House, Gardens & Cafe Open Tuesday - Sunday 10.30 - 17.00

White’s Christmas Craft Fair

2nd December 2023

10:30am-3:30pm

Join us for Christmas concerts, gifts, and cheer at Gilbert White’s House & Gardens on December 2nd!

This year at White’s Christmas Craft Fair pick up some locally handmade gifts for your loved ones (or just treat yourself!)

We will have a range of stalls at our stunning 16th Century barn selling beautifully handcrafted locally made items.

The historic house will also be decking the halls with boughs of holly, both in its festive Winter appearance and through song. Yuletide performances will be given by the Prize Old Mummers and Alton Community Choir in the atmospheric Great Parlour. Traditional mulled wine and mince pies will be available from the old kitchen, visitors can try a sip of Gilbert White’s gin.

Visitors will also be able to find Gilbert White’s brewers for a tasting session. During this time of year, the brewery produces a wass-ale, which is based on a traditional Scottish strong ale recipe and includes hints of Christmas pudding flavour.

The garden will also be presenting its Winter wonder and there will be a wassail led in traditional costume, where visitors can help to promote a good harvest for the coming year by singing to the orchard trees.

Entry is £4 per person; this includes fair admission and house and gardens admission. Under 5s go free. You can book tickets below or purchase tickets on the door.

Timings:

Prize Old Mummers Performance (House, Great Parlour): 11:30am

Alton Community Choir (House, Great Parlour): 2pm

Craft stalls (Gilbert White’s House Field Studies Centre): 10:30am-3:30pm

House and gardens are open: 10:30am-4:30pm

Tickets Here!

 

 

Stall holders include:

A&S Jewellery

Handmade jewellery and resin Crafts ranging from genuine gemstones to lego.

Booney’s Rustic Wood and Lovelace Leather

Deluxe turned pens using exotic or unusual wood, leather accessories and bags.

Candles of Chawton

Hand poured soy blend candles and wax melts which are highly fragranced, vegan friendly and cruelty free.

The Forest School Company

A small, independent, outdoor education company based in Selborne, who deliver nature-based workshops and learning programmes for children and adults. They also produce woodland crafts, including whittled sticks.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Trust

 Local Wildlife Charity promoting the work we are doing in the local area and raising awareness.

 Handmade at Hazelwood

Handmade at Hazelwood aims for zero fabric waste, repurposing from other projects to create a range of home items to eco face wipes, and travel hack items including tea wallets and book sleeves.

 Handmade by Sachi

 Sewn items, paper art, greeting cards, Japanese calligraphy etc.

 Hannah Edmunds Jewellery

 Sterling silver, beaded jewellery and cards.

 Helen Mathews (Author)

 I’m a local author of four psychological thrillers and domestic suspense published by Darkstroke Books. My novel The Girl in the Van won the suspense and crime genre prize in Pageturner Book Awards 2022. An earlier novel won first prize at Winchester Writers’ Festival. Paperbacks will be offered at a small discount on the day and copies intended as gifts can be personally dedicated and signed by the author.

Joseph Shaw Artist

 Contemporary fine art giclee prints and framed pictures, cards, and small handmade Christmas decorations.

Kiwi Delights UK

Washable and reusable bowl and jar covers made of fabric.

Little Melting Pot

Wax melts and Candles, wax burners, and tea light holders.

Mighty Spice

We sell Authentic Indian spice mix in paste form and packaged professionally for retail and home consumption only.

Petite Cuisine

Miniatures and crafts.

Photos by Felix

I sell my mounted portraits of local wildlife.

Pookles Farm

Dried edible flowers, natural skincare and handmade botanical products and gifts.

Rough Around the Hedges

 Basketry and willow crafts.

 Salt and Clay

Natural skincare products including soaps, bath bombs, oil based facial products and gift kits.

Sarah Harvey Art Craft Design

A variety of small, handmade sown and knitted gift items and prints.

Seabright UK

Upcycled jewellery and accessories inspired by the coast, rivers, and waterways of the UK.

See Change Now Ltd

 Eco friendly shampoo with essential oils for dogs and horses.

 Selborne WI

The Selborne WI are a group of enthusiastic women in the local community who meet monthly and participate in lots of local and further afield events. They are offering homemade crafts and bric-a-brac with a focus on recycling and upcycling preloved items.

 Timeless Stiches

Timeless Stitches offer four different ranges including crochet lace flowers vintage beads and jewellery, an eco-friendly collection offering flannels, face pads, potholders, tea cosies, flower doilies and dishcloths and crafting tools from reclaimed and recycled wood. Their baby collection is made of handknitted designs whilst their winter collection is made of cosy snoods, shawls and more to provide warmth.

    Gilbert Whites House

    Gilbert White was aged 7 or 8 when the White family moved from the Vicarage on Selborne’s Plestor, to this house, called ‘The Wakes’ (named after the Wake family who had lived here previously). At that time the property would have been no more than a ‘two up, two down’  but over the subsequent years lots of extensions and additions have been made, creating the long sizeable house you see today.

    The rooms have been restored following descriptions in White’s own correspondence and include a chair he used at Oriel College, Oxford (loaned from the College), items of contemporary furniture, family portraits and bed hangings embroidered for him by his aunts.

    On display is the original manuscript of his book, The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne, which was purchased with generous help from English Heritage and others.

    Learn more