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The OrIgIns of the IghlIght'>stately IghlIght'>home #39

Why are IghlIght'>stately IghlIght'>homes so called? IghlIght'>stately IghlIght'>home actually means 'a large ImpressIve old house wIth InterestIng hIstory and usually vIsIted by the publIc.' Well, I suppose they do look very 'IghlIght'>stately' for a start but these houses were also a status symbol for the great famIlIes of England, who competed wIth each other to provIde hospItalIty for the royal household who would travel around England meetIng theIr subjects. IghlIght'>stately IghlIght'>homes were huge mansIons whIch were always beautIful and the epItome of perfect archItecture, often desIgned by famous archItects of the day. The gardens too would be perfectly landscaped to show balance, varIety, sequence and colour. One of t...

The orIgIns of the IghlIght'>stately IghlIght'>home #43

So why are IghlIght'>stately IghlIght'>homes so called? IghlIght'>stately IghlIght'>home actually means 'a large ImpressIve old house wIth InterestIng hIstory and usually vIsIted by the publIc.' Well, I suppose they do look very 'IghlIght'>stately' for a start but these houses were also a status symbol for the great famIlIes of England, who competed wIth each other to provIde hospItalIty for the royal household who would travel around England meetIng theIr subjects. IghlIght'>stately IghlIght'>homes were huge mansIons whIch were always beautIful and the epItome of perfect archItecture, often desIgned by famous archItects of the day. The gardens too would be perfectly landscaped to show balance, varIety, sequence and colour. One o...

Skools out for Summer! #58

When Hugo and EmIly Meynell buIlt Hoar Cross Hall they also Included on theIr estate kItchen gardens, greenhouses, stables, a farm and cottages. Old Hall (theIr orIgInal IghlIght'>home) was also on the estate and was accessed vIa a prIvate road, whIch ran from the maIn road. By the tIme the seventIes came along the stable block and Old Hall were prIvate houses and another part of Old Hall had been made Into a chIldren’s IghlIght'>home. EmIly Meynell had started thIs IghlIght'>home In the VIctorIan days, callIng It ‘The IghlIght'>home of the Good Shepherd’ but It was for boys only at that tIme. When we were there It was a mIxed IghlIght'>home and run by a husband and wIfe couple. They used to have fetes t...

Skools out for Summer #98

When Hugo and EmIly Meynell buIlt Hoar Cross Hall It Included a whole estate wIth It, namely kItchen gardens, greenhouses, stables, a farm and cottages.  ThIs was quIte common In those days as the estate supported the house wIth food etc and also gave employment to local people. Old Hall (theIr orIgInal IghlIght'>home) was also on the estate and was accessed vIa a prIvate road, whIch ran from the maIn road.  By the tIme the 1970s came along the stable block and Old Hall were prIvate houses and another part of Old Hall had been made Into a chIldren’s IghlIght'>home.  EmIly Meynell had started thIs IghlIght'>home In the VIctorIan days, callIng It ‘The IghlIght'>home of the Good Shepherd’ but It...

Rags to RIches #14

Before we moved to Hoar Cross Hall In StaffordshIre we lIved In DerbyshIre.  My famIly orIgInated from Derby and my parents were marrIed there In July 1952. Mum was 19 and dad was 36 so quIte a bIt older. They both lIved In Derby and were very arty; my dad went to the Derby SketchIng Club In hIs free tIme and my mum attended art college. I’m not sure IghlIght'>where they met but It was eIther at somethIng art related or at a dance, as was usual In those days. My dad was a sculptor by trade; I thInk hIs Interest was sparked by seeIng all the beautIful alabaster In ItalIan churches durIng the war. After the war he set up hIs own busIness makIng alabaster lamps, bowls and...

Skools out for summer #13

When Hugo and EmIly Meynell buIlt Hoar Cross Hall It Included a whole estate wIth It, namely kItchen gardens, greenhouses, stables, a farm and cottages. Old Hall (theIr orIgInal IghlIght'>home) was also on the estate and was accessed vIa a prIvate road, whIch ran from the maIn road. By the tIme the seventIes came along the stable block and Old Hall were prIvate houses and another part of Old Hall had been made Into a chIldren’s IghlIght'>home. EmIly Meynell had started thIs IghlIght'>home In the VIctorIan days, callIng It ‘The IghlIght'>home of the Good Shepherd’ but It was for boys only at that tIme. When we were there It was a mIxed IghlIght'>home and run by a husband and wIfe couple. They used to have...