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The Long Gallery #67

...ll is the Long Gallery which is 114 feet in length and is entered through two 10 feet high solid oak doors.  It contains two white marble fireplaces and a richly decorated ceiling; at the far end is the fine panelled oak staircase which led to our private apartments.  My father’s collection of arms and armour, dating from the 14th to the 17th century, was displayed in this room against the oak panelling and was one of the largest private collections in the country at that time (see header picture).  However, all those metal suits lining the walls staring back at me through the slits in their visors used to terrify me as a child and I would avoid looking at...

Ghostbusters! #8

...ll in the Long Gallery! Gosh, these people must have been hearing bells ring all day Long! The attic corridor showing bells on the left   Anyhow, the plan was that we would ring one of the bells right outside their room and when next day they told us about the noises we would tell them that the room for that bell was no Longer there – it had been knocked down when the old kitchens had been demolished! Then they would realise that it must have been a ghost ringing the bell and listen to their recordings quivering in fear! Gavin and I were so excited we could hardly sleep that night. Before we went to bed we rang the bell quite a few times until we were...

THE GRAND OPENING #5

...THE GRAND OPENING: And so into 1971 and the preparation of the house so we could open it to the public by Easter.  During the run up to buying the house my dad had been buying furniture, carpets and paintings like  crazy and I remember our previous home being jam packed with chaise Longues, sideboards and carved chests as well as all the arms and armour that he already had.  This furniture was now set out in all the rooms.  The Long Gallery My mum’s collection of Victorian costumes were on display in the Ballroom as well as my dad’s collection of silver plated ‘display’ armour, which hung around the panelled walls; the suits of armour and the m...

Mediaeval Mayhem! #13

...le of the Long Gallery. I had to sew numbers onto the coat hangers for the cloakroom – it took all day to do 100 hangers! The afternoon was spent laying the tables with mugs, daggers and serviettes. Before 7pm we went to get changed into our mediaeval dresses; Myra (the fire-eaters wife) and myself were doing the cloakroom first before helping serve drinks when the banquet started. We also shared the tips, which were usually quite good! Guests arriving at the banquet, some dressed up!   A lot of the guests arrived in coaches as they often came for a night out with their work colleagues. They would then wait in the Long Gallery and have a drink at the b...

What the Butler Saw! #42

...w! The Long Gallery where dances were held   The highlight of the year for most girls was an eagerly-awaited dance at the Servants’ Ball at Christmas time – most large houses had one and Hoar Cross Hall was no different. The Ball was held in the Long Gallery and this was the one time when the family mixed with the servants. With mulled wine flowing freely and mistletoe hung here about, the young ladies would be very excited to be standing near to a young, good looking footman! But it wasn't just the ladies – the story goes that when the butler went down to the wine cellar to bring up more champagne for the party, he heard a lot of giggling coming f...

Eat, drink and be merry! #10

...le of the Long Gallery. I had to sew numbers onto the coat hangers for the cloakroom – it took all day to do 100 hangers! The afternoon was spent laying the tables with mugs, daggers and serviettes. Before 7pm we went to get changed into our mediaeval dresses; Myra (the fire-eaters wife) and myself were doing the cloakroom first before helping serve drinks when the banquet started. We also shared the tips, which were usually quite good! Guests waiting in the Long Gallery c 1974   A lot of the guests arrived in coaches as they often came for a night out with their work colleagues. They would then wait in the Long Gallery and have a drink at the bar and...