Story Search Results

Hoar Cross Hall - A bit of History #54

Hoar Cross was part of Needwood Forest, the 11th century lands of Henry de Ferrers. The land was passed down to Henry’s son and subsequent various people over the course of 500 years ending with the Webb family, around the 1730s, who bought the land and house known as the Manor of the Cross. This was quite a large house built on a hill near Yoxall (which is the village next to Hoar Cross). In 1740 the manor house was demolished and later the Hon. Charles Talbot bought the estate for £17,000. Eventually it was sold to Hugo Meynell, who already owned huge amounts of property all over the county and was now about to add another one to his portfolio. This branch...

Midnight Pool Parties # 59

Following on with the summer theme my mind drifted back to those halcyon days of summer when we were all young and lively and hanging out with a large group of friends.  By now Kev and I had left college and were both working but weekends were for fun and parties! Kev and the band were also getting a few gigs around the area and after singing with them for a little while I gave it up and let a more professional singer take over – I needed to work on my confidence first!   We still went to the local '76 Club' though to see live music – it was the start of the punk era and we saw the Sex Pistols there when they were just starting out – I have to say they...

Coming Of Age #21

COMING OF AGE:  My year at college had come to an end and I was now a fully fledged secretary.  Now to find a job!  It didn’t take too long as there was plenty of employment around in those days and I was soon offered a position with a small engineering firm in Burton.  As I didn’t drive there was still the problem of me getting to work and dad managed to talk the residents of the apartments into taking me, as they were going to Burton every day as well, and it would save him coming out twice a day!  Kev and the band were getting a few gigs around the area and after singing with them for a little while I gave it up and let a more professional singer ta...

Whodunit in the Library? #26

...home from college to find the house empty and the Library door locked, which was most unusual on both counts.  I eventually got in through the secret door to find blood all over the floor – and I mean loads of it - right in the middle of the room.  I thought I’d walked onto the set of a Hercule Poirot film – it was a real whodunit!  It looked like someone had been murdered and then whilst looking around I found the ‘weapon’ – it was a Victorian truncheon that we had on display.  This was a large wooden truncheon with a chunk of lead in the end - and it was covered in dried blood.  This could do some serious damage if you were hit with it althoug...

Whodunit in the Library? #25

...home from college to find the house empty and the Library door locked, which was most unusual on both counts.  I eventually got in through the secret door to find blood all over the floor – and I mean loads of it - right in the middle of the room.  I thought I’d walked onto the set of a Hercule Poirot film – it was a real whodunit!  It looked like someone had been murdered and then whilst looking around I found the ‘weapon’ – it was a Victorian truncheon that we had on display.  This was a large wooden truncheon with a chunk of lead in the end - and it was covered in dried blood.  This could do some serious damage if you were hit with it althoug...