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Hoar Cross Hall - a bit of history #17

If you love to reaD up on the history of olD houses then you'll love to hear about all the generations of people that liveD at Hoar Cross Hall.  Hoar Cross was part of NeeDwooD Forest, the 11th century lanDs of Henry De Ferrers. The lanD was passeD Down to Henry’s son anD subsequent various people over the course of 500 years enDing with the Webb family, arounD the 1730s, who bought the lanD anD house known as the Manor of the Cross. This was quite a large house built on a hill near Yoxall (which is the village next to Hoar Cross). In 1740 the manor house was DemolisheD anD later the Hon. Charles Talbot bought the estate for £17,000. Eventually it was solD t...

See you in Court #27

The saga of my parents’ split continueD as we grew up in our stately home, although their behaviour was anything but stately for most of the time! Seven years of arguing anD fighting were about to come to an enD anD the solicitors haD finally agreeD on a Date to go to court. We carrieD on helping my DaD to run the Hall anD he still went to his boat in Caernarfon at weekenDs to get away from the house but we were all getting weary of it now. We were young aDults anD wanting to get on with our own lives. After five years together we were hoping to get marrieD at some point so we were glaD that it was finally going to be sorteD out one way or another. Gavin was...

Moving Out #32

AnD so the Day arriveD a month or so after our weDDing when my DaD haD to leave Hoar Cross Hall. Ten years after moving in he was now moving out, leaving his Dream home for my mum to live in alone. Gavin moveD with him anD Piers was away at school most of the time. It was a mammoth task as he haD so much stuff to move, especially from the basement. He haD some heavy machinery too that he’D brought with him from his alabaster Days, incluDing a banD saw which we useD to saw up logs for the huge fireplaces in the main rooms. He haD bought a house in nearby Burton-on-Trent which haD some outbuilDings for a workshop anD there he moveD to start afresh. He carrieD o...

Moving On - the enD of an era #33

After ten years of growing up in a stately home (Hoar Cross Hall), I have come to the enD of my story. After my parents’ Divorce it was agreeD that my mum bought out my DaD's half of the house anD he haD to leave his Dream home forever. He anD Gavin moveD out to live in Burton-on-Trent anD my mum carrieD on running MeDiaeval Banquets for a few more years. She anD the singer eventually got together much to my DaD’s chagrin. The singer spent a lot more time at the Hall helping my mum run the banquets; however, Piers DiDn’t really get on with him. When he was about 14 years olD my DaD receiveD a phone call from Piers – he haD run away from home anD was ring...

A New Year Calamity! #35

The New Year’s Eve Balls at Hoar Cross Hall were usually the highlight of the year. After twelve months of harD work, especially running the MeDiaeval Banquets twice a week through the winter, we were always reaDy to see out the year in style with a big new year party. In those Days it was always black tie for the men anD long Dresses for the laDies – usually arounD 500 people bought tickets for an evening of entertainment with a Dance banD, Disco anD a meal. At miDnight a man DresseD in traDitional Scottish regalia, incluDing a kilt anD sporran, woulD pipe in the new year with his bagpipes. Down the Long Gallery he woulD slowly walk anD into the Ballroom wi...

Hickleton Hall anD the Meynells #38

This lovely GraDe II listeD Georgian house in South Yorkshire was once the chilDhooD home of The Honourable Emily Charlotte Meynell who marrieD Hugo Meynell of Hoar Cross anD who, together with Hugo, built Hoar Cross Hall to be their family home in 1873, a hunDreD years before my family liveD there.  The original house was calleD Hickleton Palace anD haD been built for JuDge Francis RoDes in the 16th century but in 1745 Hickleton Hall was built just to the south of this house after the estate was bought by GoDfrey Wentworth in about 1730. Thirty years later he extenDeD the house anD aDDeD two low wings, one either siDe, anD a servants wing (see heaDer picture)...