Story Search Results

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 Leicestershir...

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...

Panto Pranks! #23

PANTO PRANKS!       During The 1970s Hoar Cross Hall was used from time to time for local community activities and one such event was The production in 1978 of a traditional pantomime, ‘Midnight and a Journey back to Happiness’.   It was written by local people, Robert Leighton from Yoxall and The Hon. Alexandra Meynell, daughter-in-law of Mrs Jean Meynell whom we had purchased The Hall from.  The words and music were written by local songwriter, David MatThews, who had written songs for quite a few pop artists during The 1960s, his most famous being Matt Munro’s ‘We’re gonna change The world’.  So off to a good start There! For those of you...

Christmas High Jinks!

CHRISTMAS HIGH JINKS:     The sounds of La Golondrina floated through The air as Viv sat at The grand piano.  How pleased she was that someone had asked Them to look after this fine musical instrument for a few months.  Having learned to play when she was younger, this gave Viv The opportunity to brush up on her skills as a pianist and she was thoroughly enjoying it.  The piano was in The Library and suited The room perfectly.  She could hear her faTher and an antique dealer talking in The Long Gallery as They haggled over The price of a painting that he was selling.  Viv gazed out of The window as she played and thought back to The Midsummer’s Eve Bal...

Panto Pranks! #22

PANTO PRANKS!      During The 1970s Hoar Cross Hall was used from time to time for local community activities and one such event was The production in 1978 of a traditional pantomime, ‘Midnight and a Journey back to Happiness’.   It was written by local people, Robert Leighton from Yoxall and The Hon. Alexandra Meynell, daughter-in-law of Mrs Jean Meynell whom we had purchased The Hall from.  The words and music were written by local songwriter, David MatThews, who had written songs for quite a few pop artists during The 1960s, his most famous being Matt Munro’s ‘We’re gonna change The world’.  So off to a good start There! For those of you w...

Christmas High Jinks! #31

The sounds of La Golondrina floated through The air as Viv sat at The grand piano. How pleased she was that someone had asked Them to look after this fine musical instrument for a few months. Having learned to play when she was younger, this gave Viv The opportunity to brush up on her skills as a pianist and she was thoroughly enjoying it. The piano was in The Library and suited The room perfectly. She could hear her faTher and an antique dealer talking in The Long Gallery as They haggled over The price of a painting that he was selling. Viv gazed out of The window as she played and thought back to The Midsummer’s Eve Ball that They’d had a few months ago. I...