Story Search Results

the origins of the stately home #43

...lands for the aristocracy, which are still seen and enjoyed today by visitors to these grand houses. All large houses are called different names too and you may have thought that this was down to the size of them, as I did. And this is true to a point but they also tell us what type of person lived there and what the house was used for. For instance, a Palace belongs to a royal household, a Chateau belongs to a King or nobleman and a Manor is always on an estate of a Lord's lands. the people who lived in them were usually aristocrats – families of high social rank with a title such as Lord, Lady, Earl, Duke or Baron. Often they were Members of Parliament and...

Behind the green baize door #47

.... Clearly the aristocracy thought they were too grand to be looked upon by a 'lowly' servant! So why were these doors covered in green (or red) baize cloth? Baize is a sturdy green cloth which insulated against noise and absorbed smells from the kitchens. Brass tacks held the cloth in place and was often very decorative in design (see header picture).  Baize dates back to 1525 and a well-known 17th century ditty mentions 'bays' as follows:-  “Hops, heresies, bays and beer All came to England in just one year.”   It became popular in the mid 18th century and was used mainly for cabinet and closet linings in Europe – also games tables. I'm sure you a...

Summer Balls and Garden Parties #57

...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.  Tea dances became popular in the 1880s but Balls with a supper included were also very popular amongst the aristocracy, especially if it was a 'coming out' Ball.  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'...

Meet the Neighbours - Trentham Gardens #83

...This neighbour was a little further afield to Hoar Cross Hall than the other houses, as it was in Stoke-on-Trent.  However, we often visited the gardens and I went to a few concerts there which were held in the Ballroom of the house. It was very similar to Alton Towers in that it had formal gardens with a large house and in later years was made into pleasure grounds, although not as grand as the rides at Alton towers! Originally the Trentham site was a priory but had been demolished during the dissolution of the monasteries in Henry XIII’s reign.  In 1599 the first hall on this estate was built on the priory ruins but later in 1633 a Richard Leveson replace...

Victorian Courtship - fans #91

...For the next few months I will be doing a series on Victorian courtship starting in February, the month of love, as we have just celebrated Valentine’s Day on the 14th.  the Victorians used various items for flirting with, namely fans, gloves, parasols and handkerchiefs!  I imagine the Meynell family at Hoar Cross Hall held lots of dinner parties and Balls back in the Victorian days where most of the young ladies would have had their fans at the ready to signal to a secret beau.  But what were these signals and why were they used? the belief that the fan was used in society to express feelings or commands dates back to at least the early 18th century.  I...