Christmas traditions brought to life at Belsay Hall

Nov 13 2008 by Paul Loraine, The Journal

CHRISTMAS traditions of the past are to be brought to life for Northumberland school children in a special festive programme of events.

Pupils from Belsay First School, near Ponteland, met English Heritage’s resident Regency butler and Victorian Father Christmas at Belsay Hall.

They also posted their favourite Christmas memories on a tree to mark the official start of the village’s two-month programme called The History of Christmas.

Through November and December, visitors are to add their memories to the tree and some will be selected to appear on the Belsay Hall website.

Lynn Rylance, visitor operations manager at Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens, said: “Christmas is a very special time at Belsay as it was on December 25, 1817, that Belsay’s ancestral family – the Middleton family – moved into the home that had taken them over a decade to build.

“Descendants from the Middleton family lived in the Hall from 1817 until the end of World War II, no doubt celebrating many happy decades of Christmas cheer.

“While the family no longer live at Belsay, we are keen to keep those festive memories alive with events that run throughout November and December.

“Visitors can simply recall their most poignant festive moments on one of the memory baubles and, over the weeks, the tree will become decorated with hundreds of beautiful, interesting and special tales.

“The best memories are going to be displayed on our website.”

Christine Corbett, headteacher of Belsay First School said: “Being the village school in Belsay, the children are delighted they will be visiting Belsay Hall for a very different type of history lesson.

“They are also looking forward to the prospect of being part of the Christmas launch and to meeting the Regency Butler, and particularly the Victorian Father Christmas.

“It will be a wonderful experience for them, as they see the festive season through the eyes of their ancestors.”

Meanwhile, Harry Charleton, nine, a pupil at Belsay First School said: “I am really excited about seeing a Regency butler and a Victorian Father Christmas and finding out what Christmas was like in Victorian Times.”

On November 29 and 30, the characters which entertained the children yesterday will be at Belsay Hall again meeting visitors.

Georgian Christmas music will fill the Hall on December 6 and 7 as English Heritage’s costumed duo Hautbois perform advent hymns from the 18th century.

And between December 27-29, the hall will host a performance of the Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol. The shows will start at 11am and 2pm daily.

More information on these events can be found at www.english-heritage.org.uk/belsay or by ringing (01661) 881636.

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