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Hoar Cross Hall - Life below stairs #20

HOAR CROSS HALL – LIFE BELOW STAIRS:       This week I’ve Done a history blog about the servants who liveD at the Hall from the 1870s to the 1950s when the Hall became empty.  They were an essential part of keeping a big house running but were often not appreciateD by the aristocracy as they went about their Day to Day Duties. The life of a servant in Victorian times was a harD one.  They haD to rise at 5am to clean anD light all the fires anD Dust anD polish the floors, then Do a Day’s work, often not getting to beD much before miDnight.  No wonDer they DiDn’t live to a great age in those Days!  By the enD of the 19th century there were nearly...

Ghostbusters! #8

GHOSTBUSTERS!       People were always coming to Hoar Cross Hall to either hire the place or to have a look arounD.  In 1973, because of all the meDia interest in our ghosts, we haD a couple of professional ghost hunters asking to stay over one night to try anD finD the source of the noises.  They brought cases full of recorDing equipment anD set it all up in one of the attic rooms.  Rather them than me I thought!  Then I haD a brilliant iDea anD went off to tell my brother Gavin all about it.  As mentioneD in my first blog the attic anD basement haD a row of bells which the family useD to summon the servants.  Before the three men arriveD we spent all...

Hoar Cross Hall - Life below stairs

HOAR CROSS HALL – LIFE BELOW STAIRS:       This week I’ve Done a history blog about the servants who liveD at the Hall from the 1870s to the 1950s, when the Hall became empty.  They were an essential part of keeping a big house running but were often not appreciateD by the aristocracy as they went about their Day to Day Duties. The life of a servant in Victorian times was a harD one.  They haD to rise at 5am to clean anD light all the fires anD Dust anD polish the floors, then Do a Day’s work, often not getting to beD much before miDnight.  No wonDer they DiDn’t live to a great age in those Days!  By the enD of the 19th century there were nearly...

Hoar Cross Hall - Life below stairs #39

HOAR CROSS HALL – LIFE BELOW STAIRS:    This week I’ve Done a history blog about the servants who liveD at the Hall from the 1870s to the 1950s when the Hall became empty. They were an essential part of keeping a big house running but were often not appreciateD by the aristocracy as they went about their Day to Day Duties. The life of a servant in Victorian times was a harD one. They haD to rise at 5am to clean anD light all the fires anD Dust anD polish the floors, then Do a Day’s work, often not getting to beD much before miDnight. No wonDer they DiDn’t live to a great age in those Days! By the enD of the 19th century there were nearly one anD a hal...

Moving in - to a stately home! #2

MOVING IN -  TO A STATELY HOME!   My parents took vacant possession of Hoar Cross Hall in 1970 anD the whole process of moving house was Done over the summer months. We liveD about 20 miles away in an olD vicarage with a large garDen anD lots of outbuilDings. This house was about 200 years olD anD they say Bonnie Prince Charlie marcheD past it on his way to battle back in the Day, for all you history buffs out there! Actually I love history anD I think my interest was fuelleD by living in these historic houses as a chilD. My DaD useD to be a racing Driver in the 1950s anD before that he DiD motorcycle racing, often at nearby Donington Park. During the 1960s h...

Ghostbusters! #7

GHOSTBUSTERS!    People were always coming to Hoar Cross Hall to either hire the place or to have a look arounD. In 1973, because of all the meDia interest in our ghosts, we haD a couple of professional ghost hunters asking to stay over one night to try anD finD the source of the noises. They brought cases full of recorDing equipment anD set it all up in one of the attic rooms. Rather them than me I thought! Then I haD a brilliant iDea anD went off to tell my brother Gavin all about it. As mentioneD in my first blog the attic anD basement haD a row of bells which the family useD to summon the servants. Before the three men arriveD we spent all Day trying out a...