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The Kitchen Maid's Story #35

...pening of Parliament.  The aristocracy went to their London mansions and were involved with lots of social events which politicians also attended – a form of 19th century networking.  Daughters of marriageable age were introduced to society and presented to the monarch of the day as debutantes.  They would be taken to a flurry of parties to meet eligible young men in the hope that they would make a good marriage.  For the servants it must have been quite exciting being in the big city and seeing all the sights and one of the benefits was that on their half day they would be allowed out until 10pm instead of 9.30pm! Once the season was over and Jenny retur...

Change and the Country House #61

...g Acts of Parliament and the ballot box which were creating a lot of change.  By the end of the 19th century, the traditional community responsibilities of the country gentleman had been eroded and institutionalized due to the creation of county councils in 1888.  Up until then the justices of the peace (JPs) represented generally by the gentry and the clergy, supervised jails, arranged road and bridge repairs, and dealt with minor offences in the special ‘Justice Room’ found in some country houses.  Once the local councils were doing this job the aristocrat ceased to be needed quite so much. Neglected gardens at Hoar Cross Hall   In 1894 the intr...

The Kitchen Maid's Story #34

...pening of Parliament. The aristocracy travelled from their country estates to their London mansions to become involved with many social events which politicians also attended – a form of 19th century networking. Daughters of marriageable age were introduced to society and presented to the monarch of the day as debutantes. They would be taken to a flurry of parties to meet eligible young men in the hope that they would make a good marriage. For the servants it must have been quite exciting being in the big city and seeing all the sights and one of the benefits was that on their half day off they would be allowed out until 10pm instead of 9.30pm! Once the seaso...

Hoar Cross Hall - a bit of history! #14

...Member of Parliament for Lichfield.   When his son, Hugo, died in 1800 he sold Quorn Hall to the Earl of Sefton and left to live in Derbyshire; although the family owned large amounts of property all over the Midlands in at least five shires. The Meynell family claim to be descendants of the Norman baron, Hugo de Grand Mesnil, who came over with William the Conqueror.  He is said to have died in Leicester in 1093 and his descendants settled in Derbyshire and Yorkshire.  The sons of Hugo went off to the First Crusade and a representation of Hugo’s shield can be seen in one of the windows of Hoar Cross Church.  Sir Hugo de Mesnil of Langley Mesnil represen...

A Bit Of Background #1

...Member of Parliament for Lichfield and the family owned considerable property in Staffordshire, Shropshire and Derbyshire.  He bought the Hoar Cross estate in 1793 and 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 est...

Hoar Cross Hall - a bit of history #15

...Member of Parliament for Lichfield.   When his son, Hugo, died in 1800 he sold Quorn Hall to the Earl of Sefton and left to live in Derbyshire; although the family owned large amounts of property all over the Midlands in at least five shires. The Meynell family claim to be descendants of the Norman baron, Hugo de Grand Mesnil, who came over with William the Conqueror.  He is said to have died in Leicester in 1093 and his descendants settled in Derbyshire and Yorkshire.  The sons of Hugo went off to the First Crusade and a representation of Hugo’s shield can be seen in one of the windows of Hoar Cross Church.  Sir Hugo de Mesnil of Langley Mesnil represen...