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Join Me On A Video Tour Of My Old Home! Hoar Cross hall

Hi everyone I've just seen that a few people have been reading this blog from 2018, but discovered that the YouTube video was missing as the link was to the original post that unbelievably somehow got deleted with all those views (47,000)  :(  Anyway, I've just updated the link to the re-uploaded video, so this isn't a new post for this week, but just so it works for anyone reading it now for the first time! -  Don't miss tomorrows blog - The Kitchen Maid's Story! <><><><><><><><><><><><><>><><><><><><><><><><><&g...

NEW YEAR JINKS #26

NEW YEAR JINKS The New Year’s Eve Balls were 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, would pipe in the new year with his bagpipes.  Down the Long Gallery he would slowly walk and into the Ballroom  with hi...

Whodunit in the Library? #24

...orrendous hallucinations. My dad was already visiting a psychiatrist each week and my mum took me to see one too! Our family really was falling apart at the seams! However, the feud went on and my dad was still selling items from the house unbeknown to my mum. He had a beautiful wooden musical box which played pretty tunes when wound up. My mum had hidden it away in her old bedroom under lock and key so my dad asked up to break into the room so he could get it back. We managed to unlock the door using a credit card on the Yale lock (sliding the card between the door and the lock would push the lock inwards) and when we got inside we found the musical box under...

Becoming a Rock Chick #17

...it was a challenging day but at least all our Christmas presents were still in the house and my dad, Gavin and I had a (fairly) nice dinner finished off with a good dose of the Morecambe and Wise Show to put a smile on our faces! Don’t miss next weeks’ instalment:    'Party On!'   If you’d like to follow my story form the beginning click here and please feel free to share with your friends. If you'd like to follow me round the hall, please click here to view my Tour of the House video on youtube.    ...

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 the 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, the hairs prickling the back of my neck and quickly legging it back downstairs!  On other nights I would hear peopl...

HUNTIN’, SHOOTIN’ & FISHIN’ #6

...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)....