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The ghost of Christmas past #73

Another Christmas story in the run up to the festive season - it may send a shiver down your spine! (Based on true stories) The typewriter keys clattered away as Viv wrote her story.  It was coming along nicely <span class='highlight'>andspan> she was feeling pleased with herself.  The attic room that she <span class='highlight'>andspan> her brothers had made into their ‘den’ was ideal for getting away from everybody <span class='highlight'>andspan> having some peace <span class='highlight'>andspan> quiet <span class='highlight'>andspan> she quite forgot about the time as she lost herself in the plot.  Suddenly she looked up <span class='highlight'>andspan> realized how dark it was getting; the December nights were pulling in <span class='highlight'>andspan> it was already quite dusky by 3.30pm.  Quickly she packed her books <span class='highlight'>andspan> folders away <span class='highlight'>andspan> prepar...

The Haunting of Hoar Cross Hall #32

The typewriter keys clattered away as Viv wrote her story. It was coming along nicely <span class='highlight'>andspan> she was feeling pleased with herself. The attic room that she <span class='highlight'>andspan> her brothers had made into their ‘den’ was ideal for getting away from everybody <span class='highlight'>andspan> having some peace <span class='highlight'>andspan> quiet <span class='highlight'>andspan> she quite forgot about the time as she lost herself in the plot. Suddenly she looked up <span class='highlight'>andspan> realized how dark it was getting; the December nights were pulling in <span class='highlight'>andspan> it was already quite dusky by 3.30pm. Quickly she packed her books <span class='highlight'>andspan> folders away <span class='highlight'>andspan> prepared to go downstairs. How she hated being up in the attics when it was getting dark as it was so spooky! The wind was starting to howl...

Hoar Cross Hall - Life Below Stairs #35

This week I’ve done a history blog about the servants who lived at Hoar Cross Hall from the 1870s to the 1950s when the Hall became empty. They were an essential part of keeping a big house running but were often not appreciated by the aristocracy as they went about their day to day duties. The life of a servant in Victorian times was a hard one. They had to rise at 5am to clean <span class='highlight'>andspan> light all the fires <span class='highlight'>andspan> dust <span class='highlight'>andspan> polish the floors, then do a day’s work, often not getting to bed much before midnight. No wonder they didn’t live to a great age in those days! By the end of the 19th century there were nearly one <span class='highlight'>andspan> a half million servants; most young girls...

Moving On #33

MOVING ON - <span class='highlight'>andspan> so we come to the end of my story.  My dad <span class='highlight'>andspan> Gavin moved out to live in Burton <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.  He 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 ringing from the phone box by the Meynell Arms car park!  He told my dad that he was hiding behind a bush <span class='highlight'>andspan> could he come <span class='highlight'>andspan> get him.  Of course, my dad was only too happy to fetch him <span class='highlight'>andspan> get...

Hoar Cross Hall - Life below stairs #20

HOAR CROSS HALL – LIFE BELOW STAIRS:       This week I’ve done a history blog about the servants who lived at the Hall from the 1870s to the 1950s when the Hall became empty.  They were an essential part of keeping a big house running but were often not appreciated by the aristocracy as they went about their day to day duties. The life of a servant in Victorian times was a hard one.  They had to rise at 5am to clean <span class='highlight'>andspan> light all the fires <span class='highlight'>andspan> dust <span class='highlight'>andspan> polish the floors, then do a day’s work, often not getting to bed much before midnight.  No wonder they didn’t live to a great age in those days!  By the end of the 19th century there were nearly...

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 <span class='highlight'>andspan> she was feeling pleased with herself.  The attic room that she <span class='highlight'>andspan> her brothers had made into their ‘den’ was ideal for getting away from everybody <span class='highlight'>andspan> having some peace <span class='highlight'>andspan> quiet <span class='highlight'>andspan> she quite forgot about the time as she lost herself in the plot.  Suddenly she looked up <span class='highlight'>andspan> realised how dark it was getting; the December nights were pulling in <span class='highlight'>andspan> it was already quite dusky by 3.30pm.  Quickly she packed her books <span class='highlight'>andspan> folders away <span class='highlight'>andspan> prepared to go downstairs.  How she hated being up in the a...