Oh Come All Ye Faithful & Share A Victorian Christmas At Osborne House.

Review by Lucy Johnson: Osborne House on the Isle of Wight once again offered a glimpse into the nineteenth century holiday season when it took on a festive Victorian scene – complete with Christmas trees, Dickensian characters and traditional entertainments at a Victorian Christmas weekend on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd November.

From 10am to 4pm on both days entertainment was provided by costumed characters such as Ebenezer Scrooge to Freddy the tap dancing fish, who entertained visitors with Victorian festivities played out around a Christmas tree.

Clad in rags and with sooty faces, the Singing Chimney Sweeps pushed out a handcart lit with period lanterns as they performed popular Victorian carols. 

Queen Victoria put in a guest appearance inside Osborne House, where she and her lady in waiting gave visitors a lesson in Victorian etiquette and held audience as they recalled life at Osborne House over 100 years ago.

The Queen dismissed the public and along with her Lady In Waiting Mrs Ponsonby provided Island Pulse  with an exclusive audience.  Images of which along with others from Osborne House are available to view in our online media galleries HERE:

Other costumed characters were on hand to talk about life ‘below stairs’ in the Royal household at Christmas time.

Festive family fun included hoopla stalls and a coconut shy, a travelling theatre show with magic, juggling and illusion and children enjoyed the traditional Punch & Judy. 

Fast-paced, quick-change performances of ‘A Christmas Carol’, with favourite characters like Scrooge, Tiny Tim, Bob Cratchit and Marley’s Ghost playing strictly for laughs.  Adding to the atmosphere were traditional carols and song from the Garden Isle Ladies Barber Shop Choir.

The sumptuous ground floor rooms of Osborne House are decked with festive decorations as they were when Queen Victoria celebrated Christmas at Osborne, with colourful trees decorated in the style favoured by Prince Albert, garlands of dried herbs, ferns and floral arrangements. 

Her dining table and sideboard will be groaning with sweet treats – from wobbling jellies and elaborate cakes to intricate confections – copied from photographs taken in the 1890s.  Real gifts given to Queen Victoria by her family will also be on display.

Royal Tours To Beat The Christmas Credit Crunch

Osborne House is now keeping its doors open to provide festive tours and offer up some of, Queen Victoria’s tips and ideas for a frugal but fun Christmas.

Decorating your home with garlands of dried herbs and ferns, tying sweets and strings of almonds and raisins to your Christmas tree, making your own cards and switching off the TV to put on some good old fashioned family entertainment in the way Queen Victoria celebrated at Osborne House, will all help to ease the squeeze as we tighten our belts.

Find out how the festive season was marked at Osborne House over 100 years ago on guided tours, which take place on Wednesdays to Sundays from 8th November until 4th January. more details click here:

For more information on English Heritage properties to visit in the Isle of Wight and Hampshire during the winter months visit www.english-heritage.org.uk or call 0870 333 1181.