Story Search Results

The Origins of the Stately Home #39

Why are stately homes so called? Stately home actually means 'a large impressive old house with interesting history and usually visited by the public.' Well, I suppose they do look very 'stately' for a start but these houses were also a status symbol for the great families of England, who competed with each other to provide hospitality for the royal household who would travel around England meeting their subjects. Stately homes were huge mansions which were always beautiful and the epitome of perfect architecture, often designed by famous architects of the day. The gardens too would be perfectly landscaped to show balance, variety, sequence and colour. One of t...

Hoar Cross Hall - A bit of History #54

...in those days. Hugo Charles went on to marry Georgiana Pigou of London in 1819 and their eldest son Hugo Francis was the last of the descendants of Sir Arthur Ingram to inherit Temple Newsam. He married the Hon. Emily Charlotte, daughter of the 1st Viscount Halifax, in 1863 and together they built the present Hoar Cross Hall to be their family home. Old Hall, Hoar Cross   The Hall took nearly 10 years to build and was completed in 1871, although Hugo and Emily had already moved in before that. After their marriage they had lived at Old Hall while a temporary home was being built for them at Cross Hayes, between Yoxall and Hoar Cross. There they lived un...

A Christmas Celebration #74

...eir ‘Sunday best’ and for one night of the year they could imagine what it was like to be a member of the aristocracy – however, they weren’t allowed to go into any other ground floor rooms and the big, oak double doors to the Drawing Room were kept firmly shut. Carter, the Butler came into the kitchen and sat down next to the fire. “Time for a cup of tea I think,” he said.  “My feet are killing me in these shoes, I need to sit down for a bit.  I’ve just been counting out all the bottles of wine for the party and putting them to one side.” “Good idea!” said Cook.  “I could do with a cuppa myself.  Molly, get that teapot warmed and...

A New Year Calamity! #75

...The New Year’s Eve Ball at Hoar Cross Hall was 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 Ballr...

A Christmas Celebration #89

...eir ‘Sunday best’ and for one night of the year they could imagine what it was like to be a member of the aristocracy – however, they weren’t allowed to go into any other ground floor rooms and the big, oak double doors to the Drawing Room were kept firmly shut. Carter, the Butler came into the kitchen and sat down next to the fire. “Time for a cup of tea I think,” he said.  “My feet are killing me in these shoes, I need to sit down for a bit.  I’ve just been counting out all the bottles of wine for the party and putting them to one side.” “Good idea!” said Cook.  “I could do with a cuppa myself.  Molly, get that teapot warmed and...

A New Year Calamity! #90

...The New Year’s Eve Balls at Hoar Cross Hall were usually the highlight of the year during the 1970s.  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...