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The War Years and Beyond #36

During the Second World War, life in country houses changed dramatically. It was no different at Hoar Cross Hall. 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 have missed their parents of c...

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...

Rags to Riches #63

My family originated from Derby and my parents were married there in July 1952.  Mum was 19 and dad was 36 so quite a bit older.  They both lived in Derby and were very arty; my dad went to the Derby Sketching Club in his free time and my mum attended art college.  I’m not sure where they met but it was either at something art related or at a dance, as was usual in those days.  My dad was a sculptor by trade; I think his interest was sparked by seeing all the beautiful alabaster in Italian churches during the war. My parents on their wedding day - 1952   After the Second World War he set up his own business making alabaster lamps, bowls and candles...

Hoar Cross Hall meets Downton Abbey #99

With the new Downton Abbey film out this month I thought I would do a comparison of the two family homes, Downton and Hoar Cross Hall, the latter being my old family home for those of you who are new to these blogs.  Although Downton Abbey is fictional, the house on which it is based is not, it being Highclere Castle in Hampshire which was built in 1679 and is owned by the Earl of Carnarvon. Hoar Cross Hall was the original home of the Meynell Ingram family who first came from Leicestershire and was built in 1863.  Hugo Meynell of Quorndon was the High Sheriff of Staffordshire and Member of Parliament for Lichfield and the family owned considerable property in...

The Tax Man Cometh! #26

...  The Meynell Ingram Arms which nearly set on fire!   As I said before there were always a few high jinks at the Meynell too. After one late night the landlord went home and left the locals to lock up the pub (this was quite common in those days). As the night went on we got hungry and the chef decided to cook some chips for us all. He went into the kitchen and saw that the chimney was on fire! We all ran out of the pub and sure enough, there were flames pouring out of the top of the chimney.   As the landlord only lived in the village the chef phoned him up and told him about the fire but he wouldn’t believe him! He thought we were playing a joke o...

Gardeners' World at Hoar Cross #36

...y! Emily Meynell Ingram employed a Mr Rowley especially to carry out her plans of planting the yew hedges, of which there were many.  At each side of the garden was a long walk bordered by yew hedges down to the ha-ha wall at the bottom.  Across the bottom of the gardens were smaller square gardens (including the stepping stone pond) all bordered by yew hedges.  These hedges were all trimmed into spectacular shapes and must have been a full time job for Mr Rowley!   (see header picture of Mr Rowley in the kitchen garden).     The yew hedges showing a letter 'M' for Meynell   The estate also had its own farm called Home Farm.  This supplied...