On the 10th day of Christmas my archive gave to me…
This lovely sketch of a monk decorating a letter S with many candles from a 19th century book titled A Comic History of England, written by Gilbert Abbott A'Beckett & illustrated by John Leech. #Archive #Christmas #Festive #history #documents

On the 9th day of Christmas my archive gave to me…
An ‘Anthem for Christmas’ from HMS Queen, dated from the 1850s, with a rejoiceful Hallelujah at the end. #archive #Christmas #Christmassongs #songs #anthem #documents #archives #history #navy #HMS #19thcentury #Arundel #Sussex #music

On the 8th day of Christmas my archive gave to me…
A list of meals consumed per room, per day, during the week of Christmas in 1908 here at Arundel Castle. #Archive #Christmas #food #history #documents #Arundel #Sussex #archives #20thcentury

On the 7th day of Christmas my archive gave to me…
A selection of newspaper adverts for Christmas presents, books, games and toys from the Charleston Chronicle in 1859. 🎁📚🎲🪀 #archive #Christmas #gifts #toys #history #games #arundel #sussex #documents #newspaper #archives

On the 6th day of Christmas my archive gave to me…
This adorable letter from a young Edmund ‘Mundie’ von Wurtzburg to his cousins (the children of Henry ‘Fitz’ Fitzalan Howard, later 14th Duke & his wife Minna) wishing they could have seen his Christmas tree & the lovely presents he received.

On the 5th day of Christmas my archive gave to me…
A late 19th century recipe for mince pies. Love them or loathe them, they certainly signal Christmas is near. #Archive #Christmas #mincepies #food #festive #Arundel #Sussex #history #recipe #documents

On the 4th day of Christmas my archive gave to me…
An annotated analysis of documents from 1927 regarding Christmas of 1662 held at Everingham Park where a large number of friends and family gathered for a great feast and celebration lasting 12 days. #archive #Christmas #history #feast

On the 3rd day of Christmas my archive gave to me…
This elaborate and beautiful pen scroll drawing of a flying angel playing a trumpet from a plan of the Tortington estate, Sussex, dated 1842. #archive #Christmas #angel #history #Sussex #Arundel #archives #Christmas2025 #maps

On the 2nd day of Christmas my archive gave to me…
A list of food purchased in December 1694, including many staples we still buy today for Christmas such as Turkey, ‘turnipes’ and sprouts. #archive #Christmas #history #food #turkey #sprouts #documents #Arundel #Sussex #archives #Christmas2025

Glad as we are to be here on Blue Sky, as we aren't able to schedule posts for days we aren't in the office some of our 12 days of Christmas posts may not be on the correct day... but don't worry, we'll be sure to post each and every one for you all to see. 🎄👍😊 #archives #Christmas #Snow #Arundel

On the 1st day of Christmas my archive gave to me…
An illustrated late 19th century selection of Christmas tales including the quintessential A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. #archive #Christmas #Arundel #Christmas2025 #history #archives #books #bahhumbug #scrooge #Dickens

Welcome to the start of our 12 days of archive Christmas (or archivemas if you will 🫣 sorry we’ll see ourselves out!) where we will be sharing some of our favourite Christmas themed findings each day until Christmas Eve. #archives #documents #christmas2025 #christmas #history #archive