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Hoar Cross Hall - a bit of history #13

...swimming pool. However, the funding never transpired and they were asked to leave in 1969, leaving the house unfinished and the gardens in sad neglect. In 1970 my parents, William and Gwynyth Bickerton-Jones bought the Hall and we settled there for nearly 20 years until it was sold and became the Spa Hotel that you see today. Don’t miss next’s week’s instalment: Rags to Riches If you would like to follow my story from the beginning click here and please feel free to share with your friends.  ...

Hoar Cross Hall - Life below stairs #18

...so a carp pool for their fish stock. In total there were about 50 servants employed by the Meynell family which included cooks, housemaids, chambermaids, lady’s maid, a governess, a nanny, a butler, footmen and a house-keeper among others. All staff were expected to attend the 9am service which was held in the Chapel in the house. They were also expected to attend services at the church which had been built in the grounds; however, they weren’t allowed to walk down the drive to the church but had to make a detour around the perimeter of the grounds so that they wouldn’t be seen by the family! In the Victorian days a lowly housemaid earned about £10 a yea...

Moving On #35

...ment. The pool is in the old Servants Hall which in turn became my dad’s workshop and the treatment rooms are in other parts of the old servants’ quarters – it was barely recognisable! In 2005 we went back again with my mum and two of our children, Lee and Hannah. Again, it was great fun to explore the house and grounds and show my children where I had lived as a child. I was particularly fascinated to see the attic rooms as these had always looked so spooky and were obviously haunted – how strange to see those dusty old rooms decorated and carpeted! Lee, Hannah and my mum in 2005   In 2018 we were back again to make the video for the tour of th...

Hoar Cross Hall - a bit of history #14

...swimming pool. However, the funding never transpired and they were asked to leave in 1969, leaving the house unfinished and the gardens in sad neglect. The monks' plans for the Hall   In 1970 my parents, William and Gwynyth Bickerton-Jones bought the Hall and we settled there for nearly 20 years until it was sold and became the Spa Hotel that you see today.   Don’t miss next week’s instalment:    'Rags to Riches'   If you would like to follow my story from the beginning click here and please feel free to share with your friends.   Check out my Tour of the House video - click here to follow me round my childhood home and please subscribe t...

Hoar Cross Hall - Life below stairs #19

...so a carp pool for their fish stock. In total there were about 50 servants employed by the Meynell family which included cooks, housemaids, chambermaids, lady’s maid, a governess, a nanny, a butler, footmen and a house-keeper among others. All staff were expected to attend the 9am service which was held in the Chapel in the house. They were also expected to attend services at the church which had been built in the grounds; however, they weren’t allowed to walk down the drive to the church but had to make a detour around the perimeter of the grounds so that they wouldn’t be seen by the family! The Yew Tree Walks were constantly being trimmed   In th...

Hoar Cross Hall - Life Below Stairs #35

...so a carp pool for their fish stock. In total there were about 50 servants employed by the Meynell family which included cooks, housemaids, chambermaids, lady’s maid, a governess, a nanny, a butler, footmen and a house-keeper among others. All staff were expected to attend the 9am service which was held in the Chapel in the house. They were also expected to attend services at the church which had been built in the grounds; however, they weren’t allowed to walk down the drive to the church but had to make a detour around the perimeter of the grounds so that they wouldn’t be seen by the family! The 'bothy boys' hard at work!   In the Victorian days a...