Kentwell Christmas Wonderland 2009

Book tickets online

Victorians & Christmas

The Victorians invented the 'traditional' Christmas we recognize today.   Prince Albert introduced Christmas Trees and their decoration and Christmas as a major Festival. Other Victorians gave us Christmas Cards, Christmas Crackers and many of our best known Carols.  Prior to that Christmas was quite a minor festival. Indeed the Puritans had tried to abolish it altogether.

A Kentwell Victorian Christmas 2009

The Weather

People sometimes think that it always snowed at Christmas in Victorian England.  That's as may be.  It certainly did for the 5 days of Kentwell's Victorian Christmas which contributed to an over all magical effect.  It is doubtful; if we shall be able to organize this in any future years.

Christmas decorations

We have always decorated the Hall for Christmas with a tall Christmas tree dominating the Great Hall and other decorations all of greenery.   For 2009 we took our decorations that little bit further doing things the Victorians did and very fine it all looked.

The Victorian Household Re-Created

We portrayed Christmas as of the year 1869.  The family at the Hall at this time were Captain and Mrs Starkie Bence.   In 1869 he and his wife had a young family of four daughters and at last the longed for son and heir all of whom visitors could meet. Daughters always stayed at home then to be taught by a governess or tutor.  Boys were sent away to school but young Edward is on his holidays. The family maintained a small permanent staff of Butler, Housekeeper, Cooks and Maids all of whom were also represented.

Visitors saw how Victorians lived and what they did (and ate) f or Christmas. In those days families made their own entertainment.  There was music in the Great Hall and quiet conversation in the Parlour.  While the Gentlemen took their leisure in the Gentlemen's Rooms of the Library & Billiard Room - rooms which ladies never entered.

Charles Dickens - A Christmas Carol

Charles Dickens's heartwarming tale and his readings of it may have been the catalyst to create the modern Christmas.  As well as writing his novels and stories (many of which were serialised in newspapers and magazines), Dickens gave public readings of his works, especially of A Christmas Carol. Kentwell presented its own Mr Dickens reading an abridgement of that tale against tableaux using clever Victorian illusions to bring the story to life and to confound viewers.

The Bakehouse

Kentwell's ancient Bakehouse is a wonderfully atmospheric space where bakers have been baking for centuries.  Here the Victorian Baker & Baxter made mince pies and gingerbread men and other items in the old faggot oven and children were able to take home samples of what they had made.

Making Christmas Items

In Victorian times, although it became possible to buy many Christmas items most families made what they needed themselves.    Under skilled guidance visitors were able to make a whole range of traditional and simple Christmas items that they could hang on their own tree.

The Animals

Animals form an important element of the Christian Christmas story with the nativity story of Jesus being born in a manger as its centrepiece.  We showed oxen and asses in the  Stables for children to imagine how the original Nativity scene might have been.

Father Christmas

Nowadays people think that Father Christmas and Santa Claus are one and the same. Not so; they are two different characters which have now become mixed up into one - Father Christmas being an ancient English character. Santa Claus, a rendering of Saint Nicholas, was the continental, particularly Dutch, version. Children were able to visit our genuine Finnish Father Christmas in his grotto to tell him their desires and receive a present.

What the Ticket Covers

Apart from price differential for adults and children, there are essentially two types of Ticket: with or without activities.  The difference being whether or not Visitors wish to take part in the Activities. 

Daytime Tickets with Activities

These Tickets will enable visitors to see everything on offer including Father Christmas (it will not be possible for a child to see Father Christmas unaccompanied by a parent or similar); to take part in up to 5 different Making Activities (which can be selected on the day after visiting the Making Activities) up to a value of £5.00 some Activities will have a value of £2, some of £1.50 and some of £1.00; and to take part in the Bakehouse baking processes (though it will be possible to visit the Bakehouse without taking part in the baking processes); and to see Mr Dickens's Performance.

Daytime Tickets without Activities  

Visitors will be able to see everything (except Father Christmas) but will not be able to participate in any Making Activities or the Baking Processes.

Opening Hours

Opening commences at 10.00am and closes at 5pm except the Bakehouse which will close at 4.00pm. 

Booking Entry Times

You book for admission to enter during a given hour of a given day. This is to control numbers.  After entry you may stay as long as you choose within the Opening Hours. On arrival you will receive a ticket. This will admit you and your child(ren) to one performance reading of A Christmas Carol at the time stated on the ticket.  Also if your ticket is a Ticket with Activities in addition to one visit to Father Christmas at the time stated on the ticket;and to one session of Baking Processes and to up to Five Making Activities.  If you miss your allocated times for A Christmas Carol and to see Father Christmas you may lose your opportunity to see these two happenings.

Making Activities

There will be a whole range of different items to make.  You may make your choice having viewed the options.

Additional Craft Making Packs  

Craft making packs will be available for purchase so that you may make more items at home. 

Length of Visit

Your visit during the day might well last a few hours.

Refreshments

Your ticket will also entitle you and your child to complimentary Hot drink & Biscuits in the Overcroft where the making Activities will be sited. You may also purchase other Refreshments in the Undercroft Tearoom.

Tickets

The number of Tickets available during each hour will be limited to avoid crowding.

Older & Younger Children

An older child is aged 5 to 15; a younger child is 12 months to 4; there is no charge for babes under 12 months.

Prices

The Prices stated below are the on-the-day pay-at-the-Gate prices (if tickets are available then which is not guaranteed).  Buy now on-line (below) or by telephone to the Kentwell Office in advance at discounts off these prices. These discounts may vary from time to time.

When you make a selection to book on-line for a particular time or day the response may be 'Not available'. Please then try another time or day.  Certain days and times may only be released later.