Visiting Chatsworth at Christmas

Posted by Mike Gerrard Dec 17, 2007

This weekend I made my third visit to Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, one of the most impressive of English country houses. It takes a lot to impress a seasoned travel writer who has roamed the globe, but seeing Chatsworth decorated for Christmas really stunned me.

Inside the house each room has been specially decorated, so you still get to see everything but it has all been transformed for the holiday season. This year the theme was a Christmas Kaleidoscope, and each room was decorated with a focus on one of the colours associated with Christmas.

The Great Dining Room had a silver theme and was set for a grand Christmas dinner. The Library was gold and the Chapel was orange, with real orange and cinnamon decorations scenting this glorious private chapel which was built between 1688 and 1693 and hasn't been altered since.

The Christmas Kaleidoscope theme was also chosen because of a new feature, a giant kaleidoscope built by the Chatsworth team. The largest crystal in the Chatsworth collection makes the focal point for the kaleidoscope, which is several feet across. As you turn a large handle the prisms around the crystal rotate, and the predominant colour changes through a delicate series of silvers, yellows, golds and a rich blood-red, amongst others. It was like being a child all over again, and rediscovering some of the magic of Christmas.

Chatsworth's Christmas can be experienced from 3rd November until 23rd December 2007. If you miss it this year, definitely make a date for your diary for Christmas 2008. Look for the evening opening dates too, with special events and a chance to see the house and gardens lit up at night. These are for limited numbers, and sell out quickly, so book ahead. You won't regret it.

For further details visit the Chatsworth Website.

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