No.1 Royal Crescent in the heart of the historic city of Bath is inviting visitors to experience Christmas as it would have been celebrated over 200 hundred years ago.
In 1644 Oliver Cromwell effectively banned Christmas and for the following seven decades, festive get-togethers, even the singing of carols, was forbidden. However, this particularly joyless legacy of Old Ironsides himself was overturned by the masters of making merry, the Georgians.
Far from being buttoned-up, the Regency era saw Christmas celebrated in grand style, with balls, parties and feasting galore. From roasted goose and venison, to plum puddings and the rather wild game of ‘Snap Dragon’ – which Dr Samuel Johnson described as “a play in which they catch raisins out of burning brandy and, extinguishing them by closing the mouth, eat them” – this was a society and era that knew how to have fun.
Revealing many of the sights, scents and other sensory delights of a Georgian Christmas, No.1 Royal Crescent will be authentically decorated with ‘greens’, or foliage, such as bay, yew or even herbs, along with gilded fruits and foodstuffs. The Christmas immersive experience reveals 12 Tales of a Georgian Christmas, introducing how this season was celebrated and enjoyed through a series of stories and poems that come to life throughout the house.
Visitors will also see a table decoration – originally introduced by King George III’s German-born wife, Queen Charlotte – that later became what we now know as the Christmas tree.
The festive decorations will extend outside the Georgian house to the beautiful locally sourced Christmas tree, which has been generously sponsored this year by fellow local business (and Bath Preservation Trust members) Hawker Joinery. Hawker Joinery began in 1919, and its team are specialists in producing high-end joinery for Bath, Bristol, Wiltshire and surrounding areas. Hawker Joinery also created the stunning red sedan chair that sits outside the No.1 Royal Crescent entrance, which has featured in many a visitor selfie over the years.
No.1 will again be welcoming Santa, to delight kids and grown-ups alike in his magical grotto. He’ll be in temporary residence at No.1 every Saturday and Sunday in December, before the Big Day.
Much as No.1 celebrates the Regency and Georgian eras, this is the 21st-century after all, so they have redressed the balance in favour of creating a delightful seasonal trail through the house especially for their younger guests. In this new addition to our Christmas experiences (from 26 November to 31 December), little ones can find out what a family of mice is getting up to in each room, before creating a special Christmas decoration to take home.
“Christmas is a really special time at No. 1 Royal Crescent, and it is amazing to see the house transformed,” said says Claire Dixon, Director of Bath Preservation Trust (BPT) Museums. “It offers a completely different experience for visitors as the rooms are rich with greenery, floral arrangements and decoration. The house feels more intimate and cosier, and it is fascinating to discover the different ways in which the Georgians would have celebrated the season as wealthy residents or domestic servants. I particularly enjoy the kitchen as it is filled with traditional Christmas foods and aromas. This is my favourite time of year to be in the house.”
For tickets and more information about Christmas at No.1 Royal Crescent, visit www.no1royalcresecent.org.uk and follow @No1museum on Twitter, @no1royalcrescent on Instagram and @No1RoyalCrescent on Facebook.