The weeks around Christmas are generally very busy at Temple House, so we start to get our decorations up good and early. We usually host several weddings and shooting parties both before and after Christmas, then take a few days at Christmas where we close to guests to spend time with family.
Christmas Decorations at Temple House
Our Christmas decorations reflect the history and tradition of the house and draw from the wonderful foliage we gather around the Estate. We use lots of Ivy and red-berried Christmas Holly to create garlands, wreaths, and table decorations. Food plays a big part in life at Temple House, not least at Christmas. We love to include oranges studded with cloves, cinnamon sticks, and cranberries among the green foliage. Not forgetting candles, we love to use off-white candles wherever possible, enjoying their flickering light in windows, on mantles and up along the staircase.
Our Christmas Tree is always the centrepiece of our Christmas Decorations. Generations of Perceval's have continued the tradition identifying, cutting down and then transporting the Christmas tree from the woodland on the Estate to the Vestibule. It is a case of all hands-on deck to move and then secure the tree in position each year with all the staff from the Estate roped in to help pull the tree up to a standing position. The tree stands anywhere from 25 to 32 feet high and is secured by ropes to the bannisters. We find a broom can come in very handy for positioning Christmas Tree decorations on the higher branches. Getting everyone involved is a wonderful way to start the Christmas season.
ggg
Christmas Table Decorations
We are lucky at Temple House to have a beautiful dining Room and lots of wonderful tableware, which help to decorate our Christmas Table. Again, we love to bring something of the outdoors to the Christmas Table. Over the years we have used, holly, ivy, pinecones and evergreen boughs from fir trees or pine trees. To this we add traditional Christmas colours, white, gold, and red when choosing table linen, china, and candles
