The Magic of Christmas: Celebrating 20 years of Christmas at Chatsworth
UNITED KINGDOM / AGILITYPR.NEWS / September 15, 2021 / The Magic of Christmas
Celebrating 20 years of Christmas at Chatsworth
6 November 2021 - 9 January 2022
Chatsworth is celebrating The Magic of Christmas with a look back over the 20 years since the house first opened for the festive season in 2001, to help revive Derbyshire’s tourism industry which was badly affected by foot and mouth disease that year.
Chatsworth 2021: The Magic of Christmas pix for download here
Chatsworth Christmas through the ages for download here
Visitors will see nods to a variety of themes that have featured in the house over the past two decades, as they enjoy decorations designed to capture the magic of the festive season.
With the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in February 2001, the countryside was effectively closed to visitors until the summer, which had a huge impact on the whole visitor economy. At that time, Chatsworth normally closed from October to Easter but in 2001, the 11th Duke of Devonshire decided to keep the house open in the hope that it would encourage visitors to come into the area and help the local economy. What was originally intended as a one-off Christmas season proved an instant hit, attracting thousands of visitors, and has become the biggest event in the calendar for the Derbyshire estate.
The return of the festive season this year following the restrictions on businesses due to the pandemic in 2020 and 2021 brings the story full circle, as hopes are high for a Christmas full of reflection, reminiscence and positivity, as the country continues on a path to recovery.
Since 2001, Christmas at Chatsworth has grown in size and scale, with displays becoming more elaborate each season making it a much anticipated and popular activity for thousands of people who return year after year keen to see what’s in store. With a different theme each year, Christmas at Chatsworth has become increasingly grand and more ambitious, involving dozens of specially grown Christmas trees, yards of great garlands, and copious amounts of fairy lights.
This year’s standout feature looks set to be the snow installation in the Inner Court. A newly installed lamppost will bring to mind the snowy scenes from Narnia, while other rooms on the Christmas route will evoke seasons past from the traditions of the Victorian era and the world of Charles Dickens to the imaginary worlds of Mr Toad and Alice in Wonderland.
Following its successful introduction last year, there will once again be a festive light installation in the garden to make a Christmas visit last even longer. Visitors can enjoy an illuminated walk round the garden, with atmospheric lighting bringing a festive sparkle on a route past the Emperor Fountain, Rock Garden and the Cascade surrounded by hundreds of glowing lights.
Tickets are on sale from 15 September with the timed slots still in place to help manage the flow of visitors at all times. This year will also see the return of the famous Chatsworth Christmas market, with over 100 stalls offering a wide range of Christmas gifts and decorations taking place on Lodge Hill next to the house from 6-24 November 2021.
Over in the farmyard, there will be a variety of festive activities, with more details to follow. Early booking is recommended.
Tickets for Christmas at Chatsworth are priced at £26 for adults, £15 for children, and £70 for a family (two adults and up to three children), and include access to the house, garden and farmyard, as well as car parking and access to the Christmas market between 6-24 November. Advanced booking via the Chatsworth website is required.
For anyone wishing to only visit the Christmas market, a Christmas market car park ticket must be booked in advance via the website.
This year’s Christmas event is being kindly supported by CW Sellors, the UK's leading fine jewellery and luxury watch specialist, and Investec banking and wealth management.
For information and advance booking, please visit www.chatsworth.org
Themes
2001 A Traditional Christmas
2002 Christmas from other lands
2003 A Victorian Christmas
2004 Christmas through the ages
2005 Aspects of Christmas
2006 The 12 days of Christmas
2007 A Christmas Kaleidoscope
2008 The First Noel
2009 A Candlelit Christmas
2010 A Russian Christmas
2011 Deck the Halls
2012 Pantomime
2013 The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
2014 Alice’s Wonderland at Christmas
2015 Christmas at Chatsworth with Mr Toad
2016 The Nutcracker
2017 O Dickens it’s Christmas at Chatsworth
2018 Once Upon A Time
2019 In a Land Far, Far Away
2020 Happy Christmas
2021 The Magic of Christmas
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About Us
Chatsworth
Chatsworth is home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, and is located in the Peak District National Park. The house, many of its contents and much of the surrounding landscape are leased to a registered charity, the Chatsworth House Trust. The Duke and Duchess pay rent to the charity to live at Chatsworth and work with the charity and others to welcome Chatsworth’s visitors.
Every penny of visitor admission goes directly to the Chatsworth House Trust, which is dedicated to the long-term preservation of Chatsworth House, the collections, garden, woodlands and park for the long-term benefit of the public. The charity promotes the study and appreciation of Chatsworth as a place of historic, architectural and artistic interest and of natural beauty, and encourages the use and enjoyment of Chatsworth by visitors for education and recreation.
Chatsworth won Gold in the Peak District and Derbyshire Tourism Awards 2020, designed to recognise excellence and outstanding achievement in the area's valuable tourism sector, which is worth over £2.3 billion.
Chatsworth is a member of the Treasure Houses of England, 10 of the most magnificent palaces, stately homes and castles in England. www.treasurehouses.co.uk
Chatsworth is part of the Devonshire Group, which comprises the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire’s interests, charities and businesses throughout the UK, including Chatsworth which sits within the Derbyshire Estate, Bolton Abbey Estate in Yorkshire, and Lismore Estate in Ireland.
Chatsworth is only 10 miles from Chesterfield train station, 14 miles from Sheffield train station, 16 miles from the M1, and it well served by regional bus services.
Follow Chatsworth on social media:
Facebook: @ChatsworthHouse
Instagram: @ChatsworthOfficial
Twitter: @ChatsworthHouse
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