Overview

AS THIS IS SUCH A DELIGHTFUL HOTEL, WE ARE GIVING YOU THREE REVIEWS This is really an interesting historical hotel, well worth disabled visiting, once you have been taken up the outside ramp and along and into the hotels disabled entrance (SEE PHOTO’S) it’s reasonably easy to get around, lovely old rooms to look at, fantastic gardens, very friendly staff who care about their hotel, and right away, we recommend this hotel to you. HISTORY (PART ONE, up to 1871 ) It has many interesting and fascinating historical facts and events from its time periods, the land first of all was part of Needwood Forest, and passed on over the years for over 500 years until it came into the hands of the Webb family around 1730’s who bought the land and a house known as The Manor of the Cross. When a house was first built here it was a large house, built for the wealthy Welles family, and at that time it had a moat and draw bridge, but during the 1600 hundreds what was still standing became a second home to the Ingram family from Temple Newsam in Yorkshire By the early 1700’s it was occupied by a widow, Mary Ann Howard, but by 1740 much of the house had been demolished, and later the estate was bought by the Hon. Charles Talbot for £17.000, then eventually it was sold to the wealthy family of Hugo Meynell. In 1782, Hugo married Elizabeth Ingram Shepheard, who was the daughter of Charles Ingram, and they had 6 children, and through this marriage the Meynell family inherited the Ingram estates in Lincolnshire. In 1793, Hugo bought the Hoar Cross estate, and built a house which he named Old Hall, it was about 1/2 mile away from where Hoar Cross Hall would later be built. It was the tradition in those days to name a son after their father, and so their oldest son was also named Hugo Charles, who married Georgiana Pigou in 1819, and they too named their first son, Hugo Francis, who married Emily Charlotte in 1863, and this Hugo, along with his wife Emily built Hoar Cross Hall as their family home. As guests arrived they would enter the estate through an archway which had a lodge on one side, and a gatehouse on the other (photo 1) and then drove along the driveway which led to the house (photo 2). They built it in the impressive style we see today of a Jacobean design, with lofty gables, 48 tall chimneys, mullioned windows, ( See photo 3) and even built two weather vanes with Initials M and I on them, (Meynell and Ingram) and these two symbols you can find in other various items as you wander around this beautiful House. To add appeal to the front of the house, a lawn was laid, (photo 4) and this was well looked after, as guest admired the grounds as they approached the impressive entrance for the hotel (photo 5). Todays reception desk (photo 10 ) leads you into the “Long Gallery” and what is now the Bar lounge (photo 11) which has been converted into a beautiful lounge where a side door (photo 12) takes you into the magnificent “Drawing room” (photo 13) This is a beautiful room, built in an Elizabethian style, with wood panelling and what is called a Wedding cake ceiling. It has two mantelpieces of veined Sienna Marble, which are the original 18th century carved wooden mantelpiece with classical figures and floral designs while the fireplace (photo 14) was brought here from Italy by Emily Meynell. This is a delightful room where you can also enjoy a wonderful Afternoon Tea while you gaze and admire this lovely Drawing room (photo 15). Hugo and Elizabeth Meynell moved into parts of the house long before it was completed, as it took 10 years to build, but Hugo suffered a horse riding accident which caused complications, and he became bed-ridden, while the house then was completed in 1871, but sadly, he died shortly afterwards in May 1871. If you are staying here, you have made a good decision and will enjoy the hotel, it is spotlessly clean throughout, very interesting to wander around, and you even have a Small lift available (photo 19) to get you up to your chosen room (photo 20). NOW PLEASE READ THE OTHER TWO REVIEWS, AS WE CONTINUE WITH THE HISTORY OF THIS FASCINATING HOUSE.

Transport & Parking

It is a nice drive to get to the hotel, intriguing approach, and you can park up in disabled bays right by the hotels entrance, and it’s ramp that is needed to get you into hotel. (SEE PHOTOS 6 to 9)

Access

We sadly found it difficult to get into hotel, after parking really close to hotels entrance, (photo 6) the front steps are far to steep to get up, so it means using the ramp that is situated close by, (see photo 7) but then it was a hard push to get up the slope, and do turn left at the top of first slope, as it’s not signed where to go then, so follow our (photo 8) and turn left, do not go up the rest of the ramp. Follow it round the corner and you will come to big door, with a notice and a bell (photo 9) Staff will come quite quickly to let you in and will show you to reception.

Toilets

It’s quite a way from reception along a passage to reach the disabled toilet (photo 16) and you will find its door just slightly wider than normal (photo 17) but inside it is Just a small room, beautifully tiled, with modern facilities, and grab rail. You may not get a chair in there though.

Staff

We found all the staff on be very kind and helpful, willing to go out of their way to help us. Thank you to them all.

Photos