The Land Agent & House Steward
Houses and estates the size of Calke needed a lot of managing by someone with skills way beyond that of the owners. The
Read moreHouses and estates the size of Calke needed a lot of managing by someone with skills way beyond that of the owners. The
Read moreNorman Monahan’s work on the Ticknall water supply articles was going fine until it emerged that there were some important facts that needed
Read moreUp until the early years of the 20th Century, the only way to travel for an upper middle class or upper-class family was
Read moreGamekeepers have been needed ever since hunting for sport became popular. To begin with, it was all about poaching. For example, Henry VIII
Read moreThe Housemaid was ‘a foot soldier in the Victorian household’s constant war against grime.’[1] It tended to be a tough physical job more
Read moreTicknall’s name was derived from its landscape setting and land use. The first syllable ‘tic’ reflects the pastoral economy of the time showing
Read moreThe Stillroom in a large country house gets its name from its original use as a place where medicines and scents were distilled.[1]
Read moreThe peacocks among domestics, footmen were blatantly employed for their good looks and suave manners. It even went so far as you received
Read moreSt Wystan’s parish church in Repton is a great survivor. Having seen the destruction of the monastery in the Viking raid of 873/4
Read moreReaders who are still puzzled by the implications of Covid-19 PCR test false-positives after reading my recent post Covid Kidology might like to
Read moreThe mistress of any large, wealthy household needed to maintain an immaculate appearance and she needed help to do this.[1] For a start,
Read moreIn the Ticknall Life newsletter sent last weekend to registered users and subscribers, I glibly questioned the validity of the argument leading to
Read moreThe Governess was almost always a well-educated, middle-class young lady. I would stick my neck out here and say that almost no middle-class
Read moreIf the Butler was the outward sign of a house organised and well run, the Housekeeper was the engine who kept everything running.
Read moreThere was so much to look forward to in the gardening calendar which has been swept away by a cruel pandemic. While our
Read moreBecoming a Butler was the pinnacle of a man’s career in service. Generally, it was the highest-paid role (although Calke demonstrates that was
Read moreIn Victorian times, if you chose a life of service you accepted a regular wage, hard work, and a place within a strict
Read moreAfter a very brief period as a primary school teacher, Barbara Bagley went back to her true passion, to paint full time. She
Read moreNew Covid-19 cases in South Derbyshire According to the Govt. website, it’s twenty-three new cases today (Tuesday). The chart below shows cases by
Read moreFollowing a meeting of our trustees today we have taken the step to close the Village Hall in line with advice given by
Read moreThere was a packed audience in Ticknall Village Hall on March 10th when Steve Hickman came to talk about The World of Agapanthus.
Read moreIt will come as no surprise to you to hear that Ticknall Garden Club is suspending all its activities for the next three
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