Russborough in Christmas splendour
A special 'The Big House at Christmas' tour is available until 22 December, showcasing what the place must have been like at this time of the year when it housed the grand families.
Russborough's historic halls are exquisitely decked, transforming the house tour into a Christmastide treat. Enjoy a delicious mince pie and a glass of mulled wine in the cafe, guaranteed to warm your cockles on a winter's day. There'll be hot chocolate and cookies for the kiddies and a daily Twilight Tour to maximise the twinkling lights and magical Christmas sparkle.
Combine Christmas with culture, history and art all in one outing. Learn about Christmas traditions in the time of the Beits and the Milltowns. See the meticulous lists kept by Lady Beit from year to year of gifts she gave to the local children so as not to give duplicate presents. Discover what might have been served for Christmas dinner in the time of the Milltowns – roast stubble goose with boiled turnips anyone?
The dining room table is set in Sèvres splendour and priceless silver while the Main Hall next door is dressed for dinner by our resident craftworkers for the parkland animals. There’s a partridge in a pear tree and a golden eyed peacock with white feathers preening on the tree in the Drawing Room. The library and music room décor is appropriately themed while silver is the order of the day on the Lantern Landing as we launch a new display of the silver collected by all three families who resided in the house: the Milltowns, the Dalys and the Beits.
Once finished the tour swing by the shop which will be brimful with Christmas goodies and stocking fillers for all the family. This year we'll also carry an exclusive range of decorations chosen specially for Russborough by Amanda Pratt (previously Creative director of Avoca) to reflect the house and collections. Trim your tree at home with a beautiful ornament, a wonderful reminder of your trip to Russborough.
Finish your visit with a trip to the Tearooms where the festive menu will tempt, with all our favourite Christmas treats including gingerbread men, mince pies, Christmas roulade, festive jams, turkey and ham, spiced beef, Christmas cake and pudding.
Weekdays house tours 12 noon, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm. Weekends our house tours are 11am, 12noon, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm. Special Twilight tour daily at 4pm (Refreshments included in this tour only).
Bookings only through Eventbrite here, or here for the Twilight tour.
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