by Danielle Spargo, former Record Assistant

We have many Christmas-related records within Record Office collections, which provide information about Christmas festivities from as early as 1572. To celebrate the festive season, this blog showcases a selection of them.

Christmas cards

The most decorative records are Christmas cards, which can often be found amongst personal or private papers. The styles and designs of those we hold vary widely. The largest number of cards from a single collection are those from the correspondence of Flora Howdle, dated 1900-1915. These include postcards, cards, letters and a notebook [DC/HRG XXIII]. You can see more examples of Christmas cards in our collections in our previous blog: ‘Seasonal good wishes‘.

Clockwise from top left: Three early-20th-century Christmas cards from the correspondence of Flora Howdle [DC/HRG XXIII], Christmas cards in an undated Scrapbook [ZTJ 23/3], and card depicting ‘Nicholas Hilliard’ [ZKZ 4/1/102].

Christmas festivals and nativities

Photograph of Santa and a nativity taken by Louisa Kruckenberg [EF 467 Box 1 DSC_0015]

The image above was taken by Louisa Kruckenberg, a talented amateur photographer, who captured images of rural life over a hundred years ago in the parish of Lower Dunsforth and surrounding area. You can discover more about Louisa and her photographs in our previous blog: ‘The rediscovered photographs of Louisa Kruckenberg‘ .

Programmes of Christmas performances provide a window into Christmases past. We hold several records from the St Peter’s Players, now known as Norton and Malton Amateur Dramatic Society, including two Christmas programmes and a photograph album. The photograph album showcases the 1948 performance of ‘But Once a Year’.

St Peter’s Players programme, for ‘But Once a Year’ in December 1948 and for ‘The Holly and the Ivy’ in December 1955 [Z.1683/2]

Within a collection of handbills and posters from Reeth Congregational Church are a number of eye-catching posters advertising their annual Christmas festival and public tea on Christmas day.

Posters advertising the Reeth Congregational Church Christmas festivities from 1897, 1899 and 1907 [ZLB 35/150; /197 & /255].

Concerts and carols are a staple of the Christmas season. Within our parish record collection for Helmsley is this miniature Christmas carol book, and a Christmas carol service sheet from All Saints’ church, Helmsley.

Christmas carol service sheet [ref: PR/HEL/13/1/12] and booklet of Christmas carols from the Helmsley parish records [PR/HEL/13/4/27] and

Tanfield Choral Society Christmas concert leaflet [Z.843]

Christmas gifts

Exchanging gifts at Christmas is not a new idea. We have a selection of records that advertise Christmas markets and Christmas goods to be bought from as early as the 1880s.

These handbills are from the Rowntree & Sons’ department store, Scarborough, advertising their annual Christmas show, and their 1882 Christmas circular from 1882. In 1883, they advertised a Christmas show ‘of fancy goods suitable for presents’. The fancy goods they promoted included Japanese folding screens, artistic pottery, Dresden china and inkstands in wood and brass.

Rowntree & Sons’ department store Christmas circular advertising a Christmas show of goods and other handbills advertising their annual Christmas shows [ZSJ].

Built in 1882, Rowntree & Sons’ department store was the first store in Scarborough to be lit by electricity. It was demolished in 1988 and replaced with Brunswick department store. The image below shows what the store looked like in 1885, before demolition.

Engraving of the Rowntree & Sons’ store, Scarborough, 1885 [SC009587A4]

A Christmas bazaar held in Northallerton in December 1905 had its own programme advertising the products available to buy. From food including ‘New Fruit for Xmas… a very fine lot of currants’ and Wensleydale Cheese to heating stoves from Cleminson’s Ironmongery Stores. Cleminson’s Stores closed in 2004, after trading hardware goods for 120 years.

Pages from a programme of a Christmas bazaar in aid of All Saints’ Church organ fund, Northallerton, December 1905 [Z.189]

This trading notice from 1921 declares when shops in Thirsk should be closed and when market day will be held in the Christmas period.

Thirsk Traders’ Association Christmas trading notice, affecting 26 December 1921 to 4 January 1922. [ZAG(A) 3/14/6624]

Christmas recipes

The festive season isn’t the same without Christmas dinner and all the festive treats. Within the archive we hold several recipe books with some wonderful Christmas recipes.

A recipe book including a recipe for mince pies from the 1800s. Evidence suggests that this was compiled by a member of the Lamb family of Ryton Hall, Durham [ZSQ 6]

A recipe book including a recipe for Christmas cake and pudding, from the Blakeley family papers [Z.285/1]

Within the household accounts of Lord Fairfax, we learn what was eaten on Christmas Day at Gilling Castle in 1572. We can see what was eaten for breakfast, dinner, and supper. Christmas dinner included beef, veal, duck, pig, goose, pheasant, woodcock, turkey, chicken, crane pie and swan! There seem to be a quite  a few courses on offer, including a ‘Syde board’.

List of what was eaten on Christmas Day at Gilling Castle in 1572 [ZDV(F)]

A little different from crane pie is the menu from the Mayfair Hotel in December 1939, with the classic Christmas pudding and mince pies for dessert.

Mayfair Hotel Christmas menu, December 1939 [ZKZ 4/1/10/2]

We also have a Christmas Day menu and programme of events from Rosenberg, a Prisoner of War camp in Bavaria for officers, dated Christmas 1916. This is located in the papers of Thomas, 2nd Baron Gisborough, a Royal Flying Corps pilot captured by German forces in 1916.

Christmas Day menu and programme of events from Rosenberg Prisoner of War camp, Christmas 1916 [ZFM 321C]

Even Christmas Day in the workhouse was an occasion for a treat for most inmates. Initially, no extra food was to be allowed on Christmas Day in the Union workhouses set up by the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act, but many chose to disregard the rules. By 1847, the new Poor Law Board allowed Christmas extras to be provided from the rates.

This entry in the Minute Book of Thirsk Workhouse describes a ‘Xmas Treat to the Inmates’ allowing them to have roast beef, mashed potatoes, plum pudding with rum sauce and beer. The same collection includes a letter dated 1922 discussing the continuation of the Christmas treat at the workhouse.

Thirsk Workhouse minute book entry describing a ‘Xmas Treat to the Inmates’, 14 November 1910 [BG/TH I 1]

We have many beautiful photographs of Christmas festivities and snowy scenes from across North Yorkshire, from Christmas trees and children sledging in the snow to Russian visitors.

A group of men falling off a Toboggan in Harlow Moor Drive, Harrogate [PH009-19]

Bertram Unné took many pictures documenting Christmas and winter weather in North Yorkshire.

Left to right: Photograph of a fresh snowfall in the village of Coxwold; a child makes full use of the snowfall by sledging down the hill on Main Street [BU02362]; Boy sledging in Ripley in 1963 [BU04035B]; A shepherd crosses the snow-covered fields of Bilsdale on horseback, 1955 [BU06968]

Photographs of Christmas time in Crescent Gardens, Harrogate taken by photographer Bertram Unné [BU03318A; BU03316Y; BU03317C; BU03319A & BU03319F]

Bertram Unné was a Yorkshire photographer, active from the 1940s until his retirement in 1979. He had studios in Harrogate, but worked across Yorkshire documenting landscapes and village life. You can find out more about him and his work in our previous blog: Bertram Unné, Harrogate photographer.

The photograph below depicts Grand Duchess George of Russia giving Christmas presents to wounded soldiers in Harrogate in 1914.

Grand Duchess George of Russia giving Christmas presents to wounded soldiers in Harrogate in 1914 [LS08/64]

The Grand Duchess was visiting Harrogate during the summer of 1914 but, due to the outbreak of the First World War, was unable to return home to Russia and stayed in Harrogate helping to nurse wounded soldiers [LS08/64].

The First World War didn’t stop people exchanging Christmas gifts. There are letters sent by soldiers in the trenches within the records of Settle District Council. The soldiers are writing to thank Settle, and the District War Relief Committee, for the Christmas parcels the Committee sent to soldiers and nurses who would not be at home for Christmas. Local people from Settle donated money or gifts, and informed the Committee of soldiers or nurses who should be sent a parcel, and their address.

Left to Right: List of names for First World War Christmas parcels; letter from Thomas Wildman sending thanks for Christmas presents (16 December 1915); Letter from Private Kissock and accompanying photograph [DC/SET 5]

We hope you have enjoyed this festive selection of items from our collections. Season’s greetings to all our readers!