A Week on the Estate: Myra’s Memories, Talking Turkey & Pasture Pressie
As the days dwindle towards the solstice, winter is beginning to show its teeth. At the time of writing, we’re due a few blue-sky days with highs of 0C and lows of -3C. Over the coming week, temperatures will stay in the range 5C to -4C with the chance of rain and sleet for many of us and snow on higher ground. Wrap up warm!
Given the weather, we welcomed these warm, summery memories of South Ormsby Hall, courtesy of one of our valued reader and tour guest, Myra Marsh.
MYRA
“I was born in Louth in 1957,” said Myra. “My dad was Leslie Plumtree and his sister, Winifred Holmes, was Housekeeper at South Ormsby Hall. She lived at the Hall in what is currently Clint Coughlan’s flat.
“Before that, my aunt lived at Calceby. When her husband died in 1954, she started looking for a job. She ended up working for the Squire, Adrian Massingberd-Mundy, at the Hall. I think she enjoyed it and had a good relationship with the Squire. She stayed for 23 years, from 1956 to 1979.
“My maternal cousin, John Barker, was the Estate gamekeeper and used to live next door to the current Housekeeper, Jacqui Rhodes. Everyone knows everyone else around here!
“We used to go to the Hall for a week in the summer to stay with my aunt. I started going at the age of four. Later on, I went with my sister, Kay, who’s five-years younger than me. We stayed in my aunt’s flat and I found it spooky at first. The bathroom and toilet were downstairs from the flat, close to where the Squire kept his dog food. I was a bit nervous about bumping into him.
“We would have breakfast in the Hall kitchen. The Squire sometimes took tea in there and we were told to be quiet. After the Squire had finished his breakfast, my aunt would clear the things away and tidy. If the Squire was out, we’d go and watch her at work.
“Later, we’d play ‘shop’ in the New Room – it was always called that though it’s probably 300-years old – and my aunt would save packaging for us to use. Once, Mr Rose’s grandson was doing a bit of gardening and we got to play on his tractor and trailer. Sometimes we’d go for afternoon walks. We walked once from the Hall to Tetford to see my aunt’s friend.
“I found a photo from that time. It shows me and my sister, Kay, in the Hall’s garden in 1967. I’m on the left, Kay’s on the right. The white dog belonged to Miss Anne but I can’t remember its name. My aunt used to look after it when Miss Anne was away.
“We weren’t allowed to go near the stable doors in the courtyard. The left-hand side of the old stable block housed horses back then. The Squire was passionate about horses and employed local men to look after them. Mr Chester, a neighbour of my cousin, worked there with Roger and Nigel.
