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Hallowe'en Hauntings #100
Posted by Viv Wilson on 29th October 2025 in Growing Up In a Stately Home | hoar cross hall spa hotel,barons eden,ghosts,ghostbusters,Hallowe'en,paranormal activity,spooks,attic,candles,seance,ouija board,ghouls,scary,the exorcist,nightmare,All Hallows Eve,All saints day,period drama,history,downton abbey,my dad bought a mansion
Going to sleep in a big old house is quite scary when you’re young but going to sleep in a big old house that’s haunted is even more scary!! As we approach Hallowe'en my mind has gone back to that first winter at Hoar Cross Hall and all the scary things that happened - and that was without any trick or treaters in those days! We quickly realised that we weren’t the only inhabitants of the house when we moved there in the 1970s. Every time there was a windy night I could hear a window banging in the attic – all night long it kept me awake. The next day I would go upstairs to the attics to close it but there would be no windows open or even loose....
My Dad Bought A Mansion! #1
Posted by Viv Wilson on 15th October 2018 in Growing Up In Stately Home | hoar cross hall,staffordshire,mansion,meynell,ingram,church,holy angels,drawing room,ballroom,chapel,library,secret doors,famous five,lichfield,history,pub,armour
MY DAD BOUGHT A MANSION! 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 in 20 acres of grounds! For years my dad had collected antiques, ever since 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. In the 1970s he owned the largest private collection of arms and armour in 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 Ingram family who originated from Leiceste...Ghouls Galore! #19
Posted by Viv Wilson on 25th February 2019 in Growing Up In a Stately Home | hoar cross hall,meynell arms,ghosts,attic
GHOULS GALORE! One of the great things about living in a stately home is that you can have a wild party with the loudest of music – and no-one will hear it! I was now going out with Kev, whom I had met at college. Mum was a bit disappointed that my sensible boyfriend and I had parted company after 18 months of an on/off relationship but she accepted Kev into the fold and eventually met all the other members of the band. I think she wanted to put her mind at rest that they were a bunch of nice lads and not a drug crazed rock band eating bats! Which of course they were! No – I’m only kidding! After the awful split up at Christmas my pare...
What the Butler saw!
Posted by Viv Wilson on 23rd June 2019 in Growing Up In a Stately Home | hoar cross hall,Butler,Downton Abbey,1930s,footman,aristocratic,Chubb safes
WHAT THE BUTLER SAW! Anyone who’s seen Downton Abbey will remember Carter the butler. He is exactly how a butler would have been in the 19th century and, strangely enough, the butler at the Hall during the early part of the 20th century was also called Carter!
Although most big houses had a house steward who was in charge of accounts and general running of the household, a butler was more commonly engaged by the wealthy. He was usually a grand, authoritarian figure, commanding respect and awe and most of the servants would have been scared to death of upsetting him! He was dressed like a gentleman of the period and generally ran the household...
Ghouls Galore!
Posted by Viv Wilson on 6th January 2020 in Growing Up In a Stately Home | hoar cross hall,Meynell,ghosts,ouiji board,attic,candlelight,seance
GHOULS GALORE! One of the great things about living in a stately home is that you can have a wild party with the loudest of music – and no-one will hear it! I was now going out with Kev, whom I had met at college. Mum was a bit disappointed that my sensible boyfriend and I had parted company after 18 months of an on/off relationship but she accepted Kev into the fold and eventually met all the other members of the band. I think she wanted to put her mind at rest that they were a bunch of nice lads and not a drug crazed rock band eating bats! Which of course they were! No – I’m only kidding! After the awful split up at Christmas my parents...What the Butler Saw! #35
Posted by Viv Wilson on 4th May 2020 in Growing Up In a Stately Home | hoar cross hall,servants ball,gardeners world,footmen,butler,downton abbey,mulled wine,mistletoe,Long Gallery
WHAT THE BUTLER SAW! Anyone who’s seen Downton Abbey will remember Carter the butler. He is exactly how a butler would have been in the 19th century and, strangely enough, the butler at Hoar Cross Hall during the early part of the 20th century was also called Carter!
Although most big houses had a house steward who was in charge of accounts and general running of the household, a butler was more commonly engaged by the wealthy. He was usually a grand, authoritarian figure, commanding respect and awe and most of the servants would have been scared to death of upsetting him! He was dressed like a gentleman of the period and generally ran the household wi...