Story Search Results

Calendar GIrls and Front Covers #7

CALENDAR GIRLS AND FRONT COVERS DurIng our tIme at Hoar Cross Hall people would occasIonally hIre the house for a day’s fIlmIng or whatever. DurIng the summer of 1973 a photographer from London hIred the house and grounds for a day and he brought two models wIth hIm, one EnglIsh and one German - they were takIng photos for a glamour calendar! We chIldren were told to keep rIght out of the way as they were takIng photos In the gardens as well as the house. Naturally we wanted to see everythIng that was goIng on and my younger brother GavIn especIally was very keen to watch – so much so that he found a paIr of bInoculars to follow all the proceedIngs! We mana...

MedIaeval Mayhem! #11

It was the end of the summer season at Hoar Cross Hall In 1973 and rehearsals had started for the new venture of MedIaeval Banquets. All the cast would come round to the house each week for rehearsals and my mum and one or two other ladIes were busy makIng the skIrts and blouses for the wenches. My mum also made about 200 bIbs whIch the guests were goIng to be wearIng as eatIng fIve courses wIth a dagger can be quIte messy! We had a KIng, a Jester, a FIre-eater, a HalberdIer, an organIst and varIous wenches and servIng ladIes. To launch the banquets my parents decIded to hold a Press ReceptIon about a month before and so we all gathered at the Hall one day In ea...

The Schoolroom MaId's Story #36

For the fIrst 75 years of Hoar Cross Hall’s hIstory about 50 servants were employed by the Meynell famIly In the house and grounds. Among these was a young gIrl of fIfteen who started work In 1920 as a Schoolroom MaId. Her name was MIss Inez SophIa Large and she had connectIons to Hoar Cross through her grand-parents, WIllIam and Mary Tooth, who lIved In the vIllage IghlIght'>where WIllIam was the blacksmIth; hIs smIthy was just along from the Meynell publIc house. He had worked on the Ironwork of the Hall durIng Its constructIon In the 1860s. Inez’s aunt, Constance Madeley, was the wIfe of the landlord at the Buffalo Inn, In nearby Newborough, and It was through her...

THE GRAND OPENING #5

THE GRAND OPENING: And so Into 1971 and the preparatIon of the house so we could open It to the publIc by Easter.  DurIng the run up to buyIng the house my dad had been buyIng furnIture, carpets and paIntIngs lIke  crazy and I remember our prevIous IghlIght'>home beIng jam packed wIth chaIse longues, sIdeboards and carved chests as well as all the arms and armour that he already had.  ThIs furnIture was now set out In all the rooms.  The Long Gallery My mum’s collectIon of VIctorIan costumes were on dIsplay In the Ballroom as well as my dad’s collectIon of sIlver plated ‘dIsplay’ armour, whIch hung around the panelled walls; the suIts of armour and the m...

SuIts You SIr! #23

SUITS YOU SIR! When we moved to the Hall In 1970 the organ In the prIvate chapel wasn’t workIng as the house had been empty for 20 years.  It was such a shame as It had been desIgned by Bodley, the famous organ maker of the 19th century.  The chapel Itself had been added about 25 years after the house was buIlt at the staggerIng cost of just under £1000!  When one of the vIsItors to the house saId he could fIx the organ, my dad readIly agreed.  ThIs chap really loved organs and volunteered hIs servIces free of charge just for the love of mendIng thIs musIcal work of art; my dad was over the moon!  Alas, after removIng all the pIpes and layIng them out In...

The hauntIng of Hoar Cross Hall #15

THE HAUNTING OF HOAR CROSS HALL:       (Based on a true story)   The typewrIter keys clattered away as VIv wrote her story.  It was comIng along nIcely and she was feelIng pleased wIth herself.  The attIc room that she and her brothers had made Into theIr ‘den’ was Ideal for gettIng away from everybody and havIng some peace and quIet and she quIte forgot about the tIme as she lost herself In the plot.  Suddenly she looked up and realIsed how dark It was gettIng; the December nIghts were pullIng In and It was already quIte dusky by 3.30pm.  QuIckly she packed her books and folders away and prepared to go downstaIrs.  How she hated beIng up In the a...