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Hoar Cross Hall - Life Below Stairs #35

...nting and shooting. I think the First World War had a lot to do with staff cutbacks as society was changing between the wars and Lady Dorothy’s two daughters weren’t really interested in high living and parties – they wanted to do something useful with their lives. They had spent much of their childhood in the schoolroom at the Hall. The sons of the family were away at boarding school but the girls had a governess and nursery maid to look after them. Dorothy had her own personal maid at the age of 11. The schoolroom was situated just off the main entrance hall on the ground floor and the maid would bring breakfast there for them. Later she would spend her...

What the Butler Saw! #42

...to their shooting box in Lincolnshire and to London to the family's town house in Belgrave Square for three months at a time.  He was at Hoar Cross for eight years and then he got a footman's post to the Duke and Duchess of Abercorn, Governor of Northern Ireland. Albert Kennard, footman   The daughters of aristocratic families were often attracted to fine, upstanding footmen, as they were always in the house and therefore, nearby. The butler would often have to keep an eye on the footmen as mixing with the family was unheard of. However, the girls would find ways of being in the same place as these young men, especially if they went out on a carriage r...

What the Butler Saw! #38

...to their shooting box in Lincolnshire and to London to the family's town house in Belgrave Square for three months at a time. He was at Hoar Cross for eight years and then got a footman's post to the Duke and Duchess of Abercorn, Governor of Northern Ireland. Albert Kennard in his footman's uniform   The daughters of aristocratic families were often attracted to fine, upstanding footmen, as they were always in the house and therefore, near to the family.  The butler would often have to keep an eye on the footmen as mixing with the family was unheard of. However, the girls would find ways of being in the same place as these young men, especially if they...

Hoar Cross Hall - Life below stairs #45

...nting and shooting. I think the First World War had a lot to do with staff cutbacks as society was changing between the wars and Lady Dorothy’s two daughters weren’t really interested in high living and parties – they wanted to do something useful with their lives. They had spent much of their childhood in the schoolroom at the Hall. The sons of the family were away at boarding school but the girls had a governess and nursery maid to look after them. Dorothy had her own personal maid at the age of 11. The schoolroom was situated just off the main entrance hall on the ground floor and the maid would bring breakfast there for them. Later she would spend her...

Summer Balls and Garden Parties #97

...Balls and functions held at Hoar Cross Hall were lavish affairs, especially before the First World War, with the catering and other services invariably being provided by premier London companies.  In 1907, Gunter & Co of Berkeley Square, London, could supply a Ball supper and refreshments for ten shillings (50p) a head, plus 'extra services'. For a Ball Supper in January 1913, Mayfair Catering, Grosvenor Square, assured Lady Mary Meynell that they had engaged 'a superior staff of tall waiters' to attend her guests and, “.....if waiters are desired to be in Full Dress (silk stockings) the additional cost will be five shillings (25p) per man.”  They als...