Just before Christmas I dropped into Uppark House, a National Trust property in West Sussex. Many of these historic buildings are now opening, on a limited basis, during the Christmas and New Year period, dressing a few rooms with seasonal decorations and offering various family-orientated activities. Each property had chosen a different theme and Uppark had chosen to create a late Victorian Christmas, with the emphasis on the bustle of activity in Servants’ Quarters as they prepare for the celebrations.
The main house was tastefully decorated with trees in pots and an attractive wreath. Strings of lights led us there.
The Servant’s Hall was dressed for a party, with a real Christmas tree, decorated with tiny hand-folded paper dresses and baubles dressed with lace trim and ribbons.
In this room one of the Volunteers was asking visitors to guess what the servants would have used these objects for. Can you guess? I got most of them right, but honestly, I have been selling antiques for so long that I would have been very disappointed with myself if I didn’t know the answers! Anyone stuck? Answers at the bottom of the page.
Down in the basement the kitchen was set out with preparations for Christmas foods. Mince pies and Christmas pudding.
It’s traditional to make a wish when you stir a Christmas pudding. Many visitors were having a go. Although I am not sure I would fancy eating this particular pudding after everyone had been playing with it. Particularly some of the children who looked liked they wanted to dive right into it.
Much better to make your own. They kindly provided a recipe. I actually made my own pudding this year, and my recipe wasn’t much different. I didn’t think to add a carrot, although I did have some at home.
The range hadn’t been lit, so I am not certain how they intended to bake these mince pies. I liked the hand knitted tea cosy, that resembles a Christmas pudding. This traditional style of teapot is called a Brown Betty. I have had one of these pots for many years at home.
Upstairs a formal dinner was being held in the dining room. A company called Delicarta had been commissioned to make life-sized paper mannequins dressed in period costume. They were uplit, but not quite as strongly as my photographs might suggest!
Dessert was waiting on a side table. Unfortunately not real.
Back downstairs the scullery maid has been left with a huge pile of washing up, whilst the boot boy is also fully occupied polishing away.
In one of the other downstairs rooms is this impressive doll’s house dating from around 1740.
It was quite dark in this room, so apologies for the poor quality photos!
Can you spot the little Christmas touches they have added to the rooms?
I think I would have enjoyed this house more if I had not just finished reading ‘The Miniaturist’ novel by Jessie Burton. That made it all feel a bit too creepy.
Normally the grounds would be full of people walking and enjoying the views. But on this damp, grey December day that activity didn’t seem quite as appealing.
The items that the servants would use- from left to right: a candle snipper, glove stretcher, shoe horn, salt spoon, button hook, a device that you slip behind metal buttons on a jacket in order to be able to polish them without dirtying the material of the coat, a nutmeg grater, glove and candlestick.