The New Year’s Eve Balls at Hoar Cross Hall were usually the highlight of the year during the 1970s. After twelve months of hard work, especially running the Mediaeval Banquets twice a week through the winter, we were always ready to see out the year in style with a big new year party. In those days it was always black tie for the men and long dresses for the ladies – usually around 500 people bought tickets for an evening of entertainment with a dance band, disco and a meal. At midnight ...

The final Christmas blog this year is a story of how the servants celebrated Christmas at Hoar Cross Hall, based around true events. The Meynells always gave a party for their servants and local tradesmen in the Long Gallery, and I imagine it went a bit like this! “Come on, look sharp!” shouted Cook to her assistants in the kitchen. “We’ve got a load of cooking to do for the Christmas party at the weekend and if you don’t get a move on there’ll be nothing to eat!” The kitc...

Welcome to another story based on true facts and things that went bump in the night at Hoar Cross Hall, to get you in the mood for all those Christmas ghost stories you'll be watching this season! Hope you don't get too scared! The typewriter keys clattered away as Viv wrote her story. It was coming along nicely and she was feeling pleased with herself. The attic room that she and her brothers had made into their ‘den’ was ideal for getting away from everybody and having some peace and q...

Here's a true story to get you in the mood for Christmas! My brother and I were definitely not good children and we were always amazed that Santa still left us gifts on Christmas Eve! We were like 'elves behaving badly'! Hope you enjoy it! The sounds of "La Golondrina" floated through the air as Viv sat at the grand piano. How pleased she was that someone had asked them to look after this fine musical instrument for a few months. Having learned to play when she was younger, this gave Viv t...

During the two World Wars the Meynell family of Hoar Cross Hall served their country alongside many others from all walks of life. After each war there was huge social upheaval, especially for women, who had been doing what was traditionally 'men's work' during the war and weren't prepared to go back to domestic roles. At the time of the First World War Frederick Meynell and Lady Mary Meynell were living at the Hall with their five children. Their four sons all served in the war and their dau...