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The Archers Quiz

Lower Loxley 鈥� A brief history of an Archers landmark

Standing proudly to the east of Ambridge lies Lower Loxley Hall, home to the Pargetter family for over four centuries.

Set apart from the day-to-day comings and goings of village life, the Pargetter pile has nevertheless had its share of drama, tragic and comic, over the years. Nigel Pargetter was heir to the family home and all its chattels when his father Gerald died in the late 1980s, and he set about bringing it up to date in some style.

Along with the house Nigel inherited a lovable eccentricity from his flamboyant mother Julia: he once turned up to woo his future wife Elizabeth in a gorilla suit, and he was always very much the party animal. However, he managed to harness his exuberance to ensure Lower Loxley paid its way. In 1989 the house and grounds opened to the public, its quirky attractions proving popular enough to sustain visitor numbers to this day.

But tragedy was to strike out of nowhere when in 2011 Nigel fell from the roof of his beloved home, dying instantly.

His widow Elizabeth unflinchingly took the reins, channelling her grief into developing the business and continuing to raise their twins, Lily and Freddie, alone. It’s been a hard road. Elizabeth has weathered a bout of depression followed by counselling, a son going off the rails and being imprisoned for dealing drugs, and a daughter dropping out of university to be with a man considerably older than her. These days Lower Loxley is getting back on its feet, and Elizabeth is feeling better. She’s more than ready for the next phase of her life, whatever that has in store.

Find out if you know your Lower Loxley from your Little Croxley as Freddie guides you through his fun, quick quiz.

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