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The War years and beyond

...or drama, music, films, crafts, conferences and other activities.  A bold plan indeed!  The monks lived in the Lodge and Gatehouse having full use of the Hall and its surroundings for four years while they appealed for money.  They even demolished the kitchens and laundry block at one end of the house in readiness for the swimming pool which was going to be built there.  However, the money was not forthcoming and they were asked to leave with a large part of the house demolished and the gardens in sad neglect.  I’m not sure how they were allowed to knock bits down before buying the property but they must have been sure of their funding.  Interestingly, t...

Whodunit in the Library? #26

...ul wooden musical box which played pretty tunes when wound up.  My mum had hidden it away in her old bedroom under lock and key so my dad asked up to break into the room so he could get it back.  We managed to unlock the door using a credit card on the Yale lock (sliding the card between the door and the lock would push the lock inwards) and when we got inside we found the musical box under a blanket by the window.  It was about the same size as a large cardboard box so we swapped it for a box and covered it back up with the blanket so my mum would suspect nothing.  We also took one or two other things my dad wanted and when my mum found out she was furious!...

The Schoolroom Maid's Story #34

...inging or music.   By mid-day she had again changed her outfit to an afternoon dress and made her way to the workroom to assist the lady’s maid in mending, sewing and general repairs to Miss Dorothy’s wardrobe.  It seems to me that people were forever changing their clothes in those days!  For the servants their morning dress was plain and serviceable covered with a large apron, for doing all the chores around the house.  Their afternoon dress was still plain but usually black and trimmed with a lace collar and cuffs.  The apron would have been smaller and possibly lacy; this was because they might be serving guests who usually called for afternoon te...

Suits you Sir! #22

...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 George 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 the baseme...

The War Years and Beyond #36

...or drama, music, films, crafts, conferences and other activities. A bold plan indeed! The monks lived in the Lodge and Gatehouse having full use of the Hall and its surroundings for four years while they appealed for money. They even demolished the kitchens and laundry block at one end of the house in readiness for the swimming pool which was going to be built there. However, the money was not forthcoming and they were asked to leave with a large part of the house demolished and the gardens in sad neglect. I’m not sure how they were allowed to knock bits down before buying the property but they must have been sure of their funding. Interestingly, the two broth...

Hoar Cross Hall - A bit of History #54

...arts and music. She also played the pipe organ in the chapel at the Hall for the morning services there. However, this young lady didn’t want to conform to the usual things of her society such as parties and husband hunting! She begged her parents to let her train for some useful occupation and they finally agreed to let her train as a secretary in London. She went on to become the private secretary to the Bishop of Portsmouth. Dorothy never married and when the Second World War started she returned to Hoar Cross and joined the Joint War Organisation of the Red Cross and St John which meant travelling overseas to Africa, Sicily and Italy. In 1944 Lady Dorothy...