Killerton House and estate is a National Trust property a few miles east of Exeter. I’ve been wanting to see it decorated for Christmas, so after a manic day of shopping and wrapping gifts I checked the internet thinking that I might pop out tomorrow. This was at 4.30. I saw that today it would be open until six for the last time so that people could see the house in the evening light. I was there by five!
I’m having to use a fixed 50mm lens at the moment so my options are limited, even more because of the dim light, but I enjoyed capturing some of the tree decorations.
I don’t know how many trees they had, I lost count.
This is a glimpse of the dining room
The staircase was decorated with foliage and snow
and the inner hall had this lovely barrow
There were some old fashioned toys on display in the entrance hall
Including these creepy ones
One of the trees in the hall
See how pretty the entrance hall is?
The walk back from the house to the old stable block entrance is about two hundred yards. It was really dark and I was on my own, so I was glad to hear the voices of a young family behind me. And seeing this beauty on my way was a real treat!
I hope you enjoyed my half hour visit, I was back home by six!
As always you can click for a bigger view of my photos and to see some earlier posts about Killerton go to https://lucidgypsy.wordpress.com/2013/11/03/travel-theme-delicate/ and https://lucidgypsy.wordpress.com/2013/11/04/objects-of-desire/ and https://lucidgypsy.wordpress.com/2013/09/04/a-killerton-evening/#
Lucid Gypsy 
the stuff of christmas fantasies … what a treat thanks Gilly … here I have only seen one tree so far, but then I could drive through town at night and see what people have in their front gardens!
Happy belated solstice several as Christmas 🙂
How wonderful you are to share these fantastic Christmas photos with us. Thank you, Gilly, as always. 😀
Top of the season to YOU.
Ahh thanks I hope you have a lovely time too 🙂
😀
Hard to know which is the greater treat: the peep into Christmases past or the close encounter with the deer in the park on the way out! A terrific pre-Christmas adventure, Gilly. In case I don’t see you before, Happy Christmas to you and your family. 🙂
And a very Happy Christmas to you and yours as well!:-)
Never seen Killerton at Christmas but looked lovely from photos. A glass of mulled wine would have been icing on the cake in the sitting room!
Sadly I left it all a bit late! 🙂
I’m so glad you found out about the time crunch and managed to go after all. The pictures are lovely. And sometimes it’s those things that we get to experience unexpectedly and in a whole unique way that make the holidays extra special. Just think: if you could have “planned” this trip for a day in the near future, it might not have been nearly as valuable a memory as it will be now. Hope you and our family are enjoying this blessed season.
What a lovely tour through Killerton House, Gilly. What a way to get in the festive holiday spirit. I love the ornaments and that final shot of the deer. I can’t believe you did all this in such a short time. 🙂 Happy holidays!
Wow! So beautiful like a dream Christmas!
Is that a turtle dove or a partridge?
greetings by the Carpenters (with lyrics = your state of mind, I hope):
It looks like a wonderful place to visit and wake your inner child. Merry Christmas
Wonderfully festive pics, Gilly. 🙂
Beautiful Gilly, you@ve made me feel very Christmassy….now to head out for a final shop before the storm hits us here 🙂
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas…..its been so lovely finding and following you this year Xx
Have a wonderful time Seonaid and I’m glad to have met you too young spirit sister x:-)x
This has got to be the best and most Merry Christmas post I’ve seen so far. It really is so Merry Christmassy. How I would love to take pictures side by side with you. That would be brill.
Happy Cristmas Lucid 🙂
hi Gilly,
I liked your fragment
“…after a manic day
of shopping and wrapping gifts
I checked the internet
thinking that I might …”
P.S.:
I like your storytelling!
A magical Christmas full of fun surprises!