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The chapel #68

Continuing our series on the rooms that were open to the public during the 1970s at Hoar Cross Hall, we find the Garden Hall and chapel leading off the Long Gallery at the east end of the house.  This private chapel was a later addition to the Hall and was designed by G F Bodley, the gothic revival architect, and completed in 1897 at a cost of just under £1000.  The walls have a fine linenfold panelling and the ceiling is richly decorated.  Many houses in days gone by had their own private chapel and it seems that before the chapel was built, services had been held in another room of the house.  I would imagine that Emily Meynell wanted a proper consecrated...

The Church of the Holy Angels #55

Many stately homes had churches built near them or even a chapel inside them, as was done at Hoar Cross Hall. However, the church that was built in the grounds of the Hall became known as 'The Cathedral of the Midlands' due to its magnificent structure and is generally regarded as one of the finest Victorian churches in the country. It resembles a cathedral in miniature, being more like an English minster than a humble village church. When Emily Meynell Ingram's husband, Hugo died in 1871 from a hunting accident, she wanted to keep his memory alive. They had only been married for eight years and she had no children to comfort her and so in 1872 she commissioned...

Doing up a stately home #4

...d its own chapel which the Meynell family and their servants used every morning for prayers at 9am sharp. There was a Damask Room, a Hessian Room and Hugo Meynell’s old bedroom and dressing room. This was where he lived after his riding accident which had left him an invalid. There was a large wooden board from the window sill to the stone balustrade and he would sit by the window and wait for squirrels and birds to cross the board and eat titbits from his hand – what a charming picture this conjures up albeit in tragic circumstances. This room became our lounge and the dressing room next door became our new kitchen with a serving hatch knocked through for m...

Our mansion gets a facelift #4

...d its own chapel which the Meynell family and their servants used every morning for prayers at 9am sharp. There was a Damask Room, a Hessian Room and Hugo Meynell’s old bedroom and dressing room. This was where he lived after his riding accident which had left him an invalid. There was a large wooden board from the window sill to the stone balustrade and he would sit by the window and wait for squirrels and birds to cross the board and eat titbits from his hand – what a charming picture this conjures up albeit in tragic circumstances. This room became our lounge and the dressing room next door became our new kitchen with a serving hatch knocked through for m...

Suits you sir! #23

...SUITS YOU SIR!      When we moved to Hoar Cross Hall in 1970 the organ in the private chapel wasn’t working as the house had been empty for 20 years.  It was such a shame as it had been designed by Bodley, the famous organ maker of the 19th century.  The chapel itself had been added about 25 years after the house was built at the staggering cost of just under £1000!  When one of the visitors to the house said he could fix the organ, my dad readily agreed.  This chap really loved organs and volunteered his services free of charge just for the love of mending this musical work of art; my dad was over the moon!  Alas, after removing all the pipes and lay...

Suits You Sir! #23

...SUITS YOU SIR! When we moved to the Hall in 1970 the organ in the private chapel wasn’t working as the house had been empty for 20 years.  It was such a shame as it had been designed by Bodley, the famous organ maker of the 19th century.  The chapel itself had been added about 25 years after the house was built at the staggering cost of just under £1000!  When one of the visitors to the house said he could fix the organ, my dad readily agreed.  This chap really loved organs and volunteered his services free of charge just for the love of mending this musical work of art; my dad was over the moon!  Alas, after removing all the pipes and laying them out in...