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The Kitchen Maid's Tale #41

...ys of the aristocracy. She gradually travelled down the country and eventually found a job in London. Although she was still a scullery maid, she worked under a skilled chef who taught her much and she hoped for a career as a cook. Her employers were good and so were the wages. When she got the job at Hoar Cross Hall she could not only read a menu (in customary French) but also write one and prepare many of the dishes herself. Lady Dorothy Meynell was very impressed with her and as her husband, Hugo Meynell was about to take a small shooting party to their Laughton estate, she asked Jenny to go with them to do the cooking. Jenny recalled how thrilled she was to...

The Kitchen Maid's Story #37

...ys of the aristocracy. She gradually travelled down the country and eventually found a job in London. Although she was still a scullery maid, she worked under a skilled chef who taught her much and she hoped for a career as a cook. Her employers were good and so were the wages. When she got the job at Hoar Cross Hall she could not only read a menu (in customary French) but also write one and prepare many of the dishes herself. Lady Dorothy Meynell was very impressed with her and as her husband, Hugo Meynell was about to take a small shooting party to their Laughton estate, she asked Jenny to go with them to do the cooking. Jenny recalled how thrilled she was to...

Change and the Country House #61

...which the aristocracy depended, to fall away.  The modern form of death duties is inheritance tax but taxes have always been with us!  In 1796 tax on estates was introduced to help fund the war against Napoleon.  Then in 1894 the government introduced estate duty, a tax on the capital value of land, in a bid to raise money to pay off a £4 million government deficit.  This led to many estates having to be sold off as they couldn’t afford the death duties needed to be paid when someone died.   Parliament became slightly more representative of the nation; industrial and commercial peers were first introduced in large numbers to the House of Lords by Gladst...

The country house in society #48

...into the aristocracy. Bestwood Lodge, Nottingham - a Gothic style mansion   Bestwood Lodge (above) was built in 1862 in the 14th century Gothic style for the Duke of St. Albans.  It is asymmetric with all the Victorian love of ornament and exaggeration.  It was occupied by the army during the Second World War and is now a hotel.   It should be noted that the aristocracy or nobility were those from which the governing elite was drawn, or those who by birth or wealth occupied a privileged position compared with the rest of the community; the gentry comprised the class below the nobility and above the common people. Many of the 'nouveaux riche' prefe...

Mediaeval Weaponry #84

...only the aristocracy would have owned a sword as they were so expensive to make. A Japanese sword on display   Our swords and weapons were always of great interest to the general public along with the suits of armour but I’m glad we only used them for fun at our banquets!   Don't miss next month's Hallowe'en blog - 'Ghouls Galore'   If you would like to follow my story from the beginning, please click here and feel free to share with your friends.Join me on a Tour of the Hall - click here to follow me on my YouTube channel and see all the rooms mentioned in my blogs - including the secret doors and the haunted attics! OUT NOW!!!  'My Dad Bough...

Aristocratic travels Part 2

...ll.  The aristocracy often went on travels abroad and it's obvious that they are in hot countries.  Note the one with the soldiers marching - does anyone know where this might be? One of Emily's paintings The Meynell family abroad Soldiers marching Emily's schooner,  "Ariadne"   African farmers   I hope you have enjoyed looking at these old photos - more next week! If you would like to follow my blog from the beginning, click here and please feel free to share with your friends!        ...