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an class='highlight'>growan class='highlight'>inan>gan> an class='highlight'>upan> an class='highlight'>inan> a stately home #1

It was the summer of 1970, Mungo Jerry was at the top of the hit parade and we were about to move house. But not to any old house – to a 70 roomed mansion an class='highlight'>inan> 20 acres of grounds! For years my dad had collected antiques, ever san class='highlight'>inan>ce he was a young boy of 12, and it was his dream to own a large house where he could put them on show to the general public. an class='highlight'>inan> the 1970s he owned the largest private collection of arms and armour an class='highlight'>inan> the country and his dream was about to be realised; but little did we know what a nightmare would unfold before us. Hoar Cross Hall was the home of the Meynell an class='highlight'>inan>gram family who origan class='highlight'>inan>ated from Leicestershire. Hugo Meynell of Quorndon was...

a New Year Calamity! #35

The New Year’s Eve Balls at Hoar Cross Hall were usually the highlight of the year. after twelve months of hard work, especially runnan class='highlight'>inan>g the Mediaeval Banquets twice a week through the wan class='highlight'>inan>ter, we were always ready to see out the year an class='highlight'>inan> style with a big new year party. an class='highlight'>inan> those days it was always black tie for the men and long dresses for the ladies – usually around 500 people bought tickets for an evenan class='highlight'>inan>g of entertaan class='highlight'>inan>ment with a dance band, disco and a meal. at midnight a man dressed an class='highlight'>inan> traditional Scottish regalia, an class='highlight'>inan>cludan class='highlight'>inan>g a kilt and sporran, would pipe an class='highlight'>inan> the new year with his bagpipes. Down the Long Gallery he would slowly walk and an class='highlight'>inan>to the Ballroom wi...

Midnight Pool Parties # 59

Followan class='highlight'>inan>g on with the summer theme my man class='highlight'>inan>d drifted back to those halcyon days of summer when we were all young and lively and hangan class='highlight'>inan>g out with a large groan class='highlight'>upan> of friends.  By now Kev and I had left college and were both workan class='highlight'>inan>g but weekends were for fun and parties! Kev and the band were also gettan class='highlight'>inan>g a few gigs around the area and after san class='highlight'>inan>gan class='highlight'>inan>g with them for a little while I gave it an class='highlight'>upan> and let a more professional san class='highlight'>inan>ger take over – I needed to work on my confidence first!   We still went to the local '76 Club' though to see live music – it was the start of the punk era and we saw the Sex Pistols there when they were just startan class='highlight'>inan>g out – I have to say they...

Hoar Cross Hall meets Downton abbey #99

With the new Downton abbey film out this month I thought I would do a comparison of the two family homes, Downton and Hoar Cross Hall, the latter bean class='highlight'>inan>g my old family home for those of you who are new to these blogs.  although Downton abbey is fictional, the house on which it is based is not, it bean class='highlight'>inan>g Highclere Castle an class='highlight'>inan> Hampshire which was built an class='highlight'>inan> 1679 and is owned by the Earl of Carnarvon. Hoar Cross Hall was the origan class='highlight'>inan>al home of the Meynell an class='highlight'>inan>gram family who first came from Leicestershire and was built an class='highlight'>inan> 1863.  Hugo Meynell of Quorndon was the High Sheriff of Staffordshire and Member of Parliament for Lichfield and the family owned considerable property an class='highlight'>inan>...

Lest we forget #86

Duran class='highlight'>inan>g the two World Wars the Meynell family of Hoar Cross Hall served their country alongside many others from all walks of life.  after each war there was huge social an class='highlight'>upan>heaval, especially for women, who had been doan class='highlight'>inan>g what was traditionally 'men's work' duran class='highlight'>inan>g the war and weren't prepared to go back to domestic roles.  at the time of the First World War Frederick Meynell and Lady Mary Meynell were livan class='highlight'>inan>g at the Hall with their five children.  Their four sons all served an class='highlight'>inan> the war and their daughter Margaret served an class='highlight'>inan> the Red Cross as a volunteer. Their eldest son Francis was a Major but was wounded an class='highlight'>inan> action an class='highlight'>inan> 1917 with severe wounds to his back. He was m...

Celebratan class='highlight'>inan>g VE Day #94

as a way of commemoratan class='highlight'>inan>g V. E. Day I have re-posted my blog from November's Remembrance Day which tells of the sacrifice that the men of the Meynell family made duran class='highlight'>inan>g both world wars as well as the many thousands of others who took part.  Duran class='highlight'>inan>g the two World Wars the Meynell family of Hoar Cross Hall served their country alongside many others from all walks of life.  after each war there was huge social an class='highlight'>upan>heaval, especially for women, who had been doan class='highlight'>inan>g what was traditionally 'men's work' duran class='highlight'>inan>g the war and weren't prepared to go back to domestic roles.  at the time of the First World War Frederick Meynell and Lady Mary Meynell were livan class='highlight'>inan>g at the Hall with...