Story Search Results

Growing up in a stately home #1

...d built a hunting lodge there known as Old Hall and founded the Meynell Hunt. It seemed the family lived here for many years until Hugo’s grandson, also Hugo, got married in 1863 and decided to build the present Hall for him and his wife, Emily Charlotte. The house took nine years to build and was eventually finished in 1871. Hugo and Emily had already moved in, but their new life together was soon to be cut short by a tragic accident. Fourteen months earlier at Birch Wood on their estate Hugo had a horse riding accident and had been bed-ridden ever since – he died in May of that year. They had no children and Emily built The Church of the Holy Angels in the...

What the Butler Saw! #42

...othes and hunting gear. In the absence of a footman, he would also answer the door – sounds like he was a very busy man! Let’s hope that someone didn’t come calling at lunchtime while he was helping his master get changed into yet another outfit! The role of a servant was to carry out their duties whilst remaining 'invisible'.  This was why large houses had lots of corridors and back staircases separate to the main house.  Ever wondered why doors open into rooms a certain way in older properties?  This was for modesty purposes so that if a servant opened the bedroom door to help her mistress get dressed, she could enter discreetly without the occupant...

Hoar Cross Hall - Life below stairs #45

...ardly any hunting and shooting. I think the First World War had a lot to do with staff cutbacks as society was changing between the wars and Lady Dorothy’s two daughters weren’t really interested in high living and parties – they wanted to do something useful with their lives. They had spent much of their childhood in the schoolroom at the Hall. The sons of the family were away at boarding school but the girls had a governess and nursery maid to look after them. Dorothy had her own personal maid at the age of 11. The schoolroom was situated just off the main entrance hall on the ground floor and the maid would bring breakfast there for them. Later she woul...

The Church of the Holy Angels #55

...Many stately homes had churches built near them or even a chapel inside them, as was done at Hoar Cross Hall. However, the church that was built in the grounds of the Hall became known as 'The Cathedral of the Midlands' due to its magnificent structure and is generally regarded as one of the finest Victorian churches in the country. It resembles a cathedral in miniature, being more like an English minster than a humble village church. When Emily Meynell Ingram's husband, Hugo died in 1871 from a hunting accident, she wanted to keep his memory alive. They had only been married for eight years and she had no children to comfort her and so in 1872 she commissioned...

Hoar Cross Hall meets Downton Abbey #99

...d built a hunting lodge there known as Old Hall and founded the Meynell Hunt. It seemed the family lived here for many years until Hugo’s grandson, also Hugo, got married in 1863 and decided to build the present Hall for him and his wife, Emily Charlotte. The house took nine years to build and was eventually finished in 1871. Hugo and Emily had already moved in, but their new life together was soon to be cut short by a tragic accident. Fourteen months earlier at Birch Wood on their estate Hugo had a horse riding accident and had been bed-ridden ever since – he died in May of that year. They had no children and Emily built The Church of the Holy Angels in t...

Hallowe'en Hauntings #100

...of ghost hunting by candlelight, so we dared them to try it!  Well, they certainly found them!  They all sat around in a circle on the bare wooden floors and joined hands; the candle was placed in the middle of the circle creating an eerie glow and making shadows dance in the corners.   The more experienced people did a bit of chanting and then they all waited to see what happened.   We carried on partying downstairs turning the music up loud – to be honest, I didn’t really want to know what was going on in the attic, that whole part of the building terrified me! The spiral staircase leading to the old nurseries   After about 30 minutes we ven...