Story Search Results

The Library #69

...there are secret doors set in the bookshelves.  These were probably purely for aesthetic reasons so as not to spoil the symmetry of the room.  The main door into the Library is from the Long Gallery and one secret door leads to the Ballroom next door.  The second secret door leads to the Chapel Hall on the opposite side of the room and was more likely used by servants to enter the room unobtrusively  (see header picture - its to the left of the fireplace in the corner). Christmas Day in the Library   In days gone by many old houses had secret doors and passages, usually for looks as I mentioned, and also for servants to enter rooms unobserved but als...

Skools out for Summer #16

...different secrets from my parents than the previous escapades with my brothers, Gavin and Piers; I had started smoking! Going into Uttoxeter every day meant I could buy cigarettes for 30p a pack and smoke them on the way home. I often went up to our attic room to do my homework and write stories but also to have a crafty cigarette. I had also started to help myself to the odd bottle of mead from the banquet stock and kept it hidden in the attic – all typical teenage stuff! One day, whilst walking round Uttoxeter at lunchtime, I saw a newspaper board telling everyone about a streaker that had run through the town the day before – what was this? A man running...

SKOOLS OUT FOR SUMMER! #13

...different secrets from my parents than the previous escapades with Gavin and Piers; I had started smoking!  Going into Uttoxeter every day meant I could buy cigarettes for 30p a pack and smoke them on the way home.  I often went up to our attic room to do my homework and write stories but also to have a crafty fag (cigarette for those in the US!).  I had also started to help myself to the odd bottle of mead from the banquet stock and kept it hidden in the attic – all typical teenage stuff! One day, whilst walking round Uttoxeter at lunchtime, I saw a newspaper board telling everyone about a streaker that had run through the town the day before – what was...

Skools out for summer! #14

...different secrets from my parents than the previous escapades with my  brothers, Gavin and Piers; I had started smoking!  Going into Uttoxeter every day meant I could buy cigarettes for 30p a pack and smoke them on the way home.  I often went up to our attic room to do my homework and write stories but also to have a crafty cigarette.  I had also started to help myself to the odd bottle of mead from the banquet stock and kept it hidden in the attic – all typical teenage stuff! One day, whilst walking round Uttoxeter at lunchtime, I saw a newspaper board telling everyone about a streaker that had run through the town the day before – what was this?  A m...

Skools out for summer! #12

...different secrets from my parents than the previous escapades with my brothers, Gavin and Piers; I had started smoking! Going into Uttoxeter every day meant I could buy cigarettes for 30p a pack and smoke them on the way home. I often went up to our attic room to do my homework and write stories but also to have a crafty cigarette! One day, whilst walking round Uttoxeter at lunchtime, I saw a newspaper board telling everyone about a streaker that had run through the town the day before – what was this? A man running naked for the fun of it? On further investigation I found that this was the latest craze from America – but why anyone would want to do it in o...

WHODUNIT IN THE LIBRARY? #25

...WHODUNIT IN THE LIBRARY? When we first moved to the Hall. growing up in a stately home seemed an idyllic way to live – and lots of fun if you’re a child.  This rambling old house full of empty rooms and secret doors, wild gardens and woods to explore, was in some ways a dream come true for our family, certainly for my dad.  But as we turned from children to teenagers the isolation and lack of public transport was frustrating.  Coupled with this was my parents fighting and subsequent split, living at each end of the house and battling for the house and business through their solicitors. The effect this had on me, as the eldest child who perhaps saw more o...