Today's post features Christmas at Standen House. Standen House is a National Trust property that I visited in the early autumn for the first time this year (A Morning at National Trust's Standen House and Garden (West Sussex): Lockdown Edition). Last June was the first year that I took out annual National Trust membership, and I went to a couple properties that were decorated for Christmas; I really enjoyed these visits and made plans to see even more of them this year. Unfortunately, that did not pan out at all, but I was happy to see that Standen House had part of the house open with a few rooms decorated for Christmas. It was not the usual festive mood, but it was something to help celebrate the season.
Visitors to Standen may not get to enter the house depending on the number of people waiting. Strict rules on social distancing must be obeyed, so the numbers in the house have to be cut, so bear this in mind if planning to visit.
At the entrance to Standen House are decorative trees made out of yarn with various sewn and knitted ornaments. These decorations and trees were created by people during the lockdown, and the idea is that these trees celebrate the Arts & Crafts movement that Standen House is known for. Some of the stories are told by those who used their creativity during the lockdown.
The trees made a nice centrepiece in the courtyard to look at while waiting to be let into the house.
The trees were decorated in Standen House, and one of the volunteers mentioned that each room in the house usually features a Christmas tree from each decade. This year, the trees in the rooms each had their own different theme. The entrance hall included a video of a party behind the piano, detailing the Christmas parties held at the house, and the tree in this room featured musical instruments.
In the billiard room, the tree seemed to be focused on games. The room includes the billiard table and rocking horse.
Off to the side in the hallway was a room to peer into - a simple cloakroom where the owners of the house would prepare for a winter walk or sled-riding.
The main living room appeared to be decorated for Christmas day with unwrapped piles of gifts and a life-sized Santa. The tree in this room was decorated with lanterns, possibly inspired by Japan as the owners visited the country and eventually moved there.
The below photograph is a closer-up view of the musical Christmas tree.
The stairs in the house were decorsated with lights and pine gardlands, which also created another tree. The upstairs is still closed, as it was earlier in the autumn on my first visit.
The dining room was set for Christmas dinner with the dinner having been finished, signalling a good time to be had judging by the messes on the table. The Christmas tree in this room is decorated with cutlery.
The library room was closed on my first visit due to the inability to keep distance from others. However, it was open on this visit, and we all kept our distance while we looked around the room. The room was decorated with gifts being wrapped, and the Christmas tree was filled with multi-coloured lights.
The next room was the office room at Standen House, and the tree in this room was decorated with cow ornaments. The room was also decorated with wooden cows up near the ceiling, and each of these and the oranments contains a name. All of the cows at Standen House were named, and all of the names were retained in the paperwork.
I'm not sure I could name a cow "Carol", but they did...!
The next area of the house was for the servants, and this tree and table setting was decorated fror them for Christmas day.
Through this room was the kitchen, which I don't think was open when I last visited, but I could not remember. This room was set up as if a variety of holiday treats, such as cookies, were being made and cooked.
One of the cottages outside the house had a pretty festive wreath.
I am hoping that things are more "normal" by next Christmas and that I can enjoy some of these houses decorated for Christmas again.
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