Story Search Results

Calendar Girls and Front Covers #6

...place for period dramas although we had quite a few dramas of our own in time! Anyway, it was an interesting experience and something we’d never seen before. Pippa Dee Fashions hired the hall for a party c 1974   On another occasion someone hired the Hall for a ‘Gentleman’s Evening’ – well, you can imagine what that entailed! Obviously we children weren’t around for this but I understand there were ladies who provocatively removed their clothes (!), an entertainer, a singer and a bar – I’m sure a good time was had by all, if that’s what floats your boat! The Staffordshire Building Society also featured the Hall on one of their calendar...

What the Butler Saw! #38

...WHAT THE BUTLER SAW!      Anyone who’s seen Downton Abbey will remember Carter the butler. He is exactly how a butler would have been in the 19th century and, strangely enough, the butler at the Hall during the early part of the 20th century was also called Carter! Although most big houses had a house steward who was in charge of accounts and general running of the household, a butler was more commonly engaged by the wealthy. He was usually a grand, authoritarian figure, commanding respect and awe and most of the servants would have been scared to death of upsetting him! He was dressed like a gentleman of the period and generally ran the household with an...

Calendar Girls and Front Covers #7

...place for period dramas although we had quite a few dramas of our own in time! Anyway, it was an interesting experience and something we’d never seen before. On another occasion someone hired the Hall for a ‘Gentleman’s Evening’ – well, you can imagine what that entailed! Obviously we children weren’t around for this but I understand there were ladies who provocatively removed their clothes (!), an entertainer, a singer and a bar – I’m sure a good time was had by all, if that’s what floats your boat! The Staffordshire Building Society also featured the Hall on one of their calendars – we were the January picture and it showed the driveway a...

What the Butler Saw! #37

...Anyone who’s seen Downton Abbey will remember Carter the butler. He is exactly how a butler would have been in the 19th century and, strangely enough, the butler at Hoar Cross Hall during the early part of the 20th century was also called Carter! Although most big houses had a house steward who was in charge of accounts and general running of the household, a butler was more commonly engaged by the wealthy. He was usually a grand, authoritarian figure, commanding respect and awe and most of the servants would have been scared to death of upsetting him! He was dressed like a gentleman of the period and generally ran the household with an iron fist. As I said,...

Calendar Girls and Front Covers #7

...place for period dramas although we had quite a few dramas of our own in time! Anyway, it was an interesting experience and something we’d never seen before. Mum with one of the models (with us at attic window!)   On another occasion someone hired the Hall for a ‘Gentleman’s Evening’ – well, you can imagine what that entailed! Obviously we children weren’t around for this but I understand there were entertainers of the female variety, a singer and a bar – I’m sure a good time was had by all, if that’s what floats your boat! The Staffordshire Building Society also featured the Hall on one of their calendars – we were the January pictu...

Meet the Neighbours - Sudbury Hall #79

...Continuing the series on neighbouring houses to Hoar Cross Hall, let me introduce you to Sudbury Hall, which is about 7 miles away and on the border of Staffordshire and Derbyshire.  The manor of Sudbury was listed in the Doomsday Book following the Norman Conquest in 1086, so a lot older than the Hall, and is a Grade I listed building.  The Vernon family came to Sudbury after a 16th century marriage between Sir John Vernon, from Haddon Hall in Derbyshire, and the Sudbury heiress, Ellen Montgomery.  It seems the Vernon family have stayed in the Hall for generations right up until the 20th century when the 10th Baron Vernon transferred the Hall and its princip...