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The War years and beyond

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...

My Dad Bought A Mansion! #1

MY DAD BOUGHT A MANSION!    It was The summer of 1970, Mungo Jerry was at The top of The hit parade and we were about to move house.  But not to any old house – to a 70 roomed mansion in 20 acres of grounds!  For years my dad had collected antiques, ever since he was a young boy of 12, and it was his dream to own a large house where he could put Them on show to The general public.  In The 1970s he owned The largest private collection of arms and armour in The country and his dream was about to be realised; but little did we know what a nightmare would unfold before us. Hoar Cross Hall was The home of The Meynell Ingram family who originated from Leiceste...

Whodunit in The Library? #24

WHODUNIT IN The LIBRARY?      When we first moved to Hoar Cross Hall, growing up in a stately home seemed an idyllic way to live – and lots of fun if you’re a child. This rambling old house full of empty rooms and secret doors, wild gardens and woods to explore, was in some ways a dream come true for our family, certainly for my dad. But as we turned from children to teenagers The isolation and lack of public transport was frustrating. Coupled with this was my parents fighting and subsequent split, living at each end of The house and battling for The house and business through Their solicitors. The effect this had on me, as The eldest child who perhaps s...

Whodunit in The Library? #26

WHODUNIT IN The LIBRARY?       When we first moved to Hoar Cross Hall, growing up in a stately home seemed an idyllic way to live – and lots of fun if you’re a child.  This rambling old house full of empty rooms and secret doors, wild gardens and woods to explore, was in some ways a dream come true for our family, certainly for my dad.  But as we turned from children to teenagers The isolation and lack of public transport was frustrating.  Coupled with this was my parents fighting and subsequent split, living at each end of The house and battling for The house and business through Their solicitors. The effect this had on me, as The eldest child who p...

Race Day Parties #27

RACE DAY PARTIES:      My dad used to be a racing driver so he was often invited to parties and open days at various racing circuits.  He naturally knew lots of racing people and on this particular occasion he was invited to an Open Day at Donington Park.   Tom Wheatcroft, a local entrepreneur, had bought Donington Park in The 1970s as he owned The largest collection of Grand Prix cars in The world at that time.  In 1973 he opened a museum There to house Them all and called it The Donington Grand Prix Exhibition.  Donington became The favoured home of The British round of The MotoGP motorcycling championships but he was really hoping to bring Formula 1...

The War Years and Beyond #40

The WAR YEARS AND BEYOND:     During The Second World War, life in country houses changed dramatically. It was no different at Hoar Cross. 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 ha...