Story Search Results

Hoar Cross Hall meets Downton Abbey #99

With the new Downton Abbey film out this month I thought I would do a comparison of the two family homes, Downton and Hoar Cross Hall, the latter being my old family home for those of you who are new to these blogs.  Although Downton Abbey is fictional, the house on which it is based is not, it being Highclere Castle in Hampshire which was built in 1679 and is owned by the Earl of Carnarvon. Hoar Cross Hall was the original home of the Meynell Ingram family who first came from Leicestershire and was built in 1863.  Hugo Meynell of Quorndon was the High Sheriff of Staffordshire and Member of Parliament for Lichfield and the family owned considerable property in...

A Bit Of Background #1

A BIT OF BACKGROUND: 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 Leicestershire.�...

Hoar Cross Hall - a bit of history! #14

...ated from Leicestershire, namely Quorndon.  In the 18th century Hugo Meynell had the title of ‘the father of fox-hunting’ as he had founded the Quorn Hunt in 1750 which became famous around the district.  He bred his own strain of foxhounds and was the first person to study fox-hunting from a scientific point of view.  He bought Quorn Hall in 1754 and built stables and kennels there, having 30 horses stabled at its height.  In 1758 he became High Sheriff of Staffordshire and Member of Parliament for Lichfield.   When his son, Hugo, died in 1800 he sold Quorn Hall to the Earl of Sefton and left to live in Derbyshire; although the family owned large amou...

Hoar Cross Hall - a bit of history #15

...ated from Leicestershire, namely Quorndon.  In the 18th century Hugo Meynell had the title of ‘the father of fox-hunting’ as he had founded the Quorn Hunt in 1750 which became famous around the district.  He bred his own strain of foxhounds and was the first person to study fox-hunting from a scientific point of view.  He bought Quorn Hall in 1754 and built stables and kennels there, having 30 horses stabled at its height.  In 1758 he became High Sheriff of Staffordshire and Member of Parliament for Lichfield.   When his son, Hugo, died in 1800 he sold Quorn Hall to the Earl of Sefton and left to live in Derbyshire; although the family owned large amou...

Hoar Cross Hall - a bit of history #11

...ated from Leicestershire, namely Quorndon.  In the 18th century Hugo Meynell had the title of ‘the father of fox-hunting’ as he had founded the Quorn Hunt in 1750 which became famous around the district.  He bred his own strain of foxhounds and was the first person to study fox-hunting from a scientific point of view.  He bought Quorn Hall in 1754 and built stables and kennels there, having 30 horses stabled at its height.  In 1758 he became High Sheriff of Staffordshire and Member of Parliament for Lichfield.   When his son, Hugo, died in 1800 he sold Quorn Hall to the Earl of Sefton and left to live in Derbyshire; although the family owned large amou...

Hoar Cross Hall - a bit of history #13

...ated from Leicestershire, namely Quorndon. In the 18th century Hugo Meynell had the title of ‘the father of fox-hunting’ as he had founded the Quorn Hunt in 1750 which became famous around the district. He bred his own strain of foxhounds and was the first person to study fox-hunting from a scientific point of view. He bought Quorn Hall in 1754 and built stables and kennels there, having 30 horses stabled at its height. In 1758 he became High Sheriff of Staffordshire and Member of Parliament for Lichfield. When his son, Hugo, died in 1800 he sold Quorn Hall to the Earl of Sefton and left to live in Derbyshire; although the family owned large amounts of prope...