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Queen Alexandra - my family #50
Posted by Viv Wilson on 13th April 2023 in Growing Up In a Stately Home | hoar cross hall,hoar cross hall spa,Meynell,Queen Alexandra,Queen Mary,King of Denmark,King charles,Coronation,King George V,King Edward VII,Downton Abbey,The Crown,Royal Family,queen victoria,Sandringham,Queen elizabeth,Balmoral
Queen Alexandra was the daughter-in-law of Queen Victoria as she was married to her eldest son and heir, Edward VII. Her family were from Denmark and although of royal blood they were a distant branch of the royal house of Oldenburg and apparently lived very modestly on her father's army commission. However, in 1852 her father, Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glucksburg, was chosen to succeed his second cousin Frederick VII as King of Denmark thus the family's status rose and they moved into a new official residence, Bernstorff Palace.
Alexandra, or 'Alix' as she was known was born on 1st December 1844, her full name being Alexandra Caroline M...
A New Year Calamity! #75
Posted by Viv Wilson on 29th December 2023 in Growing Up In a Stately Home | hoar cross hall spa hotel,barons eden,new years eve,scottish piper,Balloons,christmas,mediaeval banquets,ballroom,my dad bought a mansion,downton abbey,the crown,haunting,ghosts,attics,bell,calamity
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 New Year Calamity! #90
Posted by Viv Wilson on 2nd January 2025 in Growing Up In a Stately Home | hoar cross hall spa hotel,barons eden,auld lang syne,stately home,history,historic houses,national trust,christmas,scottish piper,black tie,ballgown,my dad bought a mansion
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...
HUNTIN’, SHOOTIN’ & FISHIN’ #6
Posted by Viv Wilson on 18th February 1972 in Early Days | hunting,shooting,fishing,hoar cross hall
HUNTIN’, SHOOTIN’ & FISHIN’: As with most stately homes there was hunting, shooting and fishing. We participated in none of these but the Meynell and South Staffs Hunt used to meet locally to do a spot of fox hunting. They would all gather at different venues around the area and enjoy a drink before setting off. One of their usual places was the Meynell Ingram Arms Public House at the bottom of the village.
In February 1972 they had their ‘meet’ at the Hall. We, as the host family, got all dressed up to meet and greet them and local helpers served drinks, usually sherry. (See header pic: Me with my Mum and brothers, Gavin and Piers)....
More Tea Vicar? #12
Posted by Viv Wilson on 20th March 1973 in Early Days | hoar cross hall,meynel,ingram,more tea vicar,ghost,church of the holy angels,churchyard,christmas,vicarage,1973,meynell arms
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...
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...