Christmas with the Jameses

It is 1900 in the home of Henry James, and his brother William, sister-in-law Alice and 14-year-old niece Peggy are staying in Lamb House for Christmas.

Peggy, who is recovering from mumps, has settled into the oak parlour – a snug room to do jigsaws, write her diary, cut out her collages and relax in the cushioned reading corner.

Alice is busy preparing for Christmas, making fragrant decorations from cinnamon sticks, dried oranges and popcorn for the tree. She is wrapping presents, in what was to become known as the telephone room (but as Henry did not get a telephone until 1912, it is not yet called that).

Henry’s brother William is resting, and not to be disturbed, in a bedroom upstairs, having recently been diagnosed with a heart condition. In the green room, Henry is sitting in his reading chair, an afternoon cup of tea beside him.

The house is festooned with paperchains while evergreen bunches of fir, bay leaves, yew and holly wind around the staircase bannisters and hang above pictures.

A typical New England Christmas display: homemade decorations made of natural materials, the era of mass-produced Christmas decorations not yet upon us.

The dining room is ready for the Christmas meal, with the cake taking pride of place. On a plate, a pink pig made of peppermint, a little hammer alongside, has come all the way from Saratoga Springs, New York. The Jameses continue a Christmas tradition: the pig is put in a pouch and passed around the table. Each person has a turn hitting it with the hammer and sharing a happy memory from the year and, at the end of the meal, everyone has a piece of the shattered pig.

Christmas with the Jameses runs from Monday 24 November until Monday 22 December excluding Thursdays. Opening hours 11am to 4pm, last entry 3.30pm.

There is a Peppermint Trail suitable for all ages. Search through the house for the little pigs hidden by Peggy. The Oaks Specialist College has contributed artwork which is displayed around the house including ceramic pigs, decorations and a collage of Henry James with Peggy in the breakfast room.

The armchair in the green room is a very recent addition to the house. The chair was owned by Henry James and at Lamb House until 1912, when he gifted it to Rye resident, Galfrid Tayleur. It was donated to the house by James’ great-niece, and arrived last week in time for the Christmas opening.

Image Credits: Cassie Dickson/National Trust , Juliet Duff .