Coleton Fishacre in south Devon has celebrated its centenary over the Christmas period, and special decorations can still be seen until into the new year.
The National Trust has decorated the Arts and Crafts-style house, built in 1925, in the festive style of the Jazz Age – the so-called Roaring Twenties.
The transformation featured in the BBC Two programme Christmas Treasures of the National Trust, along with Cotehele in Cornwall.
The cameras followed the staff as set themselves the challenge of learning a Charleston dance for a special party at Coleton and decorating the house in a 1920s-themed Christmas, including a cocktail bar.
The senior communications and marketing officer for the National Trust in south Devon, Lauren Hutchinson, was one of the staff tasked with transforming the house for Christmas, and took part in the documentary.
She also had to learn some dancing for the party.
She said: “Taking part in the first ever Christmas special of Hidden Treasures is so exciting.
“We started talking about it last January. It’s one of those secrets I’ve been holding all year.
“We always see behind the scenes of setting up for Christmas, but being able to show that to people has been really wonderful.
“It was a bit stressful though at times.”
The D’Oyly Carte family built the house as a country retreat.
They spotted the sheltered valley from the sea while out sailing and decided to buy the plot of land and commissioned renowned architect Oswald Milne to design Coleton Fishacre.
They wanted their holiday home to make the most of the sea views, but also fit in with the surroundings and make the most of the natural light.
The family were West End royalty in London, and also owned the Savoy Hotel and theatre in London, which staged Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic operettas.
The Devon house was a place to entertain, so the Christmas decorations and National Trust events designed the celebration of the centenary of the building to allow visitors to experience the Jazz Age.
Strong cocktails
Visitors have been able to try an authentic Savoy cocktail in a speakeasy-style area built in one of the rooms for the event, modelled on the illegal drinking dens during Prohibition-era of the United States.
Collections and house officer Rachel Stammers warned they were very strong as 1920s cocktails only contained shaken alcohols – no mixers were used.
The Savoy Cocktail Book lists 750 different recipes.
She said: “The family were quite instrumental in bringing cocktails to the British public at the American Bar in the Savoy Hotel, which they owned.”
She added that, at the house, visitors had an opportunity “to play card games, and a vintage cinema is set up showing Pathe films of dancing from the period”.
“There’s also a chance to try to learn a dance in the saloon yourself,” she added.
The Roaring Twenties exhibit is in place at the house until 4 January.
Christmas Treasures of the National Trust is available to watch on the BBC iPlayer.
