Victorian Christmas 1895
Over two thousand schoolchildren from all over the North West recently visited Croxteth for 'Victorian Christmas', the acclaimed education programme run by the education team and volunteers at Croxteth Park.
The children stepped back in time to see Croxteth as it was in 1895, visiting as 'guests' of Lord and Lady Sefton, or working as 'servants' in Croxteth Hall and on Lord Sefton's estate. They dressed in period costume and met characters from the past - including Lord and Lady Sefton, their children's Governess, their butler, housekeeper, cook, dairy maids, groom and gardeners.
The visiting school children applied for jobs at the Park, bringing references with them. They were taken on in various roles; footmen, housemaids, kitchen maids, dairy maids, odd-job boys, stable hands, gardeners and wood boys. They took part in tasks that were representative of work of the period, guided by the 'senior staff' of the household. Some of the children had the rather different role of young guests of Lord and Lady Sefton, looked after by a governess.
Each session was skilfully acted out to give a lasting impression of Victorian life - strict discipline and a rigid social order where everyone knew their place! Virtually all work was done by manual labour, with an army of servants employed to keep the Earl and Countess in style. For the schoolchildren the tension of being thrust back into the past and the drudgery of work was relieved when the Earl and Countess gathered the guests and staff for a Christmas party in large Old Dining Room of Croxteth Hall. Carols, traditional party games and food (prepared, of course, by the kitchen maids) all in the magnificent setting of the Hall, made for an enjoyable end to a memorable day.
Victorian Christmas ran for four weeks in November and December, with two sessions run every day. This major project required additional help for the education staff at Croxteth. Specialist 'living history' re-enactors, other staff from the Park (both acting and behind the scenes) and the essential help of the Croxteth Heritage Volunteers made up the team working to provide a memorable day out for the pupils.
Many thanks to Norman Pannell school for permission to use the photographs by Neil Lloyd Photography.
The links below open up large images of Victorian Christmas at Croxteth Hall - 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
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