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The War Years and Beyond #39

...e ‘hard tennis courts, so much better than our grass ones’.  She also told us how excited the servants were to have a smaller house to clean! How times have changed!  The header picture shows the Meynell children on their ponies and bikes with the baby in her pram - what a charming image of how the aristocracy lived in those days. The Hall and contents were put up for sale after the family left in 1952 but the house failed to sell so they rented it out to a Dr Gillies and his wife, Maimi. He was a highly regarded consultant at the local Burton General Hospital and it seems they lived in some style at the Hall. They employed six staff including a Housekeep...

Rags to Riches #14

...Before we moved to Hoar Cross Hall in Staffordshire we lived in Derbyshire.  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. After the war he set up his own business making alabaster lamps, bowls and...

Hoar Cross Hall - a bit of history #17

...dens were tennis courts and further into the woods were the greenhouses and a palm house; behind these were the walled kitchen gardens. Next to the kitchen garden was the stable block which was also south facing and built in a U-shape. This would have stabled many horses with living accommodation above for the grooms and stable boys. There was also a paddock behind this for exercising the horses. Various cottages were also built on the estate for the workers to live in so all in all it must have been quite an impressive set-up. The old stable block, now a private home   But tragedy was to strike; Hugo had had a horse riding accident some fourteen months...

The War Years and Beyond #36

...e ‘hard tennis courts, so much better than our grass ones’.  She also told us how the servants were so excited to have a smaller house to clean! How times have changed! Hollybush Park and lake   The Hall and contents were put up for sale after the family left in 1952 but the house failed to sell so they rented it out to a Dr Gillies and his wife, Maimi. He was a highly regarded consultant at the local Burton General Hospital and it seems they lived in some style at the Hall. They employed six staff including a Housekeeper, who lived at the Lodge. Two of the floors were sumptuously furnished along with expensive paintings on the walls. The bedrooms w...

Hoar Cross Hall - A bit of History #54

...dens were tennis courts and further into the woods were the greenhouses and a palm house; behind these were the walled kitchen gardens. Next to the kitchen garden was the stable block which was also south facing and built in a U-shape. This would have stabled many horses with living accommodation above for the grooms and stable boys. There was also a paddock behind this for exercising the horses. Various cottages were also built on the estate for the workers to live in so all in all it must have been quite an impressive set-up. The palm house and greenhouses   But tragedy was to strike; Hugo had had a horse riding accident some fourteen months previously...

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...