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Hoar Cross Hall - Life Below Stairs #35

This week I’ve done a history blog about the servants who lived at Hoar Cross Hall from the 1870s to the 1950s when the Hall became empty. They were an essential part of keeping a big house running but were often not appreciated by the aristocracy as they went about their day to day duties. The life of a servant in Victorian times was a hard one. They had to rise at 5am to clean and light all the fires and dust and polish the floors, then do a day’s work, often not getting to bed much before midnight. No wonder they didn’t live to a great age in those days! By the end of the 19th century there were nearly one and a half million servants; most young girls...

The War years and beyond

...rought my blog full circle and if you would like to read it from the beginning (with new added stories since remembered) please Click Here! I will also be writing a few more history blogs so keep a look out for those if that’s what grabs your interest! ...

Reburbishing our Mansion #4

...my first blog that the basement rooms were the servants’ quarters with a Servants Hall where they all ate their meals.  Originally there had been extra rooms on one end of the house which were the kitchens and sculleries downstairs (off the basement) and  sewing/mending rooms upstairs.  These rooms had been demolished by a group of monks who were hoping to buy the Hall back in the sixties.  I’ll never understand why they were allowed to knock down part of a beautiful house before they even bought it and this end of the house was now a rough area used for parking.  You could still see the doors to the Boot Room, the Flower Room and the Boiler Room and...

The War Years and Beyond #39

...rought my blog full circle and if you would like to read it from the beginning (with new added stories, since remembered) please click here and feel free to share with your friends. I will also be writing a few more history blogs so keep a look out for those if that’s what grabs your interest plus I will be putting up more photos spanning the many decades at the Hall from the Victorian era right through to our time there in the seventies!  Don’t miss next weeks’ instalment:   'The Meynells and Temple Newsam'If you would like to follow my story form the beginning, click here and please feel free to share with your friends. Follow me around my childhoo...

The Grand Opening #5

...out later blogs for more of our tricks! Don’t miss next week’s instalment:  Huntin’, Shootin’ and Fishin’ If you would like to follow my blog from the beginning click here      ...

DIY Stately Home #4

...my first blog that the basement rooms were the servants’ quarters with a Servants Hall where they all ate their meals. Originally there had been extra rooms on one end of the house which were the kitchens and sculleries downstairs (off the basement) and sewing/mending rooms upstairs. These rooms had been demolished by a group of monks who were hoping to buy the Hall back in the sixties. I’ll never understand why they were allowed to knock down part of a beautiful house before they even bought it and this end of the house was now a rough area used for parking. The demolished kitchens showing open fireplace   You could still see the doors to the Boot...