Story Search Results

The Schoolroom Maid's Story #36

...om in the basement. She was absolutely terrified of breaking a cup, or indeed, any crockery, as they would have to pay for it out of their wages. This would really get her down sometimes and it led to her being really nervous all the time. Once these jobs were done she went on to clean the workroom and the bedrooms of the governess and Miss Dorothy.   All these chores were done before 9am as by then she had to be in a clean cap and apron and in attendance at the chapel ready for morning prayers. All the family and staff had to attend although it was only prayers spoken by Colonel Meynell – no singing or music. By mid-day she had again changed her outfit t...

What the Butler Saw! #38

...fe in the basement where, I assume, the more valuable items were kept for special occasions. Near to the butler’s room was a Chubb wall safe, which would have been used for keeping guests’ valuables in while they were staying at the Hall. Not unlike a hotel nowadays! He also waited on table at all the meals and at night, secured all doors and windows and checked the fires were safe before retiring to bed. If there was no valet in the house then the butler would also have been responsible for looking after his master’s clothes and hunting gear. In the absence of a footman, he would also answer the door – sounds like he was a very busy man! Let’s hope th...

Calendar Girls and Front Covers #7

...op in the basement, came up at the last minute and quickly put on a smart jacket over his overalls and stood behind the sofa so you couldn’t see his bottom half! I think he did the same thing when we had our photo taken for the brochure that we sold to the visitors but it was good fun and I can now say that I’ve been on the front cover of a magazine!   Don’t miss next week’s instalment:    'Ghostbusters!'   If you would like to follow my story from the beginning, click here and please feel free to share with your friends.  Also, check out my video tour of Hoar Cross Hall as I re-visit my family home, click here to view it.  ...

Mediaeval Mayhem! #11

...wn to the basement and the cast would come round to help – they were a good bunch of people and every week after the banquet had finished, we would all gather in our kitchen for coffee and a slice of mum’s magnificent fruit cake. I absolutely loved these nights as it gave me a chance to have some fun, meet people and earn some pocket money – something that I would never have done otherwise, as living in such a remote place could make you feel very isolated, especially when you are a young teen yearning for a bit of excitement. Soon though, the cracks would start to show in my parents’ marriage as the banquets took their toll and became evermore successf...

Moving Out #29

...And so the day arrived a month or so after our wedding when my dad had to leave Hoar Cross Hall. Ten years after moving in he was now moving out, leaving his dream home for my mum to live in alone. Gavin moved with him and Piers was away at school most of the time. It was a mammoth task as he had so much stuff to move, especially from the basement. He had some heavy machinery too that he’d brought with him from his alabaster days, including a band saw which we used to saw up logs for the huge fireplaces in the main rooms. He had bought a house in nearby Burton-on-Trent which had some outbuildings for a workshop and there he moved to start afresh. He carried o...

The Schoolroom Maid's Story #36

...om in the basement. She was absolutely terrified of breaking a cup, or indeed, any crockery, as they would have to pay for it out of their wages. This would really get her down sometimes and it led to her being really nervous all the time. Once these jobs were done she went on to clean the workroom and the bedrooms of the governess and Miss Dorothy. All these chores were done before 9am as by then she had to be in a clean cap and apron and in attendance at the chapel ready for morning prayers. All the family and staff had to attend although it was only prayers spoken by Colonel Meynell – no singing or music. By mid-day she had again changed her outfit to an a...