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Huntan class='highlight'>inan>', Shootan class='highlight'>inan>' and Fishan class='highlight'>inan>' #6

Most stately homes have the obligatory huntan class='highlight'>inan>g, shootan class='highlight'>inan>g and fishan class='highlight'>inan>g and Hoar Cross Hall was no exception duran class='highlight'>inan>g the Meynell family’s time there. We didn't participate an class='highlight'>inan> any of these but, however, the Meynell and South Staffs Hunt used to meet locally to do a spot of fox huntan class='highlight'>inan>g. They would all gather at different venues around the area and enjoy a dran class='highlight'>inan>k before settan class='highlight'>inan>g off. One of their usual places was the Meynell an class='highlight'>inan>gram arms Public House at the bottom of the village. an class='highlight'>inan> February 1972 they had their ‘meet’ at the Hall. We, as the host family, got all dressed an class='highlight'>upan> to meet and greet them and local helpers served dran class='highlight'>inan>ks, usually sherry. I had no an class='highlight'>inan>terest an class='highlight'>inan> h...

a home fit for a Kan class='highlight'>inan>g #21

an class='highlight'>inan> this week's blog I am focusan class='highlight'>inan>g on the royal family agaan class='highlight'>inan> and the stately homes which they grew an class='highlight'>upan> an class='highlight'>inan>. The maan class='highlight'>inan> residence for the Royal family is Buckan class='highlight'>inan>gham Palace which is the adman class='highlight'>inan>istrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kan class='highlight'>inan>gdom and where many state occasions take place, but Buckan class='highlight'>inan>gham Palace was origan class='highlight'>inan>ally known as Buckan class='highlight'>inan>gham House. The buildan class='highlight'>inan>g at the core of today's palace was a large townhouse built for the Duke of Buckan class='highlight'>inan>gham an class='highlight'>inan> 1703 on a site that had been an class='highlight'>inan> private ownership for at least 150 years. It was acquired by Kan class='highlight'>inan>g George III an class='highlight'>inan> 1761 as a private residence for Queen Charlotte and became known as The Queen's House. Duran class='highlight'>inan>g the 19th ce...

The Church of the Holy angels #55

Many stately homes had churches built near them or even a chapel an class='highlight'>inan>side them, as was done at Hoar Cross Hall. However, the church that was built an class='highlight'>inan> the grounds of the Hall became known as 'The Cathedral of the Midlands' due to its magnificent structure and is generally regarded as one of the fan class='highlight'>inan>est Victorian churches an class='highlight'>inan> the country. It resembles a cathedral an class='highlight'>inan> man class='highlight'>inan>iature, bean class='highlight'>inan>g more like an English man class='highlight'>inan>ster than a humble village church. When Emily Meynell an class='highlight'>inan>gram's husband, Hugo died an class='highlight'>inan> 1871 from a huntan class='highlight'>inan>g accident, she wanted to keep his memory alive. They had only been married for eight years and she had no children to comfort her and so an class='highlight'>inan> 1872 she commissioned...

Ghouls Galore! #85

Goan class='highlight'>inan>g to sleep an class='highlight'>inan> a big old house is quite scary when you’re young but goan class='highlight'>inan>g to sleep an class='highlight'>inan> a big old house that’s haunted is even more scary!!  as we approach Hallowe'en my man class='highlight'>inan>d has gone back to that first wan class='highlight'>inan>ter at Hoar Cross Hall and all the scary than class='highlight'>inan>gs that happened - and that was without any trick or treaters an class='highlight'>inan> those days!  We quickly realised that we weren’t the only an class='highlight'>inan>habitants of the house.  Every time there was a wan class='highlight'>inan>dy night I could hear a wan class='highlight'>inan>dow bangan class='highlight'>inan>g an class='highlight'>inan> the attic – all night long it kept me awake.  The next day I would go an class='highlight'>upan>stairs to the attics to close it but there would be no wan class='highlight'>inan>dows open or even loose.   They were all tightly shut as...

Christmas High Jan class='highlight'>inan>ks #87

Here's a true story to get you an class='highlight'>inan> the mood for Christmas!  My brother and I were defan class='highlight'>inan>itely not good children and we were always amazed that Santa still left us gifts on Christmas Eve!  We were like 'elves behavan class='highlight'>inan>g badly'!  Hope you enjoy it! The sounds of "La Golondran class='highlight'>inan>a" floated through the air as Viv sat at the grand piano.  How pleased she was that someone had asked them to look after this fan class='highlight'>inan>e musical an class='highlight'>inan>strument for a few months.  Havan class='highlight'>inan>g learned to play when she was younger, this gave Viv the opportunity to brush an class='highlight'>upan> on her skills as a pianist and she was thoroughly enjoyan class='highlight'>inan>g it.  The piano was an class='highlight'>inan> the Library and suited the room perfectly.  She could h...

Ghosts of Christmas Past #88

Welcome to another story based on true facts and than class='highlight'>inan>gs that went bump an class='highlight'>inan> the night at Hoar Cross Hall, to get you an class='highlight'>inan> the mood for all those Christmas ghost stories you'll be watchan class='highlight'>inan>g this season!  Hope you don't get too scared! The typewriter keys clattered away as Viv wrote her story.  It was coman class='highlight'>inan>g along nicely and she was feelan class='highlight'>inan>g pleased with herself.  The attic room that she and her brothers had made an class='highlight'>inan>to their ‘den’ was ideal for gettan class='highlight'>inan>g away from everybody and havan class='highlight'>inan>g some peace and quiet and she quite forgot about the time as she lost herself an class='highlight'>inan> the plot.  Suddenly she looked an class='highlight'>upan> and realized how dark it was gettan class='highlight'>inan>g; the December nights were pulli...