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The War Years and Beyond #39
Posted by Viv Wilson on 14th February 2022 in Growing Up In a Stately Home | hoar cross hall,Meynell,Second world War,barometric,First world War,London,Red Cross,downton abbey,Hotel and Spa,fradley aerodrome,keeping up with the aristocrats
During the Second world War, life in country houses changed dramatically. It was no different at Hoar Cross Hall. The flower borders on the main lawns were turfed over to reduce maintenance and vegetables were grown in areas formerly restricted to flowers. Evacuees from Birmingham came to stay for the duration of the war and they lived in the basement, as it was considered to be the safest place. I imagine that they must have been in the care of the servants as they were living amongst them but it must also have been quite exciting for them to move from a bombed out city to the relative safety of the countryside, although they must have missed their parents of c...
Royal visitors at Hoar Cross Hall #10
Posted by Viv Wilson on 29th May 2022 in Growing Up In a Stately Home | hoar cross hall,Meynell,Queen Mary,King George VI,Princess Mary,Downton Abbey,Wentworth Woodhouse,Lady Elizabeth Bassett,Winston Churchill,second world war,first world war,queen mother,Queen Elizabeth,Prince Philip,The Crown
From earliest times the king's court has traveled around the kingdom so the king could see first hand what was going on in his realm. When the king showed up, the local subjects were expected to provide food, entertainment, and accommodations usually in the form of mediaeval banquets. For the King or Queen's subjects this could be very expensive and not all royalty was welcome! However, this was the only way that people could see their King or Queen and know that they were real. Fast forward from the twelve century to the 21st century and royals are still touring the country so their subjects can 'see them and believe in them'.
The Queen's grandparents, King...
Royal Visitors at Hoar Cross Hall #49
Posted by Viv Wilson on 6th April 2023 in Growing Up In a Stately Home | hoar cross hall,Meynell,first world war,Queen Mary,queen mother,silver jubilee,Golden Jubilee,Platinum jubilee,Queen Alexandra,king george vi,King George V,second world war,Downton Abbey,The Crown,Royal Family,King Charles,Prince Harry,Coronation
With the King's Coronation looming on 6th May in the UK, I thought I'd do some royal family related articles this month starting with royal visitors at the Hall in the 1920s. I also have a book called Queen Alexandra's Christmas Gift Book which was left in the Library and shows personal photos from her own camera which she took of the royal family between 1900-1910 - a rare insight indeed into what the royals did in their leisure time! I will be sharing these photos over the next month leading up to the Coronation and hope you find them as fascinating as I do.
Royal Visitors
From earliest times the king's court has travelled around the kingdom so the king...
The War years and beyond
Posted by Viv Wilson on 7th October 1988 in early days | hoar cross hall,second world war,first world war,Lichfield,Fradley Aerodrom,Red Cross,Meynell,meterorological,christian community
THE WAR YEARS AND BEYOND: During the Second world War, life in country houses changed dramatically. It was no different at Hoar Cross. The borders on the main lawns were turfed over to reduce maintenance and vegetables were grown in areas formerly restricted to flowers. Evacuees from Birmingham came to stay for the duration of the war and they lived in the basement, as it was considered to be the safest place. I imagine that they must have been in the care of the servants as they were living amongst them but it must also have been quite exciting for them to move from a bombed out city to the relative safety of the countryside, although th...
Lest We Forget #28
Posted by Viv Wilson on 11th November 2022 in Growing Up In a Stately Home | Meynell,hoar cross hall,second world war,first world war,Al Alamein,London,Red Cross,War Office,Military Cross,Hitler,Gestapo,Remembrance Day,RASC
During the two world Wars the Meynell family of Hoar Cross Hall served their country alongside many others from all walks of life. After each war there was huge social upheaval, especially for women, who had been doing what was traditionally 'mens work' during the war and weren't prepared to go back to domesticity. At the time of the First world War Frederick Meynell and Lady Mary Meynell were living at the Hall with their five children. Their four sons all served in the war and their daughter Margaret served in the Red Cross as a volunteer.
Their eldest son Francis was a Major but was wounded in action in 1917 with severe wounds to his back. He was moved...
Motor Racing Days #64
Posted by Viv Wilson on 25th July 2023 in Growing Up In a Stately Home | hoar cross hall,Meynell,Silverstone,Brands Hatch,Chasewater,Mallory Park,Colditz,Godfather,Chris Meek,british grand prix,volkswagon,Formula 1,Formula 2,The Alps,Lotus elite,second world war,Motor bikes
Although my blogs are about living at Hoar Cross Hall, I would just like to give a bit of background about my dad’s motor racing career in the years leading up to moving to the Hall as this will set the scene for later instalments of my story. With the Silverstone Grand Prix recently in the news, I thought this would be quite topical!
As mentioned my dad used to be a motor racing driver but he actually started off racing motor cycles in the 1930s. Because of this he became a despatch rider during the Second world War and spent a lot of time in North Africa. After the war he started racing motor bikes at nearby Donington Park and he raced there up to the...