EARSHAM HALL MEMORY REVIVAL 2013

“A glorious day in every way”

Earsham Hall School Cap Picture courtesy of Tiffany Derham

The Second Earsham Hall Memory Revival Day held on 7 September 2013 was such a great success, that Annabel Stretton-Derham, who lives at the Hall and organised it, is thinking about hosting one every other year (the first one was held 7 years ago)!

As before, people linked with the Hall came forward (many having heard about the idea through the support of the local press and radio) with their Memories linked with this fascinating stately home on the Norfolk/Suffolk border near Bungay.  Served a delicious Afternoon Tea (a speciality from Earsham Hall Tearoom) the guests mingled amongst the displays of the history of Earsham Hall and the accounts and pictures of those associated with its past when it was a family home and a Boys School. Earsham Hall School in 1971

There were many new stories that were told and recorded on the day to add to the ever growing archive.  Walter Weavers came with his family and at the age of 92, his incredible memory recounted stories from 1940 and 1941 as if it were yesterday.

He was known as Freddie the Footman and recalled the happy times when the Welsh Cook Ms Rogers went to the Chapel in Bungay on Sunday night.  As soon as she left the Hall, “Freddie” and his friends set up the gramophone in the kitchen to have their own servants’ dance, teaching the young girls the waltz and quick step!  With the new series of Downton Abbey starting soon on the television, this picture of fun “downstairs” is easily imaginable and Annabel says “it makes living in the kitchen in 2013 full of the faint sound of the music played nearly 75 years ago”!

Guests remembering the past with Rupert Derham – Picture courtesy of Tiffany Derham

Music features a lot in the memories of the people linked with Earsham Hall.  A wonderful image is that of the American base on the Estate during the Second World War, located just a few hundred metres from the main House.  Working with the munitions that were going to the local airfields such as Seething and Hardwick, the American servicemen made a big impact on the local community and the sound of Glen Miller being played from the speakers around the base can be remembered clearly by those who visited the Hall.  The female evacuees had to be moved out of the Hall to the village to “protect” them from getting involved with any of the young American men!!

Many of the guests commented how lovely it was to be in the Hall again and how pleased they were to see how the projects taken on by Rupert and Annabel to develop the building further and improve its general appearance, were taking shape.  A new sweeping drive was aimed at being ready to welcome the guests, but the sudden rain meant that that its completion was slightly postponed – but it has been delighting those who regularly visit the Hall by taking out the sleeping policemen that could be a hazard to low cars!!

Freddie the Footman also recalled how Mr Crompton the butler would use the heat left in the oven at the end of the day.  He would put a brick into it and when it was warmed sufficiently he would put it quickly into a bag and whisk it up to his bed to keep his toes warm!!  Annabel and Rupert are delighted this year, that with the introduction of a new Bio-Mass Heating system, not only are they able to heat the Hall for guests, but it means they will not need to continue with the extreme measures used previously to keep warm during the winter months!

The wealth of new information from the Memory Revival Day has been added to the archive and has meant that the Historical Tours of the Hall, many of which come under the Scheme of Invitation to View (www.invitationtoview.co.uk) and some privately arranged, can be extended.  The aim is that Annabel will be able to show guests more rooms in the Hall and give them an even better idea of what it was like to live in such an unusual building in the past and add the up-to-date reality of what it is like to live and work there in 2013.  Annabel add “I love sharing the Hall and its History with visitors and would like to thank all of the wonderful guests who came to the Memory Revival Day and have added their memoires – it means that I have even more to share with all those who book a Tour”.

If you would like any further information about anything in this article, please contact Earsham Hall on 01986 893868 and via the websites www.earshamhall.co.uk,  www.earshamhallevents.co.uk  and www.hallcatering.co.uk (for the Tearoom)

 

 

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