Story Search Results

Hoar Cross Hall - a bit of history #13

HOAR CROSS HALL - A BIT OF HISTORY:       Hoar Cross was part of Needwood Forest, the 11th century l<span class='highlight'>andspan>s of Henry de Ferrers. The l<span class='highlight'>andspan> was passed down to Henry’s son <span class='highlight'>andspan> subsequent various people over the course of 500 years ending with the Webb family, around the 1730s, who bought the l<span class='highlight'>andspan> <span class='highlight'>andspan> house known as the Manor of the Cross. This was quite a large house built on a hill near Yoxall (which is the village next to Hoar Cross). In 1740 the manor house was demolished <span class='highlight'>andspan> later the Hon. Charles Talbot bought the estate for £17,000. Eventually it was sold to Hugo Meynell, who already owned huge amounts of property all over the county. This branch of the...

Rags to Riches #14

Before we moved to Hoar Cross Hall in Staffordshire we lived in Derbyshire.  My family originated from Derby <span class='highlight'>andspan> my parents were married there in July 1952. Mum was 19 <span class='highlight'>andspan> dad was 36 so quite a bit older. They both lived in Derby <span class='highlight'>andspan> were very arty; my dad went to the Derby Sketching Club in his free time <span class='highlight'>andspan> my mum attended art college. I’m not sure where they met but it was either at something art related or at a dance, as was usual in those days. My dad was a sculptor by trade; I think his interest was sparked by seeing all the beautiful alabaster in Italian churches during the war. After the war he set up his own business making alabaster lamps, bowls <span class='highlight'>andspan>...

Rags to Riches #63

My family originated from Derby <span class='highlight'>andspan> my parents were married there in July 1952.  Mum was 19 <span class='highlight'>andspan> dad was 36 so quite a bit older.  They both lived in Derby <span class='highlight'>andspan> were very arty; my dad went to the Derby Sketching Club in his free time <span class='highlight'>andspan> my mum attended art college.  I’m not sure where they met but it was either at something art related or at a dance, as was usual in those days.  My dad was a sculptor by trade; I think his interest was sparked by seeing all the beautiful alabaster in Italian churches during the war. My parents on their wedding day - 1952   After the Second World War he set up his own business making alabaster lamps, bowls <span class='highlight'>andspan> c<span class='highlight'>andspan>les...

Rags to Riches #14

RAGS TO RICHES:      My family originated from Derby <span class='highlight'>andspan> my parents were married there in July 1952. Mum was 19 <span class='highlight'>andspan> dad was 36 so quite a bit older. They both lived in Derby <span class='highlight'>andspan> were very arty; my dad went to the Derby Sketching Club in his free time <span class='highlight'>andspan> my mum attended art college. I’m not sure where they met but it was either at something art related or at a dance, as was usual in those days. My dad was a sculptor by trade; I think his interest was sparked by seeing all the beautiful alabaster in Italian churches during the war. After the war he set up his own business making alabaster lamps, bowls <span class='highlight'>andspan> c<span class='highlight'>andspan>lesticks among other things (see header picture)....

Moving On - the end of an era #33

After ten years of growing up in a stately home (Hoar Cross Hall), I have come to the end of my story. After my parents’ divorce it was agreed that my mum bought out my dad's half of the house <span class='highlight'>andspan> he had to leave his dream home forever. He <span class='highlight'>andspan> Gavin moved out to live in Burton-on-Trent <span class='highlight'>andspan> my mum carried on running Mediaeval Banquets for a few more years. She <span class='highlight'>andspan> the singer eventually got together much to my dad’s chagrin. The singer spent a lot more time at the Hall helping my mum run the banquets; however, Piers didn’t really get on with him. When he was about 14 years old my dad received a phone call from Piers – he had run away from home <span class='highlight'>andspan> was ring...

Rags to Riches #16

RAGS TO RICHES:        My family originated from Derby <span class='highlight'>andspan> my parents were married there in July 1952.  Mum was 19 <span class='highlight'>andspan> dad was 36 so quite a bit older.  They both lived in Derby <span class='highlight'>andspan> were very arty; my dad went to the Derby Sketching Club in his free time <span class='highlight'>andspan> my mum attended art college.  I’m not sure where they met but it was either at something art related or at a dance, as was usual in those days.  My dad was a sculptor by trade; I think his interest was sparked by seeing all the beautiful alabaster in Italian churches during the war.  After the war he set up his own business making alabaster lamps, bowls <span class='highlight'>andspan> c<span class='highlight'>andspan>lesticks among other things (see hea...