I always enjoy a trip out to Castle Howard, be it a walk around the estate or a look round the house and gardens and this morning was no different, but one I always look forward to as it was a special preview of the house festooned in all its Christmas finery. 

This year the theme was ‘A Christmas Masquerade’ a tribute to the original designers of Castle Howard, who in turn were inspired by the Italian Baroque period of the late 16^th century and 17^th centuries and transformed the house ready for a grand venetian masked ball.

On entry to the house the balustrades on the main staircase have been beautifully decorated, following the route along the corridor are lovely table decorations adorned with glittering venetian eye masks, candles and baubles. The upper bedrooms as always looked warm and inviting, dimly lit, lots of sparkle, beautiful dresses laid out ready for the guests to go to the ball. The bedhead and pillows adorned with more garlands, sparkling butterflies and venetian face masks. We passed another anti room with a upside down Christmas tree, beautifully lit and adorned with glittering baubles, suspended from the ceiling. Other rooms were decorated with illuminated stick trees to great effect. The Grecian corridor looked amazing, tastefully decorated and illuminated in purple coloured spotlights, after walking along the corridor we rounded the corner into the Great Hall. The huge 25ft Christmas tree laden with over 3,000 baubles and lights stands high and mighty opposite the lovely warming roaring fire. The cascading lights over the balcony looked effective and makes for quite a talking point. To the side of the fireplace a ‘Commedia Troupe, of musicians, both men and women entertained the visitors with their style of humour and musical skills. We continued our journey, pausing for several minutes to watch the troupe of musicians play a medley of tunes before climbing the stairs to the ‘High South’ The first room has been transformed into the ‘Consumier’s  studio where all the ball gowns and costumes have been prepared ready for the ball. Continuing our journey through the house we came to the Castle Howard ‘Pollocks’ paper theatre, which looked effective especially with the view behind looking across the Great Hall to the north lake beyond. We continued through the ‘Mask Room’, admiring the display of half masks, including character and animal masks as well as commedia and symbolic masks. One of my favourite rooms is the new library which I think is only open to the public during this Christmas period. The State Rooms were our next port of call, these rooms always look good throughout the year and not just at Christmas. The music room was adorned with life sized wooden cut outs of characters from the 18^th century as they watch the Troupe rehearse prior to being performed at the masquerade. The Crimson Dining room looked absolutely stunning, the table set ready for dinner, Venetian masks hang from the back of the chairs and beautiful dried flower arrangements adorned the table. It was fascinating to note that one of the pictures in this room is of the Grand Canal and Doge’s Palace in Venice, and you can see masked figures in the black gondolas. The adjoining room is the Turquoise Drawing room where one of the popular pastimes was playing games including backgammon, the room is decorated with red Christmas trees and red mannequins. Leaving the Drawing Room we arrived at the Long Gallery, masked revellers danced along the banks of the glittering Venetian canal, the gallery looks quite a picture as the canal meanders its way along the length of the Gallery, several golden bridges cross the canal along the way, a huge sparkling eye mask is suspended from the ceiling glistening as the spotlights pick out the sparkling sequins. A fitting end to a beautiful Christmas display and credit should go to Charlotte Lloyd Webber and Bretta Gereke the set designers and I am sure a whole host of assistants who helped transform the house into a wonderful Christmas Masquerade.