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<\/p>\nJust 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.<\/p>\n
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The main house was tastefully decorated with trees in pots and an attractive wreath. Strings of lights led us there.<\/p>\n
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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.<\/p>\n
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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.<\/p>\n
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Down in the basement the kitchen was set out with preparations for Christmas foods. Mince pies and Christmas pudding.<\/p>\n
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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.<\/p>\n
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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.<\/p>\n
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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.<\/p>\n
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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!<\/p>\n
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Dessert was waiting on a side table. Unfortunately not real.<\/p>\n
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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.<\/p>\n
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In one of the other downstairs rooms is this impressive doll’s house dating from around 1740.<\/p>\n
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It was quite dark in this room, so apologies for the poor quality photos!<\/p>\n
Can you spot the little Christmas touches they have added to the rooms?<\/p>\n
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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.<\/p>\n
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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.<\/p>\n
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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.<\/p>\n
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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…<\/p>\n