The Dickleburgh Hall Cat

We are fortunate to know and be related to John and Beryl (on Jayne's Mum's side) who have lived in Dickleburgh Hall for more than 30 years. During that time they have done a fantastic job of not only maintaining it but also restoring many features within the Hall. It hasn't always been an easy task dealing with local planners etc who's knowledge isn't always in depth enough to encompass ancient building techniques and styles.

We have had a lovely weekend there and took Jayne's Mum, Lauren and Tom along too. Lauren was so small the last time she went that it all seemed new to her again and it Was Tom's first visit. Johnny and Beryl are fantastic hosts and have succeeded again in getting me drunk enough to 'do' karaoke. Oh, the shame :-(

It's a blip goldmine there too but for today I chose to the Dickleburgh Hall Cat. The story, or as much as is known about the cat, is that in Tudor times a cat would often be plastered into a wall in the house to ensure good luck for the inhabitants. Obviously not such good luck for the cat. During restoration work the cat was uncovered and, being a none too wholesome find, was dispatched out of the house. Long story short, a spate of possibly unrelated bad luck ensued.

The cat, which has somehow lost a leg during its trials and tribulations, was dutifully reinstated (now in it's very own posh case) where it can preside over, not only the proceedings in the Minstrel's Gallery but also over the fortunes of the residents of the Hall.