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A Home fit for a King #21

...ession of Queen Victoria in 1837. Buckingham Palace in 1837 showing Marble Arch on the left   In the Middle Ages the site of the future palace formed part of the Manor of Ebury. The marshy ground was watered by the river Tyburn, which still flows below the courtyard and south wing of the palace. Where the river was fordable (at Cow Ford), the village of Eye Cross grew – it seems incredible now that there was a village right in the heart of London! Ownership of the site changed hands many times; owners included Edward the Confessor in late Saxon times, and, after the Norman conquest, William the Conqueror. The site was eventually bequeathed to the monks...

The Halifax Estates - Garrowby #46

...d Louise, Queen Victoria's daughters. This is obviously how she became connected to the royal family and would in later years host King George V and Queen Mary at Temple Newsam and Hoar Cross Hall. In 2005 Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh stayed with Lord Halifax at Garrowby when Royal Ascot was moved to York. Lord James Irwin is also the godson of Camilla, the Queen Consort so there are many royal connections between these two families right up to the present day. Hickleton Hall on the Halifax Estates   Garrowby is the largest of the Halifax Estates and extends to over 13,000 acres. The estate is located 13 miles east of York on the Vale of Yor...

Meet the Neighbours - Shugborough Hall #80

...visit of Queen Victoria in 1831 when she was the 13 year old Princess Alexandrina (Victoria was her middle name). Her mother, the Duchess of Kent, and herself were on a tour of the country and they stopped for an overnight visit at Shugborough.  Apparently, the young Princess stayed with many local landowners at the time. This was a common occurrence for royals when on tour – the same thing happened at Hoar Cross Hall around 100 years ago when Queen Mary and her daughter, Mary the Princess of Wales, were on a visit to a nearby town and they stopped overnight at the Hall.  However, that visit entailed the building of a new bathroom for them on the first floo...

Queen Alexandra - my family #51

...More photos from the album of Queen Alexandra in the run up to the Coronation showing members of the royal family at leisure in the early part of the 20th century.  Alexandra enjoyed photography as a hobby and in 1908 put together an album of her personal photos to be sold for charity. In it are photos of her husband King Edward VII and other royals spending time at Balmoral and Sandringham during their holidays – a rare insight into how the royal family spent their leisure time, which in those days would never have been seen before.     The Emperor of Russia's family This picture was taken on board the Emperor of Russia's yacht, 'Standart' as they sail...

Change and the Country House #61

...Hoar Cross Hall was clearly a very different house in the Victorian era compared to today.  Like other country houses it has not been immune from the social and economic changes affecting all walks of life over the last hundred years. At the beginning of Queen Victoria’s reign in 1837 the local landowner with his country house and estate was the focal point of the community, often dispensing law, charity and education.  The estate would also provide employment for the local people and over fifty locals were employed on the Hoar Cross estate in the house and grounds plus many more on Home Farm along with carpenters, electricians and plumbers to keep the esta...

Victorian Courtship - fans #91

...pplier to Queen Victoria, published a leaflet explaining the language of fans to the masses in England and some say this was done to boost sales rather than imparting the secret codes – I guess we’ll never know the answer to that!  Incidentally, the Duvelleroy fan company, started in 1827 is still going to this day – so fans couldn’t have lost their popularity that much if they’re still in demand nearly 200 years later!  Happy flirting!   If you’d like to follow my story from the beginning, please click here and feel free to share with your friends.Follow me around my childhood home in my 'Tour of the Hall' – click here to view and subscribe...