A Georgian Christmas at Petworth House

About

Petworth House invites you to step back in time to the 19th century and celebrate Christmas with the 3rd Earl of Egremont and his new wife Elizabeth Ilive.

Bringing the outdoors in, visitors to Petworth House can see selected state rooms opulently dressed for a party, and decorated with lashings of garlands, kissing boughs, and mountains of mistletoe and greenery from the Petworth estate.

The experience is brought to life with a personal welcome from one of the servants as you enter Petworth House and make your way through the state rooms to meet the hosts, George O’Brien Wyndham and his wife Elizabeth Ilive.

During the immersive experience, discover an elaborately dressed dining table laid for a banquet.  Dotted with show-stopping centrepieces of foliage, grapes and pineapples, luxuries of the Georgian era, the feast sits beside a grand log-burning fireplace to keep away the crisp winter air.

Take part in parlour games popular at the time and settle down with a game of cards in the Somerset Room. Haven’t booked your pantomime this year? Put on an impromptu performance on the Petworth stage with various scripts on offer or try your hand at puppet theatre, both Georgian pastimes.

The Marble Hall of Petworth turns in to a grand ballroom this Christmas complete with carols and live performances at selected times. Visitors can have a go at composing a masterpiece with instruments available to play. Around the room see the statues collected by the 3rd Earl of Egremont atmospherically lit and play with some traditional children’s gifts lying in wait for the children of the 3rd Earl and Elizabeth Ilive.

In contrast to the grand state rooms, delve ‘below stairs’ in the Servants’ Quarters and discover the lengths the servants have gone to prepare for the occasion in Petworth House. Give the Chef a hand and bring in some good luck for the New Year by stirring the mincemeat, the Chef might even have some tasters available.

Step in to the brewery for some Real Ale tasting but steer clear of the Estate Offices where William Tyler, a past House Steward at Petworth will be looking for any overdue rent!

Bringing the whole occasion together are staff and volunteers dressed in Georgian inspired clothing made by the sewing team of Petworth House.

Read Less