the time. The children mixed freely with the servants and Lady Mary forbid them to call the servants by their surname only, as was usual in those days. She said it was disrespectful although the butler was always called by his surname, something still practised by today’s aristocracy.  The header picture shows Hoar Cross staff in 1918 with Mrs Catt, the Housekeeper on the far right.   Serv...

A Christmas Celebration #74

...bert, the footman, came up to her and asked her for a dance.  Molly blushed bright red but said ‘Yes’ as she really liked him – he was so tall and good looking, as were most footmen it seemed.  The evening was a huge success as the family mixed with the servants and estate workers and Molly found herself relaxing as she made new friends and enjoyed the food they’d spent so many long hours preparing.  Even Cook seemed to be enjoying herself as she chatted to Carter, although it could have been down to the numerous glasses of mulled wine they’d consumed!  As the band played on and the snow continued to fall, a lone bell rang out in the attic corridor...

Ghouls Galore! #85

...with the footman the child had a fit and died.  How true this story is I don’t know but a child did indeed die as we found her grave in the local churchyard next door – I think she was about 8 years old.  Perhaps she got her revenge by haunting the nursemaid who’d left her post – who knows!  It all sounded very sad of course, but it didn’t stop me being absolutely terrified every time I went to bed, especially once we’d moved our lounge and kitchen downstairs.  Spiral staircase leading to the nursery wing   The main staircase was a dog-leg style in three parts at the end of the Long Gallery near the east wing of the house where our rooms...