Scullery maid Joan Hall is the little girl standing on the left in front of her father. Courtesy National Trust
An exciting new oral history project is underway at the National Trust’s Blickling Hall in Norfolk, aimed at helping visitors better understand the daily running of the Jacobean house and the lives of those that worked there during the 1930s.
Promoted to coincide with National Storytelling Week (Jan 26 – Feb 2 2008), the ‘Voices’ project is a collection of anecdotes told by those involved in the history of the hall in the period leading up to the Second World War.
The stories, gathered from across the world, are at times funny, at times heart-wrenching, and bring a sense of realism to the servants’ quarters and service rooms, which will be redisplayed in their pre-war glory over the next few months.
Some of the stories were gathered at a special tea party at the hall in October 2007 which relived the time the visitors spent as house staff of the impressive building.
Among the stories gathered are what are thought to be the earliest working memories of the hall. They include those of cook Flo Wadlow, now 95, who served grand dinners on the estate under Lord Lothian and the sad story of Joan Hall, aged 90, who worked there for a short period as a scullery maid in 1932, at the tender age of 14.
“I was overworked and used to go home and cry” Joan remembered. On the occasion she managed to get her mother to come and see her at work: “She took one look and said: ‘Come on home, this is the finish, you’re not staying here”.
Many other people have come forward with their memories of working or dining at the Hall, including some with memories of the ‘Masque of Ann Boleyn’ pageant, held at the hall in 1938.
Bill Cox posing with his violin. Courtesy National Trust
A charming anecdote recalled by Cheryl Parkes, whose father Bill Cox played violin at the masque, tells of how after the ball he found himself being thanked by the Marquess of Lothian.
“The Marquess asked him if there was anything he wanted as a thank you,” Mrs Parkes explained “and, as a joke, he pointed to the grand piano. The Marquess replied, ‘We’ll have to see what we can do’, but my father thought no more of it. A few weeks later a three-quarter grand turned up at his house and it is still in the family today”.
The project has heard stories about working and post war squatting at the nearby RAF base, about the first television at Blickling and about film star Margaret Lockwood’s dog, and even the odd ghost story. In total more than 60 people with experiences in and around Blickling have been in contact and future contributions are welcome.
Anyone with more stories or interest in the ongoing project can contact Bob Carter on 01263 738 077 or email him at bob.carter@nationaltrust.org.uk
