Marketing Musings..

Here in the Marketing office we are well on our way to finalising next year’s events, with a view to confirming some for 2013. Each year we aim to extend the events programme with next year offering some great opportunities such as the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in June. At the moment we are discussing details of the RHS Flower Show in July and looking at the possibilities for Christmas 2012.

'Meet the Housekeeper & Butler' tours!

The smell of paint around the upstairs offices has diminished in recent days as the decoration of Lord Egerton’s Apartment has just been completed. With new carpets, furnishings and lighting it is a really special venue for any exclusive celebration or family event. The LEA holds up to 40 comfortably and features two rooms plus dedicated kitchen and bathroom facilities, with the best views of the Gardens and Parkland that the Mansion has to offer. Consider us next time you are planning an event and we would be pleased to show you around.

We have had a record number of coach parties visiting Tatton this year and we’re working with some key tour operators to put Tatton in their programmes for next year. Group visitors in particular like each historic attraction to offer something unique or with “added-value” in their itineraries. We have trialled a series of role-playing Butler and Housekeeper tours this season which enabled some of our education assistants to find their inner Olivier or Monroe – they were great fun and especially popular with the Australian and North American visitors.

Katherine McInnes, Marketing

Buon natale!

Visitors to Tatton Park mansion will be greeted with ‘Buon natale!’ this Christmas, as Venice inspires our seasonal theme.

The stunning staterooms of the mansion at Tatton Park in rural Cheshire East will be spectacularly dressed to reflect the extravagance and sophistication of Venice.

Venetian splendour will be brought to the English country home with striking displays inspired by the drama of ‘carnevale.’ Trees dressed with peacock feathers and decorative birds in gilded cages are just some of the spectacular delights of the Christmas decorations (though we won’t give anything else away!).

These dramatic new displays will enhance our usual traditional Christmas decorations. This Christmas, as in previous years, the floristry team will also be undertaking the enormous task of crafting, by hand, the miles of festive garlands and wreathes used to dress the Mansion’s grand staterooms.

Preparing the Christmas Mansion decorations in the cellars

      © Eleanor Gorsuch

The natural foliage for the decorations is taken largely from the parkland and gardens. Throughout November and December the rangers and gardeners work tirelessly to source the very best greenery from specially selected plantations. Western red cedar, variegated holly, ivy, laurel, pine cones and yew are cut, transported in trailers and delivered directly to the cellar doors where the Mansion team work their magic.

This year, however, the focus is very much on the spectacle of Venice.

The Egerton family, the owners of Tatton for 360 years, were keen collectors, bringing many fine treasures from their travels to furnish their Cheshire and London homes. In 1884, Lady Mary Egerton wrote to her daughter Gertrude from Venice: “We are enjoying this delightful place as much as we always do, and finding all sorts of Treasures…The weather here is delicious – fresh and hot: our old gondolier MOMOLO has been engaged till today.”

Amongst the finest paintings in Tatton’s collection are two views of Venice, by the Venetian master, Giovanni Antonio Canale, more commonly known as Canaletto. The pair came into the Tatton collection in the late eighteenth century during the ownership of Samuel Egerton (1711-1780). These stunning paintings, which hang in the Drawing Room at Tatton, inspired this year’s Christmas theme.

In addition to the decorations and displays, visitors will be entertained with a changing live music programme including a harpist, flautist, string quartet, harpsichord, and in addition, musicians from the Royal Northern College of Music. The musical programme is different every day.

Christmas is not only evident in the grand staterooms; the humble servants’ quarters will also be getting into the festive spirit. In the scullery our costumed still room and kitchen maids will be cooking Christmas delicacies. Count on some lively ‘Downton’ style banter with the below-stairs staff.

Visitors can learn how to create beautiful decorations for their own home during free demonstrations in the servants’ quarters. Children will also be able to take part in free Venetian mask-making workshops at the weekends.

The Christmas mansion is open from Wednesday, December 7 to Friday, December 23 from noon to 4pm (last entry 3pm), closed Mondays and Tuesdays between these dates. Find out more and the event and times and prices here.
Eleanor Gorsuch, Marketing

Christmas is Coming!

There is certainly an air of familiar excitement as we approach Christmas time. The staff and animals are all sensing the arrival of somebody very special and keep looking into the sky for signs of his sleigh and Rudolph’s shiny red nose! Yes that’s right, Father Christmas is here at Home Farm on the 10th/11th 17th/18th and even Christmas Eve! That will be a very busy day and night for him as he will have so many boys and girls to see during the day as well as delivering all those presents at night.

Our hard-working Reindeer Prancer and Dancer are very eager to help him that night and they are by far the most excited about his arrival than anybody. This will be the first year in history that the farm have owned their own Reindeer (apart from when Father Christmas has them on loan) and we think it is going to make our Christmas here all the more magical. Let’s not forget our other stars of the show our donkeys Frosty and Seren (welsh for 'star') who always look forward to their irreplaceable part in our live nativity, and of course the relentless fuss lavished on them by you all!

Lisa, Kip the sheepdog, Elly and Frosty the donkey in the snow last year

As well as our Storyteller who weaves tales of festive magic, we will have a Children’s entertainer to create a fun-filled atmosphere as well as traditional merry go rounds. There will be choirs and brass bands to bring that traditional and warm feel to the event who will play their music around the nativity scene which houses our farmyard friends in their stable. We will also be creating an opportunity for a photo opportunity on Santa’s sleigh which has been lovingly crafted by our dedicated National Trust volunteers. Last but certainly not least Father Christmas will be in his winter wonderland of Christmas trees and twinkling lights waiting for you with his sacks full of presents for all those good girls and boys! His merry hardworking elves will show you the way into his magical grotto – make sure you look out for them!

All in all we are hoping we can offer you a festive and fun filled Christmas here at the farm, so please come and join us for a magical and memorable time. All the staff and animals are looking forward to seeing you! All that is left for us to say is WE HOPE YOU HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR! From all the staff and animals at Home Farm, EEY-ORE, NEIGH, MOO, OINK, QUACK, CHEEP, BAA!

Lisa Kennedy, Farm Assistant

Lighten up – (Father) Christmas is just around the corner!

At the moment we're planning for a new Christmas event, when Father Christmas arrives at Tatton during a magical twilight lantern parade on Friday, December 9.

We're encouraging children and families to 'light his arrival' to Tatton and welcome the merry marvel for the beginning of his stay at the farm this Christmas!  He'll process along a lantern-lit walk to the stableyard where star guests – the farm’s reindeer, Prancer and Dancer - will be waiting in anticipation.


Father Christmas at the Farm with Frosty the Donkey and elves!


Children will also be able to post a Christmas wish-list and families can enjoy festive tunes from a choir and band and indulge in some Christmas shopping.

The event is also an opportunity to ‘give a little back’ by donating any unwanted toys to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital charity, where they will find a very welcome home.

St Nick will be arriving just in the nick of time – for he starts three weekends at the farm on Saturday, December 10. At the farm, our younger visitors will be able to meet Father Christmas and his elves in his grotto and receive a special Christmas gift.

If your little ones would like to learn how to light Santa’s way - they can take part in a free lantern making workshop in the main stableyard barn room on Sunday, December 4. On the weekends of 10/11 December and 17/18 December children can also take part in free festive hat making sessions in the stableyard barn room. Park entry charge applies for both these events.


• The Lantern Parade takes place on Friday, December 9 from 6pm-8pm. Free entry to Tatton Park and to the event.

• Lantern-making workshops take place on Sunday, December 4 from noon-4pm. Workshop admission free, Park entry charge of £5 per car applies.

• ‘12 days of Christmas’ hat making sessions take place on the weekends of December 10/11 and 17/18 from noon to 4pm. Free event, park entry charge of £5 per car applies.

Father Christmas at the Farm takes place on the weekends of December 10/11, 17/18 and on Saturday, December 24. Times: noon-4pm, last entry 3pm. Prices: Adult £5, Child £4. Prices apply to National Trust members. The usual park entry charge of £5 per car applies. All paying children receive a free gift from Father Christmas.

Eleanor Gorsuch, Marketing

Seasonal turns...

In a season when we should be contemplating a fall of snow, about the only thing that is descending at the moment are leaves from the trees. It would seem that the season of autumn has extended into early winter. Oaks are still showing green leaves and again we will probably end up with new leaves pushing the old leaves off - similar to the effect that adult teeth have on baby teeth!

Autumn by the Japanese Hut

©Sam Youd

Having said all of that, we have had two nights of frost down to minus two which effectively has stopped the growth of the grass and given the message to the border plants that it is at last time for them to go to sleep.

The fruit tress are still bearing good crops of apples despite the lateness of the season with also continuation of crops of figs, particularly the variety Rouge de Bordeaux which has a luscious red centre, deliciously sweet.

Good success has been had with a third batch of pineapple plants which means that we will now be able to complete the planting of the pineapple house in all three bays, with the prospect of maybe some plants from the first batch fruiting next year.

The conservatory is almost at the point of completion except for one or two jobs which need to be adjusted; planting has already started. We look forward to this new and exciting adventure, so if you think garden visiting is only a spring and summer occupation then there’s still time to readjust your thinking. Get out there and enjoy these fine sunny, mild days.

Sam Youd, Gardens Manager

Hallowe'en Horrors at the Old Hall

The Old Hall opened up last week to lovely weather outside and a very dark and horrible interior with ghosts and spooks and spirits, who is real and who is not?



The bogey man & dragon

©Margaret Clark


The good witch on the main door (that was Sandra and myself on alternate days) made sure everyone was going to enjoy themselves! And if they looked too afraid, to put a spell on the spooks in the Hall, that’s a Pirate from Davey Jones' Locker, a Witch and a Ghostly Lady to make them keep still and to get the visitors across to the stairs safely, after that....

The Clown/Jester was ready to scare you out of your wits and the Bogey Man had his pet dragon helping him...then a very scary Monk with metal hands and finally the Undertaker to see you out the back door...all in time to come round to the front door and start all over again.

For those not brave enough to enter, of all ages, there was plenty to keep them occupied outside with fair ground rides and a coconut shy, hot drinks and food. There was a storyteller all throughout the day, every day, and also the same with mask making and face painting...a fantastic job to all those involved (don’t know how you did it!)

Davey Jones in the Great Hall ©Margaret Clark

On the first day, Tuesday, there were two 7 year old girls, who kept telling me they were very best friends - they came through so many times completely on their own that I lost count, ended up dancing with the Ghostly Lady several times and not in the least bothered by it all...and yet there were plenty of adults unwilling to come in and lots of screaming...I’ll remember my ear plugs next year.

The team that created it all led by Mick have some very strange minds, (I’d worry about them if they weren’t good friends and I include myself in that) and worked hard to get it all ready on the first Monday and then taken down the following Monday...where did the time go? A brilliant week, let’s do it again sometime..but not just yet!


Margaret Clark,
Interpreter Guide