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Gardeners World at Hoar Cross #43

...The ‘bothy’ house was in one corner of the kitchen garden. (A bothy is a simple dwelling on an estate, usually used for gardeners and other workmen). Here lived the ‘bothy boys’ who were young under-gardeners. Their job was simply to sweep the pathways all day and keep the leaves at bay! The 'bothy boys'   There were two elderly chaps, Mr Knight and Mr Dukes, who were solely responsible for the south garden – however, their task was complicated by the fact that they couldn’t get on with one another! Grass was cut by a horse drawn mower, a task carried out by the chauffeur of all people! One of the family told us that back in the early days...

Gardeners' World at Hoar Cross

.... The ‘bothy’ house was in one corner of the kitchen garden.  (A bothy is a simple dwelling on an estate, usually used for gardeners and other workmen).  Here lived the ‘bothy boys’ who were young under-gardeners.  Their job was simply to sweep the pathways all day and keep the leaves at bay! There were two elderly chaps, Mr Knight and Mr Dukes, who were solely responsible for the south garden – however, their task was complicated by the fact that they couldn’t get on with one another!  Grass was cut by a horse drawn mower, a task carried out by the chauffeur of all people!    We heard that back in the early days the head gardener was pushed...

Hoar Cross Hall - Life Below Stairs #35

...! The 'bothy boys' hard at work!   In the Victorian days a lowly housemaid earned about £10 a year compared to the house-keeper who earned the princely sum of £52 a year! The staff at Hoar Cross were well treated it seems. The family showed their concern towards the female members of staff if they wanted to leave the house to attend a local dance, and always made sure they were escorted to and from the event by the footman. Young maids were well protected in those times as the family were always worried about ‘undesirable’ friendships starting up, either within or outside the household. But it seems that there was generally a good atmosphere in the...

Gardeners' World at Hoar Cross #39

.... The ‘bothy’ house was in one corner of the kitchen garden. (A bothy is a simple dwelling on an estate, usually used for gardeners and other workmen). Here lived the ‘bothy boys’ who were young under-gardeners. Their job was simply to sweep the pathways all day and keep the leaves at bay! There were two elderly chaps, Mr Knight and Mr Dukes, who were solely responsible for the south garden – however, their task was complicated by the fact that they couldn’t get on with one another! Grass was cut by a horse drawn mower, a task carried out by the chauffeur of all people! One of the family told us that back in the early days the head gardener was pus...

Hoar Cross Hall - Life below stairs #19

...known as bothy boys. The most common of all male servants was the gardener as they were responsible for producing all the fruit, vegetables and herbs which were used in the kitchens as well as keeping the lawns and hedges tidy. Grass was cut by a horse-drawn mower, although this was the chauffeur’s job surprisingly. The kitchen garden also supplied the house with flowers and during important functions at the house they would bring across masses of palms and pot plants to decorate the rooms. Home Farm supplied the estate with as much produce as was needed. In addition to the farm workers, the estate employed bricklayers, a stone mason, foresters and thatchers,...

Gardeners' World at Hoar Cross #36

.... The ‘bothy’ house was in one corner of the kitchen garden.  (A bothy is a simple dwelling on an estate, usually used for gardeners and other workmen).  Here lived the ‘bothy boys’ who were young under-gardeners.  Their job was simply to sweep the pathways all day and keep the leaves at bay! There were two elderly chaps, Mr Knight and Mr Dukes, who were solely responsible for the south garden – however, their task was complicated by the fact that they couldn’t get on with one another!  Grass was cut by a horse drawn mower, a task carried out by the chauffeur of all people!    One of the family told us that back in the early days the head ga...