Museum Memories: A Servant's Christmas at Oaklands

Join Rachel, our Visitor Host, as she returns this December with a new Christmas tour, taking on the role of Anne Vale, a cook who worked at Oaklands House in the late 1800s. Dressed in period attire, Rachel will guide you through a servant’s preparations for a Victorian Christmas, from cooking dinner with vegetables from the garden to polishing silverware and setting the table for the family’s celebrations.

Much of the tour takes place in our Victorian kitchen, where you’ll discover the daily tasks that brought holiday magic to the household. You’ll also have the opportunity to see items from the museum’s collection, including festive Victorian Christmas cards and silverware from the period. The tour will then conclude in the Victorian Hall by our beautifully decorated Christmas tree.

The tour will last approximately 20 minutes, with spaces limited to 10 guests per session. Please note that there will be no seating available for the duration of the tour.

Host or Publisher Chelmsford Museum