Historic England’s Archive is not just a record of England’s architectural history, archaeology and historic environment. The photographers whose collected work it holds have, like everyone else, been caught up in the fun and fervour of the festive season.
Here is a selection of our historic images that capture something of Christmas past, gifting an introduction to some of the extraordinary collections held in our Archive.
Deck the halls (factories and streets) with boughs of holly
Those with a head for heights climb ladders or jump into cherry pickers as every town puts up its festive season decorations.
A Christmas meal once meant a splendid wild boar or a big fat goose. These days, most people tuck into a turkey. It’s always been more about getting everyone together around a table and eating and drinking until you can’t move.
The child in us always hopes for some snow to set a magical Christmas scene. Actually, according to the Met Office, there has only been four Christmases since 1960 when we’ve had widespread snow: 1981, 1995, 2009, and 2010.
Such fab photos. I thoroughly enjoyed those. However, I would like to point out that only the well off had goose for Christmas, and as for wild boar that must have been for the really rich! Most people had roast chicken for their festive lunch, as chickens were quite expensive and not readily available in the 1950s and 60s except for the season. Turkey was very much a later thing, of course. Cheers from Devon and Merry Christmas. 🙂
What a lovely nostalgic Christmas feature blog with glorious photographs! Many thanks for sharing. 🙂
Hi Mike, these are great pictures. I enjoyed this historical tour.
Such fab photos. I thoroughly enjoyed those. However, I would like to point out that only the well off had goose for Christmas, and as for wild boar that must have been for the really rich! Most people had roast chicken for their festive lunch, as chickens were quite expensive and not readily available in the 1950s and 60s except for the season. Turkey was very much a later thing, of course. Cheers from Devon and Merry Christmas. 🙂