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Panto Pranks! #30

...ed in the Ballroom. Local people got involved with set design and costumes; another lady arranged and produced the ballet routines. Gavin and Piers were involved of course but Gavin broke his arm a couple of weeks before the show started so ended up with the minor but important role of working the hands of the large clock that stood to one side of the stage! I felt really sorry for him as he had to stand behind the clock and no-one could see him – however, the clock was a major part of the story which involved the lead actors going back in time at midnight, so he was whizzing the hands round all night long! Alexandra Meynell’s father, Lord Killearn also got...

Growing up in a stately home #1

...allery, a Ballroom, a Drawing Room, a Chapel and a Library with secret doors! How I loved it – I was a big fan of The Famous Five in those days and it really did feel like I was in the middle of one of their mysteries! There were about 15 basement rooms, some of which had had the floors removed due to damp rot, but the main passageway was made of flagstones so you could still walk through it – this was where the indoor male servants had slept and it was also where the wine cellars were along with linen storage cupboards. In the attic a similar number of rooms were bare and empty and had once housed all the female servants. Two spiral staircases joined all th...

Moving Day Arrives #2

...is in the Ballroom which was probably the size of a tennis court! I’m not sure if my parents knew we were doing this but it was good fun while the room was empty – it was incredible that we didn’t do any damage to the large ornamental pieces hanging from the ceiling!! And so the summer rolled into Autumn and we were about to start our new schools. I was moving up to secondary school having passed my 11 Plus and was going to the local grammar school in nearby Uttoxeter – well I say nearby but it was actually about 10 miles away and I had to catch a double decker bus to get there. At least the school bus hadn’t been cancelled! My brother went to the loc...

"He's behind you!" #66

...ed in the Ballroom.  Local people got involved with set design and costumes; another lady arranged and produced the ballet routines. This wasn't the first time theatricals were performed here though - back in the 1920s the Meynells and their friends often dressed up and performed shows for fun! The Meynells dressing up for their shows   My brothers, Gavin and Piers were involved of course but Gavin broke his arm a couple of weeks before the show started so ended up with the minor but important role of working the hands of the large clock that stood to one side of the stage!  I felt really sorry for him as he had to stand behind the clock and no-one co...

Moving Into a Mansion #67

...is in the Ballroom – I’m not sure if my parents knew we were doing this but it was good fun while the room was empty – it was incredible that we didn’t do any damage to the large ornamental pieces hanging from the ceiling!! And so the summer rolled into Autumn and we were about to start our new schools.  I was moving up to secondary school having passed my 11 Plus and was going to the local Grammar School in nearby Uttoxeter – well I say nearby but it was actually about 10 miles away and I had to catch a double decker bus to get there.  At least the school bus hadn’t been cancelled!  My brother went to the local primary school down the hill from...

The Chinese Room #71

...The Chinese Room is the last in the series of the rooms that were open to the public at Hoar Cross Hall during the 1970s.  It had three doorways and was entered from the Ballroom, the Long Gallery and the Entrance Hall and was originally the Dining Room of the house when the Meynell family lived there.  The centrepiece of the room is the 18th century carved wood mantelpiece, incorporating classical figures and floral decorations, with a carved and painted armorial overmantel.     As you can probably guess from the name of the room, the main theme was oriental  armour, tapestries and furniture, including a Burmese Palace Chair.  The oriental armour was a...