The Great Christmas Tree

“There were the exciting great Christmas Tree parties. The highest tree recorded was under the Dome at Castle Howard, 24 feet high. . . .My most constant memory is of the Naworth trees, twenty to twenty-three feet high. My mother was the moving spirit in all this. She bought vast quantities of toys for every boy and girl in every school on the estate and in Brampton. It was not ‘one toy per child’ but lashings over to give a reasonable choice. They ranged from good concertinas to mouth organs; books to tin soldiers; paints, painting books, stories, tea-sets, tops, whips, hoops, skipping ropes, dolls, doll’s beds made by ‘Hop o’ my Thumb; (John Hope, beloved joiner). My mother was in the midst of it all - hanging coloured glass balls in all shapes and sizes, and threading heavy red apples and oranges to weigh down the spruce branches. Our six boys, and the Bulkeley five (of Lanercost vicarage) took their share in creating the trees. Threaders hung apples and balls on rods. Hangers placed them on the tree. Artistic helpers made things: gold paper ships and stars. Needlewomen dressed dolls and upholstered cradles. We were an army of family, maids, governesses, vicar’s wife, coachman’s wife – anyone who likes a party came to sew, to gum gold and silver paper into massive chains, to decorate, and to place the scores of candles on the tree. From early days I claimed it was my privilege to dress the Fairy for the tree top.”
- Dorothy Henley: Rosalind Howard: Countess of Carlisle

[Castle Howard played the part of "Brideshead" in the television series Brideshead Revisited.]