Christmas has come early for an exhibition at one of England’s most impressive country houses.
The home of the Dukes of Devonshire, Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, is inviting visitors to enjoy its Charles Dickens-themed festive display. Tourists and revellers can marvel in the splendour and squalor of Dickensian London, with Victorian shop fronts, the London Docks, Scrooge’s bed and more all dressed for Christmas – from November 11 to January 7, 2018.
Fagin, Bill Sikes and Miss Havisham will help bring the theme to life, delighting all ages, and people will also have the opportunity to try on dozens of character costumes. Thousands of traditional and lavish seasonal decorations and hundreds of yards of ribbon will dress the celebrated Painted Hall, Oak Room, Chapel, State Dining Room and Sculpture Gallery, which will also contain 25 real trees, two of which stand more than 23ft tall.
This enchanting interpretation of books such as A Christmas Carol, Oliver Twist, The Old Curiosity Shop and A Tale of Two Cities will feature large-scale illustrations, wall murals, sound and light effects, projections and props.
Artists such as the paper sculptor Su Blackwell are working with Chatsworth to help recreate the Christmas spirit that Dickens sought to highlight in the gathering together of families and the enjoyment of food, drink, dancing and games.
Displays will also include related items from Chatsworth’s own collections, such as letters from Dickens himself to the 6th Duke of Devonshire; first editions of books including Little Dorrit and A Tale of Two Cities; and letters from Duchess Georgiana to her mother from Paris during the uprising referenced in ‘A Tale of Two Cities’.
Actress Carole Copeland playing Miss Havisham in a Dickens-themed set as Chatsworth House in Derbyshire unveils its Christmas season display
Robert Laughlin poses as character Fagin. The home of the Dukes of Devonshire, Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, is inviting visitors to enjoy it Charles Dickens-themed festive display
Actors Carole Copeland playing Miss Havisham and Robert Laughlin playing Fagin. Tourists and revellers can marvel in the splendour and squalor of Dickensian London, with Victorian shop fronts, the London Docks, Scrooge’s bed and more all dressed for Christmas – from November 11 to January 7, 2018
Fagin (pictured), Bill Sikes and Miss Havisham will help bring the theme to life, delighting all ages, and people will also have the opportunity to try on dozens of character costumes
This enchanting interpretation of books such as A Christmas Carol, Oliver Twist, The Old Curiosity Shop and A Tale of Two Cities will feature large-scale illustrations, wall murals, sound and light effects, projections and props. Pictured is actress Carole Copeland, Miss Havisham
The display will also contain 25 real trees, two of which stand more than 23ft tall. Pictured (right) is Carole Copeland playing Miss Havisham
Artists such as the paper sculptor Su Blackwell are working with Chatsworth to help recreate the Christmas spirit that Dickens sought to highlight in the gathering together of families and the enjoyment of food, drink, dancing and games
The Spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Future will visit Chatsworth this year ( Christmas at Chatsworth ) as the festive season is given a Victorian gothic twist
Actors playing Fagin and Miss Havisham and others from Dickens’ rich cast of characters will bring the theme to life, along with room guides in period costume, as they roam around in the fog and gaslight of Chatsworth’s grand rooms
Actress Carole Copeland playing Miss Havisham in a Dickens-themed set as Chatsworth House in Derbyshire unveils its Christmas season display