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Gardeners World at Hoar Cross #43

...er and an electrician. They looked after the maintenance of the house and workers’ cottages, and the tenanted properties. The carp pond in front of the greenhouses   If the butler was an important figure inside the house, the head gardener had as much authority outside. Even the mistress from the house was unable to enter the nursery garden without his permission, and to help herself to his produce would have been unthinkable. Only the head gardener had the key and the door was always kept locked outside working hours! Around Christmas time, all the local trades’ people who supplied the house, were invited to a party held for them in the Long Galler...

NEW YEAR JINKS #26

...a trained electrician) told him they were unsafe and he would be willing to go to the next village to buy some new ones.  But my dad wouldn’t have it and he certainly wouldn’t spend the few pounds required, so they were botched up much to Kev’s disgust and hung on the tree. As we went to switch the lights on just before people arrived, they blew the main fuse in the fuse box.  My mum had locked the cupboard that contained the fuse boxes because she kept all the bar stock in there and as she had gone away for new year there was no way of getting the key.  My dad was furious and asked Kev to break into the cupboard.  Once again we were ‘breaking and e...

Gardeners' World at Hoar Cross

...er and an electrician.  They looked after the maintenance of the house and workers’ cottages, and the tenanted properties. If the butler was an important figure inside the house, the head gardener had much authority outside.  Even the mistress from the house was unable to enter the nursery garden without his permission, and to help herself to his produce would have been unthinkable.  Only the head gardener had the key and the door was always kept locked outside working hours! Around Christmas time, all the local trades’ people who supplied the house, were invited to a party held for them in the Long Gallery.  They were restricted to this area only when...

New Year jinks! #11

...a trained electrician) told him they were unsafe and he would be willing to go to the next village to buy some new ones.  But my dad wouldn’t have it and he certainly wouldn’t spend the few pounds required, so they were botched up much to Kev’s disgust and hung on the tree. As we went to switch the lights on just before people arrived, they blew the main fuse in the fuse box.  My mum had locked the cupboard that contained the fuse boxes because she kept all the bar stock in there and as she had gone away for new year there was no way of getting the key.  My dad was furious and asked Kev to break into the cupboard.  Once again we were ‘breaking and e...

Hoar Cross Hall - Life below stairs #20

...er and an electrician.  They looked after the Hall and the workers’ cottages and all tenanted properties.  The head gardener had a lot of authority outside the house and even the mistress would have to seek his permission first before entering the nursery gardens! Around Christmas time, all the staff and local trades’ people who supplied the house, were invited to a party held in the Long Gallery.  However, they were only allowed to stay in this area, although they may have had a peep though the huge double doors into the drawing room.  When Hugo Meynell married in 1936 a large reception was held for all the cottagers, tenants and staff.  This was an e...

A New Year Calamity!

...a trained electrician) told him they were unsafe and he would be willing to go to the next village to buy some new ones.  But my dad wouldn’t have it and he certainly wouldn’t spend the few pounds required, so they were botched up much to Kev’s disgust and hung on the tree. As we went to switch the lights on just before people arrived, they blew the main fuse in the fuse box.  My mum had locked the cupboard that contained the fuse boxes because she kept all the bar stock in there and as she had gone away for new year there was no way of getting the key.  My dad was furious and asked Kev to break into the cupboard.  Once again we were ‘breaking and e...