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

White’s Eco Christmas Fair

Saturday 3rd December

10.30am-4pm
There will be Christmas concerts, gifts and cheer at Gilbert White’s House & Gardens on December 3rd!
‘Tis the season to gift sustainably, with White’s Eco Christmas Fair! We’re all thinking about ways to reduce our footprints, shop locally, reuse and recycle, so this Christmas why not choose the perfect eco-friendly present for a relative or friend (or just treat yourself!) We will have a range of stalls at our stunning 16th Century barn selling beautifully handcrafted sustainable 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 and luxury hot chocolates will be poured out in the barn.

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 £3 per person, this includes fair admission and house and gardens. Under 5s go free

    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