Shugborough Hall (For Gerry)

We visited Shugborough, ancestral home of the Earls of Lichfield, on our way back from Stoke - 2 weeks ago...

Sime had wanted to visit the estate & surrounding area for a long time.

His Grandmother, Hilda Rhodes was originally Companion Housekeeper to Lady Anson, Patrick Lichfield's Grandmother from the mid 1950's. She eventually went on to be the Housekeeper for the Earl himself, up until she retired in the late 1970's.

Sime spent every Sunday visiting Hilda & her second Husband, Joe - who was Caretaker of the Hall & grounds. He has very many fond memories of his Nan & also of meeting the Earl & his Grandmother.

He chose to approach the grounds from the village of Great Haywood, as it was a regular walk that he would take with his Nan & he wanted to see if it remained the same as it was 40 years ago...

Amazingly - it was!

This little street in Great Haywood remains unchanged...

The pedestrian route through the bridge...

The canal lock.

Moored barges.

The Essex Bridge leads to the estate...

This could be the 1960's all over again...

The approach to the Essex Gate...

There is a payment kiosk on entering the grounds & once Sime mentioned to the staff member about his connection to Shugborough - we were given free entry & all the staff were very interested in his memories of the Hall in the 60's & 70's.

All day long he was approached to chat about his visits as a child & the museum curator linked to Shugborough was desperate to talk to him. 

After speaking to her at the end of the day, he has with the help from his Dad agreed to correspond with a historian in order to fill in any blanks from that period. 

While we were there, the curator uncovered from the archives, some information about Hilda & Joe donating various things to the museum.

In the grounds - The Doric Temple.

Approaching the Hall...

Almost there...

This was Hilda & Joe's apartment on the top floor...

Exterior entrance to the Earl's private apartments...

Former stable buildings.

View from the top of Hall steps...

The red drawing room...

He can't remember this room's name...

Admiral Lord Anson's Ship - The Centurion.

The Library where Sime's Dad was an Attendant.

The Royal  Apartment, Queen Victoria stayed here...

Patrick Lichfield's newly opened private apartment...

The Breakfast Room...

And the view from there...

Sitting Room.

View from the rear of the Hall...

With it's topiary - exactly as Sime remembers it...

Exit/Entrance to the private apartment...

The front door to Hilda's apartment...

The Courtyard...

Formerly the cafe & now the museum kitchen...

The other side of the kitchen...

The Family Silver...

The Laundry.

The Brew House.

We had a great day !

 It was fantastic seeing all of the Hall & grounds again, in fact very emotional for Sime & fascinating for me to be able to put pictures to Sime's stories...

We will go back again one day & it's exciting that the Shugborough people are interested in what Sime had to say!

Bye for now.

Kay & Sime xx