Story Search Results

Ghouls Galore #18

...of ghost hunting by candlelight, so we dared them to try it! Well, they certainly found them! They all sat around in a circle on the bare wooden floors and joined hands; the candle was placed in the middle of the circle creating an eerie glow and making shadows dance in the corners. The more experienced people did a bit of chanting and then they all waited to see what happened. We carried on partying downstairs turning the music up loud – to be honest, I didn’t really want to know what was going on in the attic, that whole part of the building terrified me!   The haunted attics   After about 30 minutes we ventured up the spiral staircase a little...

What the Butler Saw! #37

...othes and hunting gear. In the absence of a footman, he would also answer the door – sounds like he was a very busy man! Let’s hope that someone didn’t come calling at lunchtime while he was helping his master get changed into yet another outfit! Something else large houses usually had in those days was a letter bag - used for receiving and dispatching letters – the butler would have the key to this bag and be responsible for distributing the mail. Can you imagine the excitement amongst the staff as the postman cycled up the long drive bringing the mail – and then having to wait until later on to see if there was a letter for them! Most servants would...

The life and times of an upper class family #42

...ich was a hunting lodge near to where they were later to build Hoar Cross Hall. Tragically, after moving into the Hall, which took nine years to build, Hugo died from injuries sustained in a riding accident some fourteen months earlier which had left him bed-ridden. Upon her husband's death, Emily's brother, the Hon. Frederick George Lindley Wood, moved from Hickleton and came to live with her. He was a huge help with managing all the estates that Emily had inherited on Hugo's death. He also became her 'reader' as Emily had poor eyesight and couldn't read or write for more than a few minutes.   Hickleton House,  Emily's childhood home    In 1878 Fred...

Ghouls Galore! #18

...of ghost hunting by candlelight, so we dared them to try it! Well, they certainly found them! They all sat around in a circle on the bare wooden floors and joined hands; the candle was placed in the middle of the circle creating an eerie glow and making shadows dance in the corners. The more experienced people did a bit of chanting and then they all waited to see what happened. We carried on partying downstairs turning the music up loud – to be honest, I didn’t really want to know what was going on in the attic, that whole part of the building terrified me! The attic roof where banging was heard   After about 30 minutes we ventured up the spiral sta...

The life and times of an upper class family #44

...ich was a hunting lodge near to where they were later to build Hoar Cross Hall. Tragically, after moving into the Hall, which took nine years to build, Hugo died from injuries sustained in a riding accident some fourteen months earlier which had left him bed-ridden. Upon her husband's death, Emily's brother, the Hon. Frederick George Lindley Wood, moved from Hickleton and came to live with her. He was a huge help with managing all the estates that Emily had inherited on Hugo's death. He also became her 'reader' as Emily had poor eyesight and couldn't read or write for more than a few minutes. Old Hall, built around a courtyard   In 1878 Frederick married...

Meet the Neighbours - Sudbury Hall #79

...ept their hunting hounds here in Grade II listed kennels which were built specially for them in 1873, and here they resided in their up-market residence until about a year ago when the hunt was disbanded. So there is quite a connection between Hoar Cross and Sudbury going back years!  But going back to the house, it is the 17th century craftsmanship that really shines through and it is considered to be one of the most richly decorated houses of the period.  The ornate Great Staircase and Long Gallery are beautifully carved and were built to impress and it certainly is an amazing piece of craftsmanship.  More recently the staircase has been renovated and repai...