Croxteth Hall & Country Park Web site

Victorian Christmas 1898

Step back in time to 1898 in this half-day role-play of a Victorian country house estate in the run up to the festive period.

Lord and Lady Sefton, their family and their guests are looking forward to enjoying Christmas in their own way, whilst the servants and estate workers are very busy preparing for the festive season.

Everyone takes a role - some children are invited as guests, whilst others apply for various positions within the household staff - from stable hands to under-footmen to maids. Croxteth and volunteer staff in period costume lead each group as they experience the sights, sounds, the hardships and the pleasures of Victorian life. All participants must dress in appropriate costume. 

Victorian Christmas (see details of a previous version with photographs for costume ideas) is one of our most popular programmes. In order for us to allocate places on the programme effectively, all schools MUST follow our Victorian Christmas booking procedure.

Please contact us (fax 0151 228 2817) with the following details:

• The name of school and contact name, address, phone and fax number and e-mail address if available
• The number of children you are bringing (from this we will work out your charge -  see charges below).
• Preferred dates, (am or pm) but please indicate alternative dates to give us more chance of accommodating you.
• Please indicate dates which are impossible for you to come.
• The year group or age range of the children (VC is not suitable for under 8's)            

Available: 18 November to 12 December (excluding Mondays)
Session times: mornings 10.00am to 12.10pm and afternoons 1.00pm to 3.15pm.
Duration: 2 hours 15 mins.
Charges: £7.20 per child (Liverpool Schools 10% discount does not apply to this visit). 
Please note payment must be made in advance, no later than Thursday 16 October.
Maximum group size: 70 children

Victorian Christmas 1896 teachers notes

FREE Victorian Christmas teachers briefing session Thursday 16 October 2008. This is designed to provide as much information as possible about the visit; group sizes, safety, costume details, background information etc. Croxteth Risk Assessment for the visit will be made available. A teachers' resource pack will be available on the day (also as a CD ROM). Extra packs or CD ROMs can be purchased for £5.00 each.

To give an idea of activities in Victorian Christmas, browse the images of Victorian Christmas at Croxteth Hall from the links below - please be patient while the images load.

Kichen maids hard at work 
Kitchen maids busy with party preparations
Housemaids clean the large copper pans
The Butler prepares the wine
Stablehands clean the carriage
Stablehands groom the pony
Woodboys chop wood for the fires
Lord and Lady Seftons guests
Party food
Party games
Lady Sefton receives a gift from the servants

Many thanks to Norman Pannell school for permission to use the photographs by Neil Lloyd Photography.