'80s Christmas at Hanbury Hall

Thursday 2nd December
Day 1


We woke to a hard frost but beautiful blue skies, after breakfast we took the opportunity to take 'Vera' our benivan 120 the short trip to Hanbury Hall, now owned by the National Trust, this 18th century, queen anne style stately home is set in lovely gardes & parkland. We had read that the volunteers have dressed up the house in a 1980s style Christmas.

Our Party Invitations

After topping up with fuel we made the 30 minute or so drive to Hanbury, the car park already had twenty odd cars parked even though the house had only just opened, however the Trust only allowed 45 people inside at once so would be covid safe inside.
The walk through the grounds were lovely, the house looked especially impressive in the winter sunshine. 

Hanbury Hall

The main entrance hall was all set for the party, a huge Christmas tree by the staircase, Babycham and Cherry B ready for guests and Slade on the record player. There was a baby grand piano ready for a good ol' sing-a-long.

Hanbury Hall Christmas Tree

All the rooms were decorated with period decorations and party games laid out ready, the whole house looked splendid, it must have taken the NT volunteers hours to do.
The main dining room the table was set out with party food, jellies and cakes, no bought mince pies here, all home made, there was even a pineapple 'hedgehog' all laid out in Tupperware bowls, even down to a fondue set.

Dining Room

The drawing room had Christmas cards displayed sent from family and friends, there were games out including an old version of monopoly ready to play, the television on in the corner playing a Christmas edition of 'Only Fools & Horses' somethings never change.


We toured the rest of the house, in the morning room there were the original Elf On The Self sitting along the mantle piece, a very '80s white Christmas tree in the corner of the room, there were lots of presents that would have been given at the time including Sinclair ZX81 and Atari home computers some of the first ever made for home use, not forgetting an age old favourite, the Hornby model railway.

Elf On The Shelf

After looking upstairs at the kids rooms with extra camp beds for visitors and a teenage room which had '80s music on the cassette player and 45s strewn on the floor we took the back stairs out into the gardens.
The formal gardens have only recently been restored to the original condition and looked splendid in the winter sunshine.

Hanbury Hall Formal Gardens

After walking around the grounds and gardens we returned to the van for a spot of lunch, it was very cold outside but with the sun shining into the van it was like being away on holiday, before to long it was time to return home having had a smashing day out.

Its starting to feel a lot like Christmas.
 

Trip Details:

Miles: 28.4
Ave MPG: 33.6 mpg 
Fuel Cost: £ 5.55 / £1.469 ltr
Car Parking: £ 0.00

Nights: 0
Camp Fees: £0.00
Camp Ave per night: £ 0.00 

* * *


We put our holiday photos in to small slideshows and videos which are uploaded on to our YouTube Channel, benivanadventures, they are not professionally produced but give a feeling of the area and places we visit - Click on the link below: 

'80s Christmas at Hanbury Hall

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See You Again On Our benivanadventures

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