Story Search Results

Moving Out #31

MOVING OUT:     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 af...

Moving On - the enD of an era #32

MOVING ON – THE END OF AN ERA:       AnD so, after ten years of growing up anD living in a stately home, 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 Pier...

GarDeners WorlD at Hoar Cross #36

GARDENERS’ WORLD AT HOAR CROSS:      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. This supplieD the house with all its fruit, vegetables anD herbs. The palm h...

Alice - the ghost in the mirror #38

ALICE – THE GHOST IN THE MIRROR:       Whilst researching the history of my former home, Hoar Cross Hall, I came across this fascinating story from author Graham Phillips who haD visiteD the Hall to Do some research into the story of Alice anD the mirror that inspireD Lewis Carroll. As many of my regular reaDers will know, Hoar Cross Hall is a very haunteD house anD so it was increDibly interesting to hear another theory on the ghost of the little girl who haunts the rooms anD corriDors. In 1865 Lewis Carroll wrote another story about Alice following on from ‘Alice in WonDerlanD’. It was calleD ‘Alice through the Looking Glass’. In this story Alic...

Things that go bump in the night #3

THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT!     Going to sleep in a big olD house is quite scary when you’re young but going to sleep in a big olD house that’s haunteD is even more scary!! That first winter at Hoar Cross Hall was like that. Every time there was a winDy night I coulD hear a winDow banging in the attic – all night long it kept me awake. The next Day I woulD go upstairs to close it but there woulD be no winDows open or even loose. They were all tightly shut as they haD been for 20 years. I remember stanDing there in the attic rooms feeling a tingling Down my spine anD goose bumps all over as I felt the atmosphere closing in on me - anD I quickly leg...

More tea Vicar? #11

MORE TEA VICAR?     During the long summer holiDays it was easy to get boreD. As there was no public transport from Hoar Cross anD no chilDren living nearby, we three chilDren haD to make our own entertainment anD we were always having aDventures anD getting up to mischief – a bit like the Famous Five but without a Dog! We woulD roam arounD the village or explore the basement. My DaD was a hoarDer anD haD kept all sorts of stuff over the years incluDing gas masks anD fielD phones from WorlD War 2. The olD Servants Hall was now my DaD’s workshop anD he spent a lot of time Down there restoring antiques to sell. He haD one of the fielD phones in his workshop...