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 and gift an introduction to some of the extraordinary collections of photography 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.
For a family with young children no festive season is complete without the emotional roller coaster of their little one appearing in a nativity play.
A nativity play performed 23 December 1941 by nurses and children in the chapel of King’s College Hospital, Denmark Hill, Camberwell, London SE5 was captured by photographer Norman Kingsley Harrison. Source: Topical Press Agency Medical Collection, Historic England Archive
Santa Claus is coming to town!
Although Santa has moved with the times and got a web page with the Royal Mail, little else about him has changed.
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.
It’s been a long time since the Thames has frozen over, but ice-skating is still a Christmassy pastime. (Usually on a rink these days though!)
Skating on the Long Water of the Serpentine in the winter of 1895, Hyde Park, London W2. Photographed by York and Son in 1895. Source:Historic England Archive (York and Son Collection)
And a Christmas is truly magical if you get to build a snowman!
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. 🙂