This years Watts Christmas decorations have a loose Indian theme to work with our new exhibition, Women of Influence: The Pattle Sisters. For the outside decorations, we have used Celtic-inspired fretwork, using geometric shapes painted in deep pink and coral, with displays with foraged greenery from the estate and lights. We have also used 3 decoupage panels created by the Watts Garden volunteers to designs by Jonathan Moore inspired by the interior of the Watts Chapel, the seraphim angels. These were created for the Big Give Compton phone box in 2022. The angels are located by the Visitor Centre door and by the entrance to Limnerslease house.
All the Christmas trees on display have been generously donated by Hans Christmas Andersen who have done this for the last 4 years. Also Ruth Davies of All For Love London, a florist friend and event company, have loaned us beautiful decorations which have been used in the Watts Café, Limnerslease, and Chapel.
This year is on a frosty and silver theme, with frosted branches and silver baubles from Ruth and tree from Hans Christmas Andersen Christmas.
Two of the Watts seraphim angels are placed by the entrance to Limnerslease, and there's also a tree by the Mary Watts Wellhead.
We also have a magical trail of elves up the path to Limnerslease. There are 12 in total (for the 12 days of Christmas) - all made with recycled materials each one a different character. These have been hand made by the garden volunteers under my direction. The knitted elf was made by villager Maureen Butler.
This is a bit of an Indian fantasy I’ve created as if the Pattle Sisters have arrived for Christmas, from India with trunks of Indian fabrics and ornaments. Entering from the oak door is a wreath of aromatic cypress decked with peacock feathers and a embroidered ribbon.
The Hans Christmas Tree is totally inspired by India. In her diaries in the 1890s, Mary mentions being very influenced by Sir George CM Birdwood and his article “the Christmas Tree“. In it, he studies the significance of trees in ancient world religions and in particular “The Tree of Life“. We know Mary read this at this time when she was designing the chapel.
The tree is decorated with hand made ceramic and painted peacocks made by the garden volunteers. Also with Indian ribbon and decorations some from All for Love London. I’m very indebted to my great friend Nik Clarké who allowed us to use her collection of vintage saris and other decorations from her house in Spain , these are used to dress the staircase and mantle’s.
The mantles have been dressed with Indian objects and candles , to create an opulent look.
This is the third year that we have put a Christmas tree in the Chapel, and it’s becoming very popular with visitors. The tree is 12 foot high and has 3000 lights, again it’s been donated by Hans Christmas Andersen with baubles from Ruth. Other handmade decorations include ceramic and painted decorations by the garden volunteers also hand painted paper lanterns and folded shapes all in keeping with the Chapel interior and colours.
Big thanks to all mentioned previously but particularly the garden volunteers who have created so much this year.